PRINEVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new career and technical education (CTE)-focused online public high school is now enrolling students from across the state for the upcoming 2018-19 school year. Destinations Career Academy of Oregon (ORDCA) will initially serve students in grades 9-11 in 2018-19 and will add 12th grade for the 2019-20 school year. ORDCA is an online charter school authorized by Mitchell School District, and as a public school option, it is tuition-free for Oregon residents.
At ORDCA, students can explore their interests and get a head start on future opportunities. The school’s rigorous curriculum is delivered through live online classes with Oregon-certified teachers. Students will study the core subjects of math, science, English/language arts and social studies, and have access to courses in three CTE pathways – marketing, health science and information technology. These CTE courses expand the traditional education experience and prepare students to earn industry-recognized certifications to give them a post-graduation edge.
According to a national survey released by K12 Inc. and Edge Research in 2017, almost 95 percent of Americans agree that high school students should have more opportunities to learn practical, real-world skills. Moreover, 96 percent of parents see CTE as a good option for students who want to start a career immediately after high school, and 88 percent of parents said the same for students who are college-bound.
“Our CTE pathways concentrate on three key industries of growth in the state of Oregon,” said ORDCA head of school Tim Jalkanen. “Our goal is to help our students explore career opportunities so that they are better prepared to join the 21st century workforce.”
ORDCA’s online school setting enables students in any geographic area of the state to utilize this unique curriculum. Furthermore, the flexible learning environment enables students to seek out experiences with professionals and companies and apply the skills they are learning in a specific industry.
Outside of class time, ORDCA provides opportunities for students and their families to connect with one another and with industry professionals in their future careers. Students may participate in SkillsUSA, a career and technical student organization which allows them to practically apply what they learn in the classroom and participate in academic competitions, or other CTE student organizations.
ORDCA is the fifth K12-powered Destinations Career Academy in the U.S., joining schools in Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Wisconsin. Additionally, K12 managed schools in Arizona, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Utah boast Destinations Career Programs.
Enrollment for Fall 2018 is now open, and informational events are being held statewide to allow prospective families to meet school staff and to determine if online learning is right for them. For more information about enrollment or to find an event location, click here.
About Destinations Career Academy of Oregon
Destinations Career Academy of Oregon (ORDCA) is a full-time online public charter school authorized by Mitchell School District that serves students in grades 9-11 statewide. As part of the Oregon public school system, ORDCA is tuition-free, providing parents and families the choice to access the curriculum provided by K12 Inc. (NYSE: LRN), the nation’s leading provider of K-12 proprietary curriculum and online education programs. For more information about ORDCA, click here.
