• Columbus County Schools are first in 23-county region.

By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

The Columbus County Schools have something to crow about.

The career-technical education students had a proficiency rate on end of course tests of 80.6 percent, the fifth highest rating in the state.

Of the 23 school systems that comprise the Southeast Region, the system ranked first.

The county system has enjoyed a steady climb, increasing its scores annually since the 2001-2002 school year when its students had a proficiency rate of only 58.5 percent.

This past year was its largest gain, going from 69 percent proficient to 80.6 percent.

Statewide, the scores ranged from a low of 37.5 percent to a high of 83.4 percent.

The Whiteville City Schools had a proficiency rate of 60.8 percent. Other career-technical proficiency rates in area school systems included: Bladen, 54.9 percent; Brunswick, 66.5 percent; Clinton City, 71.6 percent; Cumberland, 59.1 percent; New Hanover, 67.3 percent; Pender, 69 percent; Robeson, 58.3 percent; Sampson, 72.6 percent and Scotland, 45.1 percent.

“Columbus County Career-Technical Education has been involved with end of course testing for the past 16 years, longer than any other program area,” said Keith Jefferys, the director of career-technical education in the county. “Results from the data have shown steady improvement every year since 2000. Teachers have utilized this data to improve the way students learn and the way information is delivered.”

Jefferys said that career-technical education, which used to be known as vocational education, offers credentialing in all program areas.

“Our focused curriculum provides students a no-nonsense approach to their career aspirations,” he said. “Students use up-to-date equipment in live-project simulations giving them practical application experience they can transfer to post-secondary education or work immediately after high school.

“Columbus County career-technical education is committed to providing students a quality educational experience. We are proud to say that career-technical education in Columbus County Schools continues to rank among the leaders by providing quality program choices to students,” Jefferys said.

The county’s three high schools have extensive career-tech programs.

South Columbus High School has one of the most advanced automotive service technology programs in the state.
SCHS and West Columbus High School build houses each year that are auctioned in the spring.

“Our professional teaching staff is well aware of the challenges our students will face in the highly competitive job market and they are prepared to help students reach their full potential,” Jefferys said. “Our award-winning college tech prep programs prepare students to make a seamless transition from high school to the community college and beyond.”

Jefferys said that career-technical education foundation courses at the middle grade level help provide students with workplace readiness and work-skill basics,

He said that those skills will help students make good decisions when they choose their courses of study.

Competency-based courses are offered in five program areas, with each having school-based and work-based learning opportunities.

In the areas of trade and industry, the county high schools offer cabinetmaking, welding, masonry, construction technology and computer engineering.

In agriculture, they offer, landscape construction and maintenance, agri-science, agricultural production, management and engineering, horticulture and environmental and natural resource studies.

In business and office education, they offer principles of business, business law, small business and entrepreneurship, computerized accounting, business and financial management, computer applications, keyboarding, business and electronic communication and business advanced studies.

In family and consumer sciences, the high schools offer teen living, clothing design, foods and nutrition, interior design and housing, parenting and child development, life management, early childhood education, culinary arts and hospitality and family and consumer sciences advanced studies.

In health occupations, the schools offer health team relations, allied health science and advanced health sciences studies.

“We have put a tremendous amount of effort into improving our career-technical education programs over the last 15 years and the outcome is looking very bright,” Superintendent Dr. Dan Strickland said. “Our teachers have persevered through dedication and diligence. Our students have met the challenge and proven that they can excel.

“I am pleased we are moving in the right direction and look forward to continued student success in the years to come.”
Strickland added that career-technical education is an essential part of a student’s overall curriculum.

“Math, English, science and social studies are all important academic skills and through our career-technical education programs, students experience the rigor, relevance and relationships essential to the transference of those skills to employment.

“Career-technical education will play an important role in the new courses of study from the Department of Public Instruction and in the county’s strategic improvement plan. We will continue to support and improve programs in order to provide students the best possible preparation for their career choice.”

Columbus County’s career-technical education programs serve more 3,500 students in grades 7-12.