William Floyd Says Its Career and Technical Program Has Grown to About 800 Students

William Floyd High School's Career and Technical Education program, run in-house, now serves about 800 students in nine career programs, up from 136 students in five programs when it started in 2013, the district said Friday.

The district said Principal Philip Scotto and Robert Felicetta, its "assistant principal and administrator in charge of CTE," outlined the growth at a recent Board of Education presentation. The program also offers five other career pathways, the district said.

The district described its newest offering, Mental Health Professions, as a state pilot program and "the first of its kind on Long Island." It said 25 students are enrolled to explore careers such as counseling and social work, with access to dual-enrollment university courses and local externships. Fairleigh Dickinson University is a partner on the program, the district said.

The district tied CTE to academic gains, pointing to a 95% graduation rate, compared with 79% in 2015-16 and 67% in 2006-07. It said more than 1,300 students took one or more dual-enrollment courses last year and that half the members of the Class of 2026 were eligible for diplomas carrying a CTE endorsement.

"William Floyd High School's expanding CTE program reflects a continued commitment to providing students with multiple pathways to success," Felicetta said. "The program brings together academic coursework, career exploration, hands-on learning, and postsecondary partnerships, providing students with the opportunities to develop lifelong skills, prepare for the workforce after graduation and pursue further education in that career path."

Felicetta also cited two SkillsUSA state champions and a student the Haugland Group hired after a summer internship. Many of the school's medical assisting students have been accepted to Fairleigh Dickinson, the district said.