CareerConnect starts in the classroom with courses that are fun, real-world, project-based and excellent preparation for careers and college. The classes can involve internships, job shadows, certifications and lots of opportunities to connect with professionals.
“I am a Latino kid coming from a struggling family. I want to make my family proud.”
Jovany
Manual High School
MedConnect
See examples of potential careers, classes and opportunities available with each option.
Click around to see what interests you and then link to more details.
Who’s it for? Students interested in becoming tomorrow’s business leaders. Prepare for a successful career in business, finance, marketing and entrepreneurship.
Classes may include: Accounting, Principles of Business, Marketing, Social Media Marketing & Entrepreneurship, Computer Business Applications.
Can lead to: College credit and internships.
Schools offering this career pathway: Bruce Randolph, CEC Early College, Denver Center for 21st-Century Learning at Wyman, Denver School for Innovation and Sustainable Design (DSISD), East High School, George Washington High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Northeast Early College, South High School, Thomas Jefferson High School.
Who’s it for? Students interested in careers in the arts, including design, photography, audio production and the performing arts.
Classes may include: Digital Photography, Audio Engineering, 3-D Animation, Graphic Design, Computer Game Design.
Can lead to: College credit and industry-recognized certifications such as the Adobe Creative Suite while in high school.
Schools offering this career pathway: Abraham Lincoln High School, CEC Early College, DELTA High School, Denver Online, Denver School of the Arts, East High School, George Washington High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, Legacy Options High School, North High School, Northeast Early College, South High School, Summit Academy, Thomas Jefferson High School, Vista Academy, West Early College.
Who’s it for? Students interested in careers in education, from ECE to high school, including school counseling.
Classes may include: Intro to Early Childhood Education, Guidance Strategies, Social Issues in Urban Education, Pathways2Teaching.
Can lead to: College credit, classroom experiences and internships.
Schools offering this career pathway: Abraham Lincoln High School, CEC Early College, Collegiate Preparatory Academy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Early College.
Who’s it for? Students who like problem-solving and figuring things out. Prepare for a successful career in civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering.
Classes may include: Intro to Engineering and Design, Energy Industry Fundamentals, Digital Electronics and Civil Engineering.
Can lead to: College credit and internships.
Schools offering this career pathway: East High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, Denver School for Innovation and Sustainable Design.
Who’s it for? Students interested in careers in travel, hotel management and the culinary arts.
Classes may include: Culinary 1, Bakery/Deli/Catering, Professional Start in Business Management in Hospitality and Food Service.
Can lead to: Participation in regional competitions to hone skills and industry certifications.
Schools offering this career pathway: CEC Early College, Vista Academy.
Who’s it for? Students interested in careers in advanced manufacturing, construction, and the skilled trades that lead to a variety of high-opportunity college and career options.
Classes may include: Intro to Digital Fabrication, CAD Drafting Technology, Construction Trades, Welding.
Can lead to: College credit, internships and industry certifications.
Schools offering this career pathway: Abraham Lincoln High School, CEC Early College, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, Montbello Career and Technical High School.
Who’s it for? Students interested in healthcare and biosciences, in careers that range from medical office assistants to nurses to lab technicians to athletic trainers — all the way to physicians.
Classes may include: Intro to Health Careers, Sports Medicine, Health Science, Principles of Biomedical Sciences, Medical Prep.
Can lead to: College credit, internships and industry certifications.
Schools offering this career pathway: CEC Early College, George Washington High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Manual High School, Northfield High School, Summit Academy, Vista Academy, West Early College.
Who’s it for? Students interested in careers in law, public safety, corrections and security.
Classes may include: Criminal Justice, Fire Science, Law Careers.
Can lead to: College credit, industry recognized certification, internships and apprenticeship.
School offering this career pathway: CEC Early College
Who’s it for? Students interested in careers as, but not limited to, software engineers, robotics technicians, IT support and web designers.
Classes may include: Robotics, Exploring Computer Science, Computer Game Design, Software Engineering.
Can lead to: College credit, internships and industry certifications such as A+ certification.
Schools offering this career pathway: Abraham Lincoln High School, CEC Early College, Denver Center for 21st-Century Learning at Wyman, Denver Online High School, Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, Montbello Career and Technical High School, North High School, Northeast Early College, Northfield High School, PREP Academy, Thomas Jefferson High School, Vista Academy, West Early College, West Leadership Academy.
Who’s it for? Students with disabilities, English learners, those in foster care, teen parents and more.
Classes may include: Career Discovery, Career Navigate, Career Engage, Career Advance, Work Experience and Study.
Can lead to: College credits, internships and industry certifications (in selected career field).
Schools offering this career pathway: Abraham Lincoln High School, East High School, George Washington High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Manual High School, North High School, PREP Academy, South High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, West Early College, West Leadership Academy.
Prefer a list view of these schools? Click here.
CareerConnect staff are in most schools. But we’re always here to help.
Email us with your specific questions.
Yes. We hope you’ll give it an honest try but if it’s not the right fit, it’s not the right fit. Talk to your CareerConnect staff member at your school or email us and we’ll help you out. Some students have switched after a few days or weeks, and some go through an entire semester or internship before realizing they want to try something different.
We believe it’s better to explore your options in high school, for free, rather than later when it might cost money. Don’t you agree?
No, although the great majority of our school-based learning programs kick off in grades 9-10. Learn more about the many opportunities we offer in grades K-8 here.
Contact us and we’ll work with you to explore your options.
Classwork is an important part of any work experience. You wouldn’t expect an employee at the workplace you’re visiting to go in without any prior understanding of expectations and the job, and we don’t want you to go in without preparation either. Typically, students in grades 9 and 10 learn about their career interests, visit workplaces and talk to professionals before launching into an internship or work experience as high school juniors and seniors.
CareerConnect classes may count as part of your academic requirements or they may count as electives, depending on your particular situation. We encourage you to talk with your school counselor or CareerConnect staff member. We’re also happy to talk with you; just email us with your questions.
For some online resources to consult right away, check out https://collegeandcareer.dpsk12.org/ as well as graduation requirements for the Classes of 2018-2020 and the Class of 2021 and Beyond.
All of these opportunities reflect Denver Public Schools’ desire to ensure our students graduate ready for college and career, whichever you choose. Some CareerConnect classes may also be Concurrent Enrollment or Early College classes, depending on the school and your particular Individual Career and Academic Plans (ICAP). We encourage you to talk to your school counselor, CareerConnect staff member at your school or email us with your questions.
For some online resources to consult right away, check out https://collegeandcareer.dpsk12.org/ as well as graduation requirements for the Classes of 2018-2020 and the Class of 2021 and Beyond.
“You can’t get anywhere without taking a risk once. Better to take the risk rather than to sit back.”
VasiLisa
George Washington High School
MedConnect