(Describer) Circles show career paths. Stigmas of Career Tech Education. Shelley Rogers.

(speaker) In the past, people maybe thought that the students that came to career tech schools were bad or problems, and that is totally not the truth. Our kids here do well academically. They do well learning their skills.

(Describer) Ryan Thomas.

(speaker) I think the number one stigma that we do here is college. They think that people that come to Penta are not gonna go to college, and that's so far from the truth. We have articulation with so many different colleges. Our academics have college credit built into them. This is not the endpoint. This is the starting point.

(speaker) People focus mostly on, "The bad kids go there." "The kids that are never going to college go there." "I don't want my kid, who is smart, to go there."

(Describer) Yarin Mercer .

And they overlook the fact that most of those students are there because they want to be there. They're good students. They're honor students. They're ones that are making an impact in their community and in their field before they even get there, without even realizing it sometimes.

(speaker) Basically, it feels like it's my first year of college here. It feels like I'm learning things that I'm gonna end up learning there, and I already know.

(Describer) Samuel Eiben.

I think people need to understand there's a different route through education. I got straight "A"s, I was on the honor roll, but I was honestly looking for something different. I plan on going to college too, but I'm just taking a different path.

(speaker) I didn't come here because I'm not smart. I wanted the gateway. I know where I'm heading, and I know I'm gonna get there

(Describer) Chelsey Grow.

'cause I know I've got the skill set I need to get there.

(Describer) Ron Matter.

(speaker) Some of those perceptions that are out there, that, "Well, those are the kids that can't handle the academics." You're not a college prep kid. You're a hands-on learner. When the hands are engaged, the brain is also engaged. I want that auto mechanic that's doing the brakes on my car to have been the best hands-on learner to make sure that my car stops safely and appropriately when I apply the brakes.

(Eiben) I say working hands-on definitely enhances the education 'cause I'm able to come in, and I'm not just, "Oh, read a book, and this is what you're doing." I'm actually there running the machine. I'm learning how it works. I'm learning how to fix it, how to repair it, which all lead to you being a good employee for somebody.

(Grow) We want to be right there. We want to be in the field and in an internship.

(Describer) Dan Wyandt.

I think people are coming around to realize the value of having hands-on skills in addition to the academic skills.

(Describer) Alex Roudebush.

Eventually, at some point, you have to think about your future. If you can get an advantage and start that life before the end of high school, then you should jump on that and get into it. There is no lack of achievement, either academically or skill-based, that you're getting in a career center that you won't get at a regular high school. In fact, you're adding a skill set to your academics when you choose career technical education.

(Describer) Logos appear: Ohio Broadcast Educational Media Commission; Ohio Department of Education. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.