LA-25 Alain Leroy Locke College Prep: Expanding CTE Pathways at Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy

Pathways Improvement Scope

Locke is working to expand current programs at the site. The Building and Construction pathway currently only offers two years of instruction (Concentrator and Capstone), limiting students’ exposure to hands-on training and preparation for pre-apprenticeship industry certifications. Many students also encounter barriers to accessing internships, mentorship, and real-world learning opportunities that are crucial for career readiness. Concurrently, the three-year Computer Science pathway has the potential to attract and retain more students, but requires dedicated recruitment efforts. At the same time, existing IT support is struggling to keep up with the demands of the program, and additional resources would be required to accommodate an increase in enrollment. With the support of the K12 SWP grant, Locke plans to:

Design and implement an Introductory Building and Construction (B&C) course beginning in tenth grade, Purchase tools, personal protective equipment, lumber and consumables needed to meet the demand of our expanded B&C pathway, Purchase updated materials, supplies, and equipment for the Computer Science (CS) pathway, Update CTE-specific classroom furniture and technology for both pathways by replacing any damaged or outdated items, Hire a part-time IT Coordinator to provide technical support for the CS pathway, Coordinate recruitment events that are particularly designed to address equity gaps delineated by gender, race, and ability, Institute student leadership councils on-campus for both pathways, Host an annual CTE Showcase designed to celebrate student achievement and connect students with industry professionals, Sustain an engaged CTE Advisory Council for both pathways

Goals & Priorities

Locke’s priorities and objectives for this project are:

1) To increase enrollment in the Computer Science pathway by 60 new students, particularly targeting underrepresented groups, including Students with Disabilities and Female students.
2) To expand the Building and Construction pathway through a new Introductory course available starting in 10th grade. The additional course hours and hands-on training opportunities will now allow students in the pathway to earn two additional pre-apprenticeship Certificates in Carpentry.
3) To monitor course completion rates, setting a target of 50% for students completing at least two CTE courses.
4) To reach advanced completion consisting of at least two CTE courses plus college credit or industry certifications, with progress tracked annually.
5) To achieve a high school graduation rate of 90% among pathway students and ensure a postsecondary enrollment rate of 60% into either community colleges, apprenticeship programs, or more traditional four-year degrees.
6) To boost engagement in dual-enrollment summer programming with LASC for Computer Science and LATTC for Building and Construction.
7) To provide students with access to at least 4 college and career exploration opportunities per year.
8) To host at least 6 recruitment events – designed to ensure equitable representation and targeted to underrepresented students.
9) To ensure at least 40 students will participate in regional student competitions per year.
10) To establish a sustainable student-led CTE organization on campus, targeting 25 active members in the first year.
11) To implement a database for tracking CTE graduates, enabling us to effectively monitor student progress for five-years post graduation.