Our DPS CareerConnect Apprenticeship Program, offered in partnership with CareerWise Colorado, is an immersive three-year experience in which students work for a company while attending school.
Our DPS CareerConnect Apprenticeship Program, offered in partnership with CareerWise Colorado, is an immersive three-year experience in which students work for a company while attending school.
We know students learn in many ways, and through our apprenticeship program, high school students are able to gain hands-on experience as an employee of a company. Grounded in the comfort and support of their high school, apprentices continue to take both high school and college classes during the week, while getting paid to work for one of our company partners. As they progress in each year of their three-year apprenticeship, they take on more hours at their job and more classes on their college campus. Through an apprenticeship, students earn:
JACQUELINE
Business Operations Apprentice
AXYL
Business Operations Apprentice, Underwriting & Investigations
The panel discussion focused on apprenticeship as a pathway toward career readiness and higher education.
CRYSTAL
Technology apprentice
Even if your DPS school is not included as a host school, you still may be able to participate. Please fill out our interest survey and we will contact you with more information.
AXYL
Business Operations Apprentice, Underwriting & Investigations
In DPS, debt-free college credit is offered through our Concurrent Enrollment program. “Guaranteed Transfer” credits (also called “GT” credits) are transferable to any public two- or four-year college or university in the state of Colorado. Depending on the training plan that a student selects, students may also be able to transfer up to two years of college credit toward an applicable degree to one or more public four-year colleges or universities in the state of Colorado.
Our apprenticeship program is three years (with the exception of healthcare, which is four years). This gives students time to become work-ready in their given career field. This work experience lets future employers know that apprentices are ready to step into these careers as productive, full-time employees.
In most cases, the apprentice will graduate high school after their second year of their three-year apprenticeship. Leading up to that third year—the first post-high school year—apprentices are supported with strong academic and career advising and encouraged to continue their education in parallel with their apprenticeship to reach their goals. In some cases, employers provide tuition reimbursement for college coursework.
An apprenticeship schedule is different than the traditional high school schedule, as apprentices will leave their school campus on certain days or in the afternoon to work for one of our company partners. The rest of the week, apprentices will take either high school courses or college courses (or both) depending on their graduation needs and college readiness.
Most apprenticeships are three years, with the exception of our healthcare apprenticeship which is a four-year program. As a student progresses in each year of their apprenticeship, they take on more hours at their job and, when ready, more classes on their college campus.