One of the things that makes Porterville Unified School District special is the 14 pathways it offers its students.
Pathways allow students to gain insight and apply real-world knowledge to their dream careers.
Granite Hills High School offers three pathways – Law, Justice and Ethics (LJE), the Academy of Careers in Education (ACE), and Computer Operations and Development Education (CODE).
The pathways are designed to prepare students for specific careers. Students will have the opportunity to learn and experience a variety of new things. For example, students in the ACE Pathway will learn about working with children and how to teach them. Those in the LJE Pathway will learn about public safety and social services. Those in the CODE Pathway will get hands-on experience in computer application technology.
Currently, 52 percent of students at Granite Hills are enrolled in one of the pathways.
The ACE Pathway offers guest speakers and field trips related to the course material. It is a great option for those interested in careers in teaching, psychology, and other education-related fields. The program also provides internship opportunities and helps students develop skills such as communication and leadership.
“This is a great opportunity for students who are interested in a career in education to get hands-on experience,” ACE English teacher Mr. Marquez said. “What better way to learn than from people who are actually living it?”
The LJE experience includes visiting prisons, police stations, and fire stations.
“It gives them an opportunity to join a program that not only helps them think about a career but also helps them learn skills to be successful in life,” said LJE teacher Mrs. Kisling. ”They have an opportunity to do community service and internships.”
In CODE, you would work on learning how to build computers or even make your own app or video game.
“It gives my students opportunities to build new things and mess around with apps,” CODE lead Mr. Diliberto said. “They also have hands-on learning so they can have more opportunities. This pathway will help with careers that involve code.”
Joining a pathway starts in your 8th-grade year but elementary schools have field trips to see all the pathways and their presentations. Each year, 8th-grade students fill up the Galaxy Theater, and pathway students give a short presentation, explaining what each pathway has to offer.
For more information about the pathways at PUSD, visit the following website: PUSD Pathways.
