Mat-Su Career and Technical High School (Alaska)
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Mat-Su Career and Technical High School, often locally referred to as Career Tech, is a United States high school located in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough in the city of Wasilla, Alaska. It is a public vocational high school, focusing on teaching students artisanry, craftmanship, and technical skills through the use of eight career pathways. The current pathways are: Building, Business, Fitness, Health, Hospitality and Tourism, Human Services, Natural Resources, and Transportation.[1]
History[edit]
After approval for construction in 2003, Career Tech opened in the fall of 2007 under Principal Ben Eveland[2] and graduated its first senior class in the spring of 2008. In 2015, work was completed on a 33,000 square foot extension to add three additional career pathways to the initial five.[3]
Focus Shifts[edit]
Starting with the transition from Ben Eveland to Mark Okeson as principal in 2011, Career Tech began to focus away from preparing future alumni for general post-secondary education (vocational ed., apprenticeship, or other workforce training) in favor of a more university-aligned focus, or College Prep. This resulted in the introduction of AP classes, a culture more focused on university and more competitive admissions. Principal Okeson instated a system of admission which accepted only students who academically exceeded 95% of their peers in prior schooling. To be enrolled, a student must also have submitted an online application, a one-page prompt essay, and an interview with the school's principal or vice principal in formal wear.[citation needed]
Though highly controversial among the public, the change also resulted in Career Tech being consistently rated the best high school in Alaska for college preparation[4] during the time in which the focus was in place.
Admissions Controversy[edit]
Due to the transition to accepting only the highest academically achieving students, and therefore students who are most likely to be of socioeconomically privileged backgrounds (per the connection between socioeconomic status and the academic ability of a person), Career Tech's demographics became widely criticized for not having enough diversity. During the summer of 2019, after Principal Okeson was succeeded by Principal Jason Ross, the Alaska Department of Education & Early Development made clear that if the demographics weren't improved, the Mat-Su School District's Perkins Grant funding would be withdrawn.[5] To avoid the loss of the large majority of Career Tech funding, under Principal Ross the admissions process was switched from a merit-based system to a lottery, where future admitted students are decided randomly via computer.
The change from meritocracy to lottery is a highly controversial subject. Diversity has improved at the expense of Career Tech's standing as the #1 Alaskan high school. Many support the change, claiming the supposed nepotism which favored those with connections to Career Tech staff in the past selection process was hurting fair education. Many as well vehemently oppose the change, believing that the supposed stifling of talented young students in favor of random selection is not worth it.
References[edit]
- ↑ "Mat-Su Career & Tech High / CTHS Homepage". www.matsuk12.us. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ↑ "2.20 > Career & Tech Admissions". Alaska Watchman. 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ↑ Frontiersman.com, Anita Laulainen For (2014-02-17). "Career Tech plans for expansion". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ↑ "Explore Mat-Su Career & Tech Education High School". Niche. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ↑ "2.20 > Career & Tech Admissions". Alaska Watchman. 2021-02-20. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
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