UPLAND – Upland Unified School District (UUSD) is broadening its acclaimed Career Technical Education (CTE) program with the launch of three new pathways in Elementary Education, Agriscience, and Emergency Medical Responder. These additions will provide students with hands-on training and industry-relevant experience to prepare them for high-demand careers or further education.

Building on its robust CTE program, UUSD’s new offerings will be taught by experienced industry professionals and provide students with practical, career-aligned instruction. The District currently offers 12 established pathways in Film, TV, & Video Production; Photography; Computer Science; Health Careers & Patient Care; Sports Medicine; Automotive Technology; Engineering Design; Residential & Commercial Construction; Welding & Materials Joining; Stage Technology and Production; Hip Hop Dance; and Modern Dance.

“We’re excited to give our students even more opportunities to enter into a meaningful career of their choosing, and to jumpstart their attainment of credentials, college credits, and work-based learning experiences,” said Sean Delgado, UUSD Program Specialist for Adult Education.

Offered at Upland High School, the Elementary Education pathway is a dual-enrollment program that allows students to work toward an associate’s degree in Elementary Education while in high school through Chaffey College, earning transferable credits to many colleges and universities.

Classes begin in fall 2025 with approximately 70 students enrolled. Taught by a credentialed UUSD educator, the program also includes paid internships at local elementary schools.

Launching at Hillside High School, the Agriscience pathway will immerse students in the full scope of agricultural practices—from soil science and planting to harvesting and marketing—using the school’s on-site garden, affectionately known as “The Farm.”

Also expanding at Hillside, the Emergency Medical Responder pathway will now offer a second-year course in addition to its first-year course, which offers foundational training for students interested in careers in emergency medical services or firefighting.

These new pathways are supported in part by workforce development grants that fund industry-standard facilities and equipment. A recent $150,000 K-12 Workforce Grant, for example, upgraded the Film, TV, and Video Production studio with new state-of-the-art cameras and a dynamic background system.

Community partners—including San Antonio Regional Hospital, Mountain View Chevrolet, Ford of Upland, and local unions—enhance the CTE experience through guest lectures, field trips, donations, and internship opportunities.

In the 2024-25 school year, more than 1,000 students—about 40% of UUSD’s high school population—participated in CTE courses. Many participated in industry-specific internships or earned professional certifications such as CPR or OSHA.

Additionally, last year marked the first time UUSD students competed in the SkillsUSA competition. Ten students across four pathways advanced to the state level, competing in activities such as welding, audio/electronic installation, auto refinishing, and digital cinema production.

For the 2026-27 school year, UUSD is planning to launch a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) pathway at Upland High School, and a Child Development pathway at Hillside High School. The District also plans to introduce introductory CTE programs at its middle schools and expand partnerships to provide more internship, apprenticeship, and career-entry opportunities. Future goals include expanding Upland High’s on-campus mini trade center that is to be used for high school students during the day and then by the Adult School students at night.

UUSD’s CTE programming is designed to provide students with career-focused instruction that equips them with a competitive advantage for college, professional training, licensure, or immediate employment.

Class of 2024 graduate Kaya White, an alumna of the Sports Medicine pathway, is currently a kinesiology student and athletic trainer at San Diego State University.

“My time in the Sports Medicine pathway allowed me to gain hands-on experience and an overall understanding of kinesiology,” said White. “The knowledge and skills I gained in high school have helped me incredibly as a current Student Athletic Medicine Volunteer at SDSU.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

UUSD1_CTE: Upland Unified students in the Sports Medicine and Health Careers CTE pathways learn about patient care in a setting arranged and equipped like a medical facility.

UUSD2_CTE: An enrollee in the Digital Photography pathway films a Welding student during a competition, an example of collaboration between students in different CTE programs.