Wayzata students, staff outline expansion of experiential learning and CTE offerings

Wayzata High School students and administrators presented the district school board with a detailed overview of experiential learning and Career and Technical Education (CTE) offerings, emphasizing hands-on programs, industry partnerships and plans to expand access.

The presentation, led by Assistant Principal Tyler Shepherd and coordinated by the high school’s student presenters, described classroom-tied internships, the new certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, the Compass business/communications capstone, and school-run tutoring and exploration centers. “The portrait of a graduate ... states that all students will graduate ready for post secondary success regardless of race, class, gender, or ability,” senior Matthew Adams told the board.

Why it matters: Students and staff said experiential courses give learners workplace skills and college credits, reduce barriers to certification, and can improve readiness for a range of post‑secondary pathways. Panelists asked the board to support expanded capacity and transport options so more students can participate.

Program highlights and outcomes described to the board included: the academic mentoring program (about 600 students registered this year, serving K–12 classrooms and on-site tutoring centers); the inaugural Wayzata High School CNA course (117 students enrolled this year, with 44 students passing the Minnesota CNA exam in the first semester and more than 140 projected to enroll next year); and Compass, which students said has produced 2,307 college credits since 2017 for participating students. The district also plans a CTE showcase with roughly 90 community vendors and expects more than 3,000 students to attend.

Students described how specific programs changed their post‑high school plans. A student who completed Compass said the program provided “exposure” to industries, “ownership of my development,” and confidence to pursue competitive internships. Speakers credited mentorships and on‑site visits for creating college and job connections and for producing portfolio work used in applications and interviews.

Shepherd outlined building goals that frame the work: one goal is raising the share of juniors meeting an ACT benchmark (a district “minimum ACT score of 21” benchmark, with a local target of raising the share from 71.5% to 78.6% for the cohort cited). Shepherd said that while the ACT target is a benchmark, many Wayzata students score above it and that the district tracks subgroup gaps as part of that work.

Students and staff asked the board to support several near‑term changes, including: greater alignment between middle- and high‑school CTE offerings to create seamless pathways; expanded community advisory boards to deepen employer ties; targeted transportation solutions (students suggested a constrained commuter route to serve placements); and modest increases in staffing and materials to scale high‑demand courses such as CNA, Compass and internships.

Board members asked about equity of access. Presenters said the district is working to publicize options (pamphlets, hallway displays and outreach to eighth graders) and cited charter projects and a Compass-led enrollment campaign that placed large posters in high-traffic school areas. Teachers and students said word-of-mouth, site visits and counselor planning also guide students into courses.

District staff noted constraints: some programs (for example, Compass) are limited by staffing and co‑teaching models and cannot expand without additional funding or staffing. Students recommended better bus routes to reach off-site placements; staff said they have begun exploring adjustments to placement logistics.

Looking forward, presenters asked the board for continued support to expand experiential learning across grade levels and to ensure students who are not college-bound also have credentialing and paid work opportunities. “We hope to expand that to everyone at the high school and beyond, both at the elementary and middle school level,” Shepherd said.

Ending: Board members thanked the students and staff, acknowledged follow-up work on alignment and access, and said the presentation will inform future curriculum and budget decisions.