Early College High School: PTECH

The Design

The Early College High School PTECH Roadmap is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career path that requires a college education.

Students in PTECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) will be enrolled in a two-year college at the same time they are enrolled in high school. Graduates will pursue a specific career pathway in their PTECH program. Career pathways are intended to support mid-level careers, and are available in the health sciences, computer sciences, business, agricultural and environmental fields.

While at PTECH

Students will pursue their Regents Diploma and their college Associates Degree simultaneously. They will take a variety of courses that are aligned to the Associates Degree in their chosen career path. The majority of courses will satisfy both high school and college requirements.

Students in the PTECH program receive direct support from teachers and school counselors in their high school and college classes, assuring that students succeed in acquiring college credits and placing them in the best position to complete their college degree. PTECH students may take up to six years from the beginning of their program to complete their Associates Degree. College classes are paid for through NYS PTECH grants.

Characteristics

While all students are unique, the following may prove helpful in determining the choice of the College and High School PTECH program:

• You are interested in pursuing a career in either the health, business, computer science, agricultural or environmental fields.
• You have considered college, but feel you need support to ensure you succeed.
• You want an opportunity to learn through real-life experiences, projects and internships.
• You enjoy working in groups, coming up with creative solutions and leading your own learning.

Profile of students

Angela is interested in the healthcare field, but isn’t sure about the specific job she wants. She knows that college is required for many healthcare jobs and her teachers and family members believe she has what it takes to succeed! Angela doesn’t have family members who have attended college, and she wants to stay close to home. She likes the idea of completing college while she is in high school and can be supported by her teachers. She enjoys working in groups, and thinks projects are a fun way to learn. Angela would love to earn her Associates Degree without having to take on any student loans.

Mark loves the outdoors. He goes fishing with his dad almost every weekend. He is interested in environmental studies, specifically fisheries and conservation. Most of those jobs require some type of college degree, but Mark has never really thought he would like college. He learns best in informal settings, and hands-on work has always appealed to him. Mark feels good about some of the classes he takes, while other subjects are not as interesting. He does best when his teachers and parents help him stay on track to succeed. When he is supported, he does well in school. Mark’s parents attended college and they would like him to get a college degree, too. They like the support that is available at PTECH.