Relevant education for a lifetime
Career Technical Education (CTE) courses integrate academics in a rigorous and relevant curriculum while allowing students active career exploration. Students have the opportunity to choose a career pathway which will allow them to acquire real-life skills to prepare them for successful, continuing education or entry-level career positions.
CTE Pathways prepares our students to be future-ready by teaching them to leverage and maximize new technologies to solve tasks and workplace problems. Our students learn to become skillfully adaptable in communicating ideas, interacting with others, and engaging in experiential processes.
With various options ranging from Food Science to Welding, we encourage our students to ask their academic counselor for help finding the right pathway for them.
What You Can Achieve
Industry-Based Technical Skills
Professional Workplace Experience
Acquire Industry Certifications
College Credit
Learn More About Pathways
Career pathways allow students to begin their careers as part of a normal school day. Students may enroll in a career pathway, where their high school coursework will simultaneously include standard courses necessary to enroll in a university as well as career specific courses so they may begin building their professional network and skills in a supportive, constructive environment.
Visit each school’s CTE page to learn more details about each pathway.
CTE Pathways
Each CTE Pathway is industry-focused and usually consists of 2-3 courses. The last course in the pathway is the capstone. When students complete a course they may receive college credit or receive an industry certificate. Click on each industry below to see details about the courses and outcomes.
Aerospace Engineering
(DHS)
Audiovisual Tech Support
(WHS)
Construction
(WHS)
Dance & Choreography
(DHS)
Education
(DHS)
Graphic Design
(DHS)
Additional Opportunities
Besides pathways, there are extracurricular programs available that allow students to learn professional and practicable skills outside the classroom.
Students may participate in competitions and symposiums or work in entry-level jobs to explore different interests and figure out where they want to take their career, and get professional assistance with building their resume or college application to help them work towards their dreams.
Work Experience & Internships
More Info
College Admissions Academy
More Info
Downey Unified Esports League
More Info
Femineers Extracurriculars
More Info
The program provides students with project-based learning, mentorship from female STEM professionals, and opportunities to visit Cal Poly Pomona, building a community for current and future female STEM leaders.
Skills USA Opportunities
More Info
Want to learn more?
About Downey MADE
Launched in 2016, the Downey MADE program takes students on an experiential journey of active career exploration. Within the program, students choose a career pathway linked to a sequence of classes. These classes are tied to specific industry sectors. Ultimately, MADE students develop technical and transferable skills that are unique to a particular career pathway.