Riverside Unified reports growth, facilities work and equity goals in midyear CTE update
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Summary
The Riverside Unified School District presented a midyear update on Career Technical Education: 38% of students participate in CTE, 670 students completed a program in 2024–25, major facility renovations are underway for fall 2026, and staff plan a five‑year strategic CTE vision to be detailed at the Feb. 12 board meeting.
The Riverside Unified School District on Jan. 15 told the school board its Career Technical Education programs are expanding but face capacity and scheduling constraints.
Ron Weston, the district’s CTE coordinator, said about 38% of high‑school students districtwide are enrolled in a CTE pathway and that 670 students completed a CTE program in 2024–25. He said the district expects completions to rise to roughly 869 students by the 2027–28 school year as new programs and facilities come online. "We are not just maintaining our CTE programs, but transforming them to ensure our students are career ready, period," Weston told trustees.
Weston reviewed construction projects and timelines: a new welding program at John W. North High School and culinary facility upgrades at Ramona and Riverside Poly are under renovation and on track for an August 2026 opening. He also said an initial $2,000,000 grant request for new pathways was not funded and staff plan to resubmit in February.
Trustees pressed on capacity and equity. Vice President Tweed asked whether 38% participation reflects maximum capacity or underused seats; Weston said some programs are at capacity while others have room, and cited master‑schedule conflicts that limit offering times. Trustee Kinnear asked for longitudinal enrollment and completion data to compare trends pre‑ and post‑COVID and to better assess whether increases reflect program expansion or other factors.
A public commenter raised transfer‑access concerns, saying families seeking specific CTE programs have been denied transfers to campuses that offer them. The parent urged expanding access across more sites so options are not limited by home campus.
Weston said the district will present a deeper dive at the Feb. 12 board meeting and include data on completion rates for English learners and students with disabilities, where the presentation reported gains of 4%, 6.4% and 7.2% respectively for some subgroups.
The board’s next step: trustees asked staff to provide further breakdowns of enrollment, waiting lists and completion by subgroup and school so members can weigh targeted expansions, scheduling changes and dual‑enrollment options. Weston said staff will propose program‑delivery strategies — including after‑school and weekend offerings and expanded early college credit — as part of the district’s five‑year strategic planning process.
