Higley Unified School District expands career and technical education programs for 2025

Higley Unified School District (HUSD) is set to enhance its Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings, following a comprehensive presentation by Assistant Director of CTE, Mr. Pearson, during the Governing Board Meeting on August 12, 2025. The district is currently providing 11 satellite programs at Williams Field High School and similar offerings at Higley High School, including fields such as biotechnology, criminal justice, and engineering.

For the 2025-2026 school year, HUSD reports a significant enrollment of 2,575 students in satellite CTE classes, alongside 455 students at the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) campuses. This marks a 4% growth in satellite program enrollment over the past five years and an impressive 212% increase in EVIT participation.

Mr. Pearson highlighted the success of HUSD's CTE programs, noting that 91.8% of students who completed the program last year earned at least one industry-recognized certification. This achievement is well above the state's performance goal of 85.92%. Additionally, the district's technical skills assessment pass rate stood at 90%, surpassing the state average of 76.2%.

The meeting also showcased the district's commitment to continuous improvement, with all 19 monitored CTE programs achieving the distinguished quality programs level, the highest recognition in Arizona. This accomplishment positions HUSD as the only district in the East Valley to achieve such a feat.

Funding for CTE programs comes from various sources, including state pass-through funding and grants, totaling nearly $3 million last year. This budget supports salaries, equipment upgrades, and the development of new facilities, such as a state-of-the-art criminal justice lab at Williams Field High School, which is set to open soon.

Looking ahead, HUSD plans to align middle school exploratory programs with high school pathways to better prepare students for their future careers. New initiatives include expanding the sports medicine program and introducing graphic design and digital photography courses at Cooley Middle School.

With these developments, HUSD is poised to continue its trajectory of growth and success in providing students with valuable skills and certifications that enhance their career readiness.