CMCSS outlines programs of choice, CTE pathways and pre-K expansion; open enrollment runs through March 15

Dr. Shanda Dowdy, chief academic officer for the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), presented an overview of the district—s programs of choice and career-technical education options and told the board that more than 20% of district families — about 7,005 students — participate in choice programs.

Why it matters: the presentation outlined pathways intended to expand student options within the district, including early college, technical training and language immersion programs that officials said help prepare students for careers or college without leaving the district.

Dowdy said CMCSS runs a K-12 virtual program with about 800 enrolled students taught by Tennessee-certified teachers and that the district offers magnet and immersion schools, pre-kindergarten, open enrollment at selective grade levels and special-transfer options. "Currently, we have over 800 students in our district that participate in education through our CMCSS K-12 virtual," Dowdy said. "The joy of the program ... is that our kids are educated every day by certified Tennessee teachers."

She highlighted Moore Magnet STEAM School (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), the Spanish immersion program that began at Barksdale and expanded this year to Richview for sixth grade, and a Middle College program run in partnership with Austin Peay that offers three pathways: fine arts, a transitional college pathway that combines high-school and college credits, and an associate-degree pathway that can produce an associate degree when students graduate from high school.

On technical education, Dowdy described the Early Technical College at TCAT, which offers pathways such as diesel equipment, HVAC, mechatronics, machine tooling and pharmacy technology. She said students in those programs may earn industry certifications and work in the community while completing high school credits.

The district also operates an adult high-school program (for students 17 and older to earn a diploma), more than 35 career and technical education (CTE) pathways across eight high schools and a new aviation program offered at Rossview and West Creek that has allowed some students to earn private pilot licenses. Dowdy said the Saint Bethlehem Early Learning Center currently has 16 pre-K classrooms and will expand to more than 30 classrooms next year when it reaches full capacity.

During board Q&A, Dowdy said Spanish-immersion classes are open to students of any background; they are not limited to Spanish-speaking families, and program expansion is constrained largely by staffing because teachers must be able to teach early literacy in both Spanish and English. She also clarified that students accepted into a high-school academy become students of that receiving school for the duration of the program and that TCAT programs include flexible scheduling to accommodate work-based learning. Dowdy noted open enrollment and special-transfer applications are available online through March 15.

Ending: Board members thanked Dowdy for the overview and asked staff to continue outreach so families understand program options and application windows.