Career and technical education is a massive enterprise in the U.S. Thousands of comprehensive high schools, technical high schools, area technical centers, community colleges and universities offer career and technical education programs. Virtually every high school student takes at least one career and technical education course, and over 76% will take three or more courses in a single program area. One-third of college students are involved in career and technical programs, and as many as 40 million adults engage in short-term postsecondary occupational training.

Thousands of Knox County young people get their start each year in exciting and rewarding Career-Technical Education (CTE) courses.  Secondary Career-Technical Education can be the first step in a pathway toward a rewarding career and lifetime of opportunities, whether students plan to further their education in community colleges, technical schools, or four-year colleges and universities,

The mission of Career-Technical Education is to help empower students for effective participation in a global society. CTE programs are designed to contribute to the broad academic achievement of all students by showing the relevance of academic content through real world application. These programs also develop their ability to work independently, understand the importance of team work, think creatively and solve problems through the use of technology.