Palouse Programs Help Students Prepare for College and Careers

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In the Palouse region, high school students have a wealth of programs and resources designed to give them a head start to college and careers. From dual-enrollment opportunities and hands-on career and technical education (CTE) programs to work-based training and college preparation assistance, the region’s schools, colleges and business community work together to ensure every student has the tools to thrive beyond graduation.

Career-centered Approach

“We play a foundational role in producing qualified candidates for the workforce,” says Bob Maxwell, superintendent of Pullman Public Schools in Pullman, WA. “Our career and technical education programs are based on national, state and local labor market data, ensuring that students are learning the skills employers need.”

Courtesy of Paradise Creek Regional High School

The district offers courses in 16 career clusters, including agriculture, hospitality and tourism, business, health science and manufacturing. It also offers certifications through its CTE programs. Examples include a ServSafe food handler certification for culinary students as well as an OSHA 10 certification for construction students.

The district partners with local businesses to give students internships and apprenticeships.
“That hands-on learning helps to ensure our students are being exposed to industry standards in a real-world context,” Maxwell says.

Promising Pathways

Moscow School District #281’s Paradise Creek Regional High School (PCRHS) offers a unique alternative for students seeking a hands-on, career-focused education. PCRHS enrolls students who are at risk of not graduating and provides them with small class sizes, individualized support, counseling and access to community services.

Both Moscow School District #281 and Pullman Public Schools partner with local colleges and universities to bolster the region’s workforce development efforts. Programs, such as Running Start through Washington State University, which allows high school juniors and seniors to take dual-enrollment classes, and the University of Idaho’s Independent Study in Idaho program, which offers high school students access to online, self-paced college courses, allow students to earn college credit while still in high school.

Courtesy of Paradise Creek Regional High School

Shawn Tiegs, superintendent of Moscow School District #281, says that while an impressively high percentage of the district’s graduates continue their education at a four-year college or university, many students take advantage of the CTE courses that prepare them for immediate entry into the workforce.

Money Matters

Dual-enrollment programs help ease some of the financial burden associated with higher education by offering college courses at a reduced cost. For many students and their families, the question of affordability looms large when considering college.

“‘How am I going to pay for college?’ has become one of the most frequently asked questions,” says Peggy Jenkins, founder and director of Palouse Pathways, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering high school students with the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to navigate their college and career options.

Courtesy of Paradise Creek Regional High School

Palouse Pathways hosts several informative programs, including a Path to College program for ninth graders beginning to explore opportunities and a Paying for College fair for juniors and seniors.

“We want families to see that there are countless ways to make college attainable,” Jenkins says. “Our goal is to give students a toolkit for discovery.”

Institutions for Inclusivity: Universities Embrace Diversity

While the University of Idaho (U of I) and Washington State University (WSU) supply a talented workforce for local businesses, they also play an important role in enriching the area’s culture and quality of life.

University of Idaho

In Moscow, ID, U of I champions diversity through programs and services for international and domestic students. Its International Programs Office sponsors multicultural events, such as Africa Night, Bangladesh Night and Taste of Nepal, as well as study abroad programs. It also connects students to immigration and community resources. International faculty and staff further contribute to the inclusive atmosphere, bringing unique perspectives to classrooms and the community.

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Washington State University

At WSU, diversity isn’t just welcomed, it’s woven into the very fabric of campus life. Students, faculty and researchers from across the globe come together to learn, teach and innovate in a setting that thrives on inclusion and creativity. WSU’s Office of International Programs supports international students studying at WSU as well as domestic students wanting to study abroad. Its International Center offers students a place to relax, socialize, study and share their cultures. Additionally, a new campus musical group called Mariachi Leones del Monte is bringing a slice of Latin American heritage to the region.