Why Stafford? Stafford Technical Center provides students with the opportunity to explore fourteen career pathways while in high school. With the rising cost of post-secondary education and the rise of student debt, many families are opting to explore careers while in high school with the goal of learning about careers without the out-of-pocket expense that exists once they graduate. Stafford Technical Center prepares students for both college AND career by offering a combination of national industry certifications, college credit options, and work-based learning experiences all while in high school. Students that attend Stafford are still part of their partner high school and participate in all sports and extra-curricular offerings the same as if they were attending their partner high school full-time.
Industry Certifications
National Industry Certifications (IRC’s) are offered in each of our Career and Technical Education programs. National IRC’s are assessments completed by a third party which test the technical skills of students enrolled in our programs. Students that earn these IRC’s are held to the same standard of measurement as adults in the related technical field. Earning an IRC may lead to a higher wage or even a more advanced starting position within a business. There are no costs associated with these IRC’s for our students.
College Credits
While attending Stafford Technical Center, students have the opportunity to earn post-secondary credits for curriculum that is taught as part of their technical program and for some of our academic classes. These credits are in addition to the Dual Enrollment vouchers that they are eligible for at their partner high school. Many students leave Stafford with a semester worth of college credit and, like IRC’s, there is not cost associated with these credits for our students.
Work-Based Learning
Students that have proven proficiency on required program standards are eligible to participate in Work-Based Learning experiences out in our community. In order to be eligible for these experiences students must be in good academic standing, have positive attendance, and be recommended by their instructors. Work-Based Learning experiences can be paid or unpaid depending on the field. For more information on Work-Based Learning, see our page dedicated to this program.
Scholarships
Each year we award over $13,000 in scholarships to our students at our End of Year Awards Ceremony. The scholarships range from funding for tools & equipment needed for the field to funds for post-secondary education. We are fortunate to have a strong community base of support for these local scholarships dedicated to Stafford Technical Center students.
Support Services
Any student who is on an educational plan will continue to receive their supports while at Stafford Technical Center. As part of the transition process, our team will partner with your student’s high school team to ensure the needs of each student are met. Services may be provided at their partner high, at Stafford, or a combination of both locations depending on the need. Our Learning Center is a place for ALL students to learn and grow and where they can receive extra support when needed. We also provide additional support as needed in academic classes and programs.