Students Earn Technical Certificates Before High School Diplomas

CARTERSVILLE, GA - From Bartow County School System: For the first time in Bartow County school history, students can earn technical certificates before they can legally drive a vehicle, and some did May 10 at the Clarence Brown Conference Center! Nine other students also received their Chattahoochee Technical College diploma before they even received their high school diploma, and here’s the best part, they all have jobs right now! Local companies were lining up to interview these Bartow County College and Career Academy students.

Let’s break down the numbers. Forty-eight sophomores, juniors, and seniors whose base schools include Adairsville, Cass, and Woodland High Schools now have one or more technical certificates from Chattahoochee Technical College in the following areas: Basic Shielded Metal Arc Welder, Automotive Electrical, Electronic Systems Technician, Automotive Chassis Technician, Air Conditioning Electrical Technician, Air Conditioning Technician Assistant, and Air Conditioning System Maintenance Technician. Nine students were awarded Air Conditioning Technology diplomas.

“This was made possible due to a change in Chattahoochee Technical College graduation requirements and a unique partnership between the Bartow County School System and the college,” said Lisa DiPrima, the work-based learning and dual enrollment specialist with the district. “Through this partnership, the technical college utilizes the Bartow County College and Career Academy as a satellite campus, thus eliminating transportation and scheduling barriers that many students face when considering Dual Enrollment.”

“Graduation from high school is the ultimate goal for most students,” says Bartow County College and Career Academy Principal Paul Sabin. “However, there are a few students who recognize the importance of gaining both a high school diploma and employable skills. Our students who have recently received diplomas or certificates through Chattahoochee Technical College have shown a level of maturity and perseverance necessary to be successful after high school. I am very proud of these students and their families and hope this is only the beginning of their bright futures.”

According to a report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, “Certificate holders earn 20 percent more than workers who hold only a high school diploma. More surprising, however, is the finding that one-third of certificate holders also have an associate, bachelor’s or graduate degree. Such a large percentage suggests that workers are getting certificates to bolster skills or learn new ones in a tight job market.”

The Bartow County College and Career Academy is doing something no other school in the area is doing, it’s providing more hands-on programs with greater relevancy and value. This leads to a 96 percent Career, Technical, Agricultural Education graduation rate, immediate employment opportunities, greater access to college and a thriving community.

In the near future, the Bartow County College and Career Academy hopes to add Cybersecurity and PC Technology and Repair courses, says CTAE Coordinator Greg Doss. “We also plan to expand the Automotive Program to include Engine Performance and work with Paulding County to allow several of their students to participate in our HVAC Program.

Photo courtesy of Bartow County School System