Career Tech Academy

The Career Tech Academy (CTA) is a year-long, hands-on training program for high school juniors and seniors from Charlotte, Halifax, and Mecklenburg Counties. Through hands-on training, students gain in-demand job skills in Automation & Robotics, Energy Systems Technology, Information Technology (IT), HVAC, and Welding.

After completing year one training as juniors, students may return for their senior year to enroll in level 2, Work-Based Learning (which features a track on entrepreneurship) or they may pursue a different level one training program.

Explore Opportunities. Empower Your Future.

In the Career Tech Academy we spend up to 80% of class time in hands-on activities, keeping students engaged as they work with their hands and their minds. We provide students with the freedom to explore career opportunities and the support they need to be successful. Students gain in-demand skills, build confidence, earn high school and college credit, and receive the guidance and support needed to transition to college or the workforce after graduation.

Year 1 CTA Student Experience

Year 1 students work in real workplace labs and utilize soft skills to prepare them with the knowledge and certifications required for employment or advanced studies at a college or university. Students attend classes at the SVHEC from 8:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Monday-Friday, then return to their home high schools for the remainder of the instructional day.

Year 2 CTA Student Experience

The focus of a Year 2 CTA student (seniors only) is to enhance the hands-on experience in the workforce through apprenticeships, internships, job shadowing or mentoring. Year 2, Work-Based Learning students are matched with regional employers, and go to their work sites three days a week to participate in a hands-on, real-world work experience. While at their work site, students function as employees applying the knowledge and skills gained in their Year 1 training, and learning new workplace success skills.

CTA Instructor Led Clubs

CTA students may participate in the full range of clubs, sports, and extracurricular activities available at their home schools. They also have the option of participating in one of the clubs led by CTA instructors.

CometBots Robotics Team #977 Led by Automation & Robotics Instructor Adam Reeves: Cometbots Team 977 is a FIRST Robotics team. Membership is open to ALL CTA students regardless of County. During the school year team members build robots to participate in competitions. Students learn and practice a variety of skills including programming, engineering, business, and teamwork. Learn more here.

Women in Technology Club Led by IT Instructor Christie Hart: This club is open to all high-school aged young women with a mission to inspire, educate, and empower them to pursue and thrive in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) careers. The W.I.T. Club will provide opportunities for students to connect with new people, complete service projects, explore STEAM careers, and develop leadership skills. Learn more here.

Contact Us

Ready to enroll? Please reach out to the contact for your school division to register your student for the upcoming school year. For all other questions or concerns please reach out to Rosa Dunn, CTA Director at (434)572-5506 or .