With the greater Denton region projected to add more than 300,000 new jobs over the next 10 years, Denton ISD is using Career and Technical Education programs to meet employment needs.
At an Aug. 11 DISD board meeting, CTE Program Director Will Milne reviewed the district’s efforts to align CTE curriculum and outlined the department’s vision for the 2026-27 school year.
The details
Milne’s CTE report stated software development, nursing, and logistics represent some of the fastest-growing occupations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with employers seeking workers with experience in digital and technical skills across all industries.
To prepare students for this expansion, Milne said DISD's CTE programs focus heavily on key high-growth, high-wage sectors, including:
- Technology and STEM
- Healthcare and nursing
- Finance and software development
- Logistics and supply chain management
“The labor market is something we always like to look for with CTE,” Milne said. “It’s important because we’re always trying to keep an eye on what our labor market is doing now and also what it’s doing 10 years down the line so that we’re preparing our students adequately by the time they graduate.”
What else?
For the 2026-27 school year, Milne said the CTE program will focus on employability skills as a theme. According to the report, employability skills are those “soft skills” such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and time management workers need to succeed in modern work environments.
Quote of note
“We really feel like no matter what a student’s future looks like, if they’re taking our courses in CTE and learning about employability skills, no matter what career they go into after they graduate, they will be able to leave our class with something that will help them in their future,” Milne said.
What you need to know
The report states the district’s CTE program offers 28 programs of study and that 4,300 certifications were earned during the 2025-26 school year.
According to the report, the district’s CTE program prepares students for careers in a vast array of industries including:
- Building trades
- Culinary
- Cosmetology
- Finance
- Logistics
- Robotics
The report states middle school students can begin their CTE experience by exploring various career pathways through introductory courses, interactive career days, and annual events like Manufacturing Day, which connect classroom concepts with local industry partners.
As students transition to high school, they select specialized CTE Programs of Study and can earn credits through advanced coursework, dual-credit options, and hands-on training.
More information can be found at this link.
