CTE (Engineering, Business, Animation etc)
In Career Technical Education (CTE) courses, students gain real-world experience through hands-on projects that combine rigorous academics with industry-specific technical skills. Each CTE class offers students the opportunities to explore careers in industries that are thriving in our region. CTE is unique in that the teachers that are a part of the CTE pathway come with industry background in their respective field and serve as experts in the classroom.
In addition to technical training and career foundations, these courses also offer a wide range of additional educational benefits, including critical thinking development, technical literacy, public speaking skills, leadership development, and planning/organization skills. Students often work in teams to come up with solutions to real-world problems and demonstrate their learning by designing, building, or implementing the idea or product. Students share what they learn through presentations (sometimes to industry representatives), competitions, or with their peers.
CTE programs offered on our Leigh campus:
- Engineering (Project Lead The Way)
- Business Entrepreneurship
- Theatre Arts
Off-campus CTE program:
- Our Juniors and Seniors can also take advantage of a magnet program that offers further CTE opportunities. Silicon Valley CTE (SVCTE) is a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) high school program offering 23 courses (16 of which are UC “a-g” approved) that prepare students for college and future careers.
Details for both the on campus and off campus programs are shared below.
Engineering - Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
Engineering - Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
PLTW is a nationally recognized STEM program that provides a hands-on, activities-project problem-based curriculum aligned with relevant national standards and emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and real-world problem solving. The courses are recommended for students interested in careers in engineering, robotics, computer hardware, software, computer-integrated manufacturing, and beyond. Leigh offers five PLTW courses. These pathways can be started at any grade and run in sequence. To learn more about PLTW, view the PLTW national organization website.
For more detailed course descriptions, see the Course Catalog.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
| Intro to Engineering Design (IED) |
Principles of Engineering (POE)
or
Computer Science Principles
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Principles of Engineering (POE)
or
or
Computer Science Principles
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Engineering Development & Design (EDD) |
- IED: Learn the design process, design and model 3D objects, and explore fields of engineering and careers
- POE: Explore technology systems, simple machines, robotics, and programming
- DE: Electronics & logic through hands-on project work and MultiSIM programs
- EDD: Senior Capstone course if students complete 2 sequential PLTW courses prior
- Computer Science Principles: see below for description
Pathways can be started at any grade and run in sequence.
Flowchart for PLTW pathway
Computer Science
Computer Science
Computer Science Principles
This course can be taken as part of the PLTW pathway in Year 2 or 3. It can also be taken as an independent course in any year and not part of the PLTW pathway.
Students work in teams to develop computational thinking and solve problems. The course does not aim to teach mastery of a single programming language but aims instead to develop computational thinking, to generate excitement about the field of computing, and to introduce computational tools that foster creativity' The course also aims to build students' awareness of the tremendous demand for computer specialists and for professionals in all fields who have computational skills.
AP Computer Science A
This course can be taken in 11th or 12th grade and is not part of the PLTW pathway. It fulfills either the CTE or math graduation requirements.
This course is an introductory course in computer science. Because the design and implementation of computer programs to solve problems involve skills that are fundamental to the study of computer science, a large part of the course is built around the development of computer programs that correctly solve a given problem.
For more detailed course descriptions and prerequisites, see the Course Catalog.
Business & Finance
Business & Finance
A rigorous curriculum that uses hands-on projects to teach business marketing, accounting, and personal finance fundamentals. The courses are recommended for students interested in careers in business, marketing, accounting, finance, advertising, sales, public relations, market research, and beyond. This pathway can be started at any grade.
For more detailed course descriptions, see the Course Catalog.
| Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 | Grade 9, 10, 11, 12 |
Grade 10, 11, 12 |
| Introduction to Business Marketing |
Business Accounting & Personal Finance 1
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Business Accounting & Personal Finance 2
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| Prerequisite: None |
Prerequisite: None
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Prerequisite: Business Accounting & Personal Finance 1
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Production & Managerial Arts (Technical Theatre)
Production & Managerial Arts (Technical Theatre)
In Tech Theatre students are directly involved in the technical aspects of the productions as
they design and construct sets, costumes, and makeup; manage the light and sound systems; create special effects; paint; and build props for the productions. The Tech Theatre courses are recommended for students interested in careers in film, television, theatre, lighting, sound engineering, construction, and event planning. This pathways can be started at any grade and run in sequence. More info is available on the Leigh Theatre website.
they design and construct sets, costumes, and makeup; manage the light and sound systems; create special effects; paint; and build props for the productions. The Tech Theatre courses are recommended for students interested in careers in film, television, theatre, lighting, sound engineering, construction, and event planning. This pathways can be started at any grade and run in sequence. More info is available on the Leigh Theatre website.
For more detailed course descriptions, see the Course Catalog. Note, this course can be used to fulfill the VAPA or CTE graduation requirements.
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 |
| Technical Theatre 1 - Technology & design |
Technical Theatre 2 - Stage design
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Technical Theatre 3 - Production Staff
|
Technical Theatre 4 Honors, Theatre Leadership*
|
* Provides a grade bump
Theatre Arts and Musical Theatre
Theatre Arts and Musical Theatre
Theatre Arts is a hands on course with students of varying levels, providing experience in all aspects of theatre. Students study acting and directing, and gain a working knowledge of theatre history and the multiple forms of theatrical performance, as well as the technical aspects of theatre and theatrical design. Students prepare for a showcase in Spring and perform this publicly after school.
Musical theatre introduces students to the world of Broadway. Students train in the three areas of Musical Theater: Acting, Dancing, and Singing, incorporating all three into one performance and “selling the song.” Students prepare a showcase in Spring and perform this publicly after school.
More info is available on the Leigh Theatre website.
For more detailed course descriptions, see the Course Catalog. Note, these courses can be used to fulfill the VAPA or CTE graduation requirements.
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Year 1
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Year 2
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Year 3
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Year 4 |
| Theatre 1 - Beginning |
Theatre 2 - Production & Performance
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Theatre 3 - Directing for Stage
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Theatre 4 Honors*
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| Musical Theatre 1 |
Musical Theatre 2
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Musical Theatre 3
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Musical Theatre 4 Honors* |
* Provides a grade bump
Work Experience
Work Experience
Work Experience Education (WEE) is a course open to seniors (or on occasion juniors who are 16 or older) who have a job or wish to pursue an internship while receiving high school credit. WEE introduces students to the aspects, functions, and laws concerning employees in the workplace while focusing heavily on the "soft skills" that ALL workers need to succeed at work and in society.
- Option 1: Career Technical Work Experience Education
- Option 2: Exploratory Work Experience Education
- Option 3: General Work Experience Education
For more detailed course descriptions, see the Course Catalog. Note: Work Experience gives CTE/Applied Arts credit for CUHSD graduation. This course is not A-G.
Silicon Valley CTE (SVCTE)
Silicon Valley CTE (SVCTE)
Juniors and Seniors can take advantage of a magnet program that offers further CTE opportunities. Silicon Valley CTE (SVCTE) is a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) high school program offering 23 courses (16 of which are UC “a-g” approved). State-of-the art programs are taught by industry professionals who engage students in rigorous, real-world academics and skills development designed to support success through college and future careers
Students attend 1 period a day on the SVCTE campus on Hillsdale Ave and 2 periods a day at Leigh for a semester or an entire school year. Students attend either a morning (7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.) or afternoon (12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.) session Monday - Friday. Free-of-charge bus transportation is provided fromLeigh to SVCTE, and back to Leigh.
View the SVCTE website to learn more about this program.
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VIEW COURSE DETAILS
Animation
Auto Body Refinishing * Auto Body Repair * Automotive Services* Construction Technology Culinary Arts* Cybersecurity Dental Assisting Electrical Maintenance * Fashion Design & Textile Art Film and Video Production Fire Science/First Responder Forensic Science HVAC Law Enforcement Mechatronics Engineering Medical Assisting Medical Science / Health Careers Metals Tech Mobile App Design & Comp Coding Pharmacy Technician* Sports Med & Kinesiology Truck Mechanics Veterinary Science |
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*Indicates course is not A-G
CTE Department Staff
For more detailed course descriptions, see the Course Catalog
For support with course selection, go to Academic Planning