Career Technical Education (CTE) in the Poway Unified School District focuses on the changing workplace that demands high levels of academic and applied knowledge and skill.  

Throughout Poway Unified School District, career pathway programs are offered in twelve of the fifteen high-growth industry sectors identified by the State of California.  Seven of these career pathways have been identified as priority industry sectors for San Diego County by the California Community College Chancellor's Office.

Mt. Carmel High School supports the PUSD belief that college, encompassing any kind of post-secondary education, and career preparation are usually necessary for career readiness. However, college readiness, if defined as academic preparation, is not sufficient for career success.  Career Readiness encompasses academic skills plus additional preparation in areas such as collaboration, communication, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking, among others.  It also requires application of knowledge and the development of technical skills.  Career Technical Education serves as a vehicle for the development of essential skills and the application of learned concepts to the world outside of the classroom walls.  

Mt. Carmel High School hosts a number of different CTE pathway opportunities for students.  Our goal is to provide a rich college and career exploration student experience to complement the core courses that students take at each grade level, help students find the right career paths as they consider life after high school and get students career-ready. Students can complete pathways with 20 credits of successful coursework in the pathway that includes the capstone course. Students who complete one or more pathways earn distinction with a seal on their high school diplomas, identification as a pathway completer on their official high school transcript and a certificate from PUSD and Mt. Carmel High School honoring this accomplishment.  Students can complete as many pathways as they are able to fit in their high school career schedules.

The pathway courses are also open to all students who are interested in taking elective courses in these areas.  These courses and programs are comprehensive and future-oriented, are responsive to student, parent, community and workforce development needs, and are proven to positively affect student achievement. Students from other Poway Unified school sites are welcome to take courses in our Fire Science and Automotive Technology programs also.  Mt. Carmel is the only high school that hosts a Fire Science program within our school district.  Also, we have the only high school Automotive center in Poway Unified on the west side of Interstate 15.  In our school trimester system, students have more ability than on a semester system to take a variety of elective course during their four years in high school.  Mt. Carmel and Poway Unified offer pathways outlined by the California Department of Education CTE Model Curriculum Standards.