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This fall Oklahoma City Public Schools will open new College and Career Centers designed to give high school students practical exposure to workplace fields and the chance to earn recognized credentials before graduation. The program arrives alongside updated diploma rules that require incoming freshmen to complete six pathway units, a change that could reshape how students plan for life after high school.
Bridging classroom and career
District leaders say the centers are intended to help students discover realistic options early — not to lock them into a single plan, but to provide hands-on experience so choices are informed. The goal is for students to leave high school ready to enter the workforce, continue with higher education, or pursue military service.
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Kate Haydon, the district’s Executive Director of Workforce Development, emphasized that many teenagers simply haven’t had the chance to see what different jobs entail. The centers aim to fill that gap by connecting young people with employers, technical training and clear next steps.
What credentials will be available?
Students will be able to pursue a range of short-term, employer-valued certifications. Examples the district plans to offer include:
- OSHA 10 for construction and related trades
- Basic First Aid and CPR—already part of many courses
- CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) for health-care pathway participants
- Specialized technical training such as aviation courses that include pilot basics and drone operation
These credentials are meant to let graduates enter the job market immediately if they choose, or continue with further training or college pathways.
What a typical pathway looks like
Enrollment is flexible: students pick a pathway to explore, can build their required units there, and are free to switch if they find another option that fits better. Daily programming mixes classroom instruction with practical labs and employer interaction, enabling students to test a field before committing long-term.
Unique offerings and transfer options
Some high schools host specialized tracks not available everywhere. For example, John Marshall Enterprise High School offers an aviation sequence that includes flight and drone training. If a student’s home campus does not offer a desired pathway, the district permits transferring or taking courses at other high schools that do.
How to enroll and timing
Students and families should start by speaking with their school counselor to learn which pathways are offered locally and how to sign up. The Workforce Development Office can also provide district-wide details and answer questions about course sequences and employer partnerships.
Space in popular pathways is limited. The district advises students to register as soon as possible if they want to secure a spot.
More information and the application process are available on the district’s Workforce Development page: okcps.org/departments/workforce-development.
By combining credentialed training with flexible enrollment, Oklahoma City Public Schools aims to make post‑graduation plans more concrete for students and to supply local employers with better-prepared entry-level workers — a shift that could affect both individual career trajectories and the regional labor market in the coming years.
