From fashion to finance, Modesto high schools offer over a dozen career and technical paths
Registration is underway at Modesto City Schools as about 30,000 students prepare for their classes next academic year.
For eighth-graders interested in gaining skills in specific industries, career and technical courses at the district will help foster them by the time they graduate.
At Modesto City Schools, there are 13 industry sectors offered for students to gain experience and expertise.
These pathways include:
Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation
Arts, Media and Entertainment
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Business and Finance
Information and Communication Technologies
Public Services
Health Science and Medical Technology
Fashion and Interior Design
Engineering and Architecture
Transportation
Building and Construction Trades
Education, Child Development and Family Services
Marketing, Sales and Services
AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS
Students will learn about business and sciences related to farming, horticulture, agriculture and animals. The sector offers classroom and lab instruction. Students will also participate in a supervised agricultural project.
There are seven pathways students can take within the agriculture and business sector. These include agriculture business, agriscience, animal science, ornamental horticulture and agriculture mechanics.
Within agriculture mechanics, students choose a focus: general course, manufacturing, small engines or wood construction.
Agriculture business is offered at Davis, Enochs and Modesto high school. Animal science is offered at Enochs, Gregori and Modesto High School.
Agriscience and ornamental agriculture are offered at all comprehensive high schools in the district. General agriculture mechanics is offered at all comprehensive high schools except Beyer.
Only Davis High School offers agriculture mechanics in manufacturing and wood construction, while only Beyer offers agriculture mechanics in small engines.
ARTS, MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT
Students interested in the art, media and entertainment sector will learn more about visual design, photography, audio mixing, video production and performing arts.
There are three pathways students can take in this sector. They are:
Design, Visual and Media Arts
Performing Arts
Production and Managerial Art
All high schools, including Elliot Alternative, offer the design, visual and media arts pathway. Davis, Downey, Gregori and Modesto High offer the performing art pathway. Production and managerial art is offered at Downey, Gregori, Johansen and Modesto High.
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADES
Students interested in the building and construction trades sector will learn about cabinetry, woodworking, engineering, heavy construction, mechanical systems and other related topics. The program combines academic and technical training.
There is only one pathway in the sector. Downey, Johansen, Modesto and Elliot Alternative offer this career and technical course.
BUSINESS AND FINANCE
Students interested in the business and finance sector will learn about business management, international trade, banking, accounting, investing, taxes and other related topics.
There is only one pathway in the sector and Davis is the only school to offer it.
EDUCATION, CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY SERVICES
The education, child development and family services sector is offered at Downey, Johansen and Modesto High.
Students interested will learn about human development, children’s cognition and young children’s needs.
ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
The engineering and architecture program provides students academic and technical preparation in engineering and design. Students will have classroom instruction, work in laboratories and work on projects.
The program is available only at Johansen and Gregori.
HEALTH SCIENCE AND MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY
The health science and medical technology program will teach students the fundamentals of biotechnology, patient care, health care administration, support services, public and community health and mental and behavioral health.
There are two pathways. The biotechnology program is offered exclusively at Enochs. The patient care pathway is offered at Davis, Gregori and Elliot Alternative.
HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND RECREATION
This program primarily focuses on food science, dietetics and nutrition through culinary arts. Davis, Downey and Modesto High offer the pathway.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES
For students interested in coding, computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence, the information and communication technology sector would interest you.
This program teaches students the fundamentals of computers, software, networking, telecommunications, the Internet, programming and information systems.
There are two pathways for this program.
The information support and services pathway is available at Davis, Enochs and Modesto High. The software and systems development pathway is available at Beyer and Enochs.
MARKETING, SALES AND SERVICES
This sector prepares students for career opportunities in marketing, sales and entrepreneurship.
There are two pathways. Downey offers a professional sales program while Gregori offers a entrepreneurship and self-employment program.
PUBLIC SERVICES
Students will learn foundational skills first responders and soldiers have, through classroom instruction, labs, projects and work-based learning.
There are three pathways for this sector. Davis offers the public safety and emergency response programs. Beyer offers the Army Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps program.
TRANSPORTATION
Students will learn about operations, repairs, servicing cars and system diagnostics. Modesto High is the only school to offer this program.
FASHION AND INTERIOR DESIGN
Junior and senior students interested in learning cosmetology will get to take free courses through a partnership with North Adrian’s Beauty College. Enrollment is offered twice in the school year.
Students will need to check information from their school counselors and work experience educators when the enrollment window opens.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM.
