Taconic Hills Jr/Sr High School

Career & Technical Education  (CTE)

Questar III’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offer high school students the opportunity to learn career skills while earning a Regents diploma. The half-day programs are a great way for students to explore a variety of careers and develop specialized skills through hands-on learning and integrated academics. Programs are based at Columbia-Greene Educational Center in Hudson and Rensselaer Educational Center in Troy.

 Information on Center-based Programs

Academy for Information Technology (AIT) I & II 

Automotive Technologies I & II

Aviation I & II

Construction Technologies I & II

Cosmetology I & II

Criminal Justice I & II

Culinary Arts I & II

HVAC & Renewable Energies I & II

Welding/Metal Fabrication I/Welding/Machine Tool I & II

Heavy Equipment Operation Maintenance I & II

 Information on Career Studies

Automotive Services I & II

Building Trades

Introduction to Employment

Introduction to Food Services

Career Exploration

 Information on New Visions Programs

Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) at Rensselaer Poly. Inst.

Scientific Research & World Health, UAlbany, Rensselaer

Visual & Performing Arts, Sage College, Troy

Medical, Samaritan Hospital, Troy

 Information on CTE Programs for Seniors

Certified Nurse Aide, Questar III, Hudson

Theatre Institute at Sage College, Troy

EMT & Health Careers, Questar III, Hudson

Taconic Hills students earn high school credits while attending classes at the Columbia-Greene Educational Center for 2 1/2 hours every day.  They complete the balance of their academic coursework back at our high school during the other half of the day. While CTE classes allow students to earn credits, there are minimum credits that a student must have successfully completed prior to entering a CTE program.  This is important to ensure that a student is able to graduate on time with his or her graduating class.  These credit/requirements include 2 credits in English, 2 credits in Math, 2 credits in Science, 2 credits in Social Studies, 1 credit in Physical Education, 1 elective credit, and successful completion of two out of the five required state exams for graduation.  In extenuating circumstances, individual exceptions may be granted with permission of the high school counselor and high school principal.  For more information, please visit, www.questar.org/education/career-tech-ed.

 Students in CTE programs have the potential to earn a Technical Endorsement on their diploma, which demonstrates that they have developed technical skills and a high level of competency in their career field. The endorsement is earned by meeting the following requirements: completion of a two-year CTE program, earning 22 New York State required credits, passing the required Regents exams, and passing all categories of a technical assessment which includes a portfolio.

 Because the coursework is at 11th and 12th-grade levels, students must be encouraged to complete most of their 10th-grade classes before enrolling. In addition, each CTE program includes the potential for students to earn or challenge for college credits through articulation agreements, so students will be expected to work at grade level on math, English and science assignments.

 TECH VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

Tech Valley High School was created in 2007 to provide students with the skills necessary to be successful in college and in tomorrow’s workforce. The theme of the school is a strong emphasis on math, science, and technology in a project-based learning environment with exposure to the Chinese language, art and physical education. All eighth-grade students can apply to Tech Valley High School. Eighth-grade students must meet with the JHS counselor to discuss their application, complete the application, submit it to their counselor, and attend a parent-student information session with their parents. Funding and transportation are provided by Taconic Hills. There is no tuition for parents to pay.

NEW VISIONS (offered in conjunction with Questar III)

For 3.5 hours each day, New Visions students learn and explore through mentoring, internships, interactions with professionals, group discussion, and creative projects, as well as more traditional methods. A 1-year, honors-level program, New Visions turns area businesses, healthcare facilities, and government buildings into classrooms for highly motivated, academically successful high school seniors. New Visions students earn four academic credits including one credit each for English and social studies and two electives credits. They also may earn college credit, and the program is a proven asset on transcripts and college applications.