Culinary Arts
The Culinary Arts program is open to all Vancouver Public Schools students. An application must be completed for students to be considered for acceptance into the half-day program. The district provides transportation for any student who enrolls in this program of choice.
Extensive hands-on opportunities in all facets of catering events, cafe management and food service offer Culinary Arts students real-world job experiences. Students gain 21st-century skills as they collaborate with other CTE programs such as Horticulture and professionals and mentors of the hospitality industry. As students engage in team-building and creative problem-solving, they build their employable skills.
Part of the Culinary Arts program of choice takes place at the student-operated Passport Café, located at the Jim Parsley Center. Here students develop skills and knowledge including customer service, barista skills, cashiering and line cooking. Each student completes an internship at the Passport Cafe alongside an instructor.
Culinary students also have the opportunity to join SkillsUSA and compete in regional, state and national leadership and culinary competitions.
Culinary Arts fliers
Advanced Manufacturing
Our Advanced Manufacturing program is designed to provide students with the technical knowledge and skills to pursue career opportunities in manufacturing, welding and fabrication. Safe work habits and the proper use of materials are stressed as students learn the application of tools, machines and welding basics. They also learn blueprint reading, how to weld joints in all positions and basic math to trigonometry. This program is influenced by a national industry consortium, local advisory committee and OSHA’s general industry outreach via the University of Washington. Exceptional students have the opportunity to take the AWS-certified welding test and be credentialed by a testing lab. This half-day program is offered only as a morning session.
Advanced Manufacturing fliers
Medical Arts
The mission of the Medical Arts program of choice is to introduce students to the expanding field of health care. This is a three-year program with a curriculum that focuses on a selected body of knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for careers in health care fields. Health, wellness, science, math, technology and medicine are central themes around which students in the program structure their high school experience.
There are four core classes: Health Sciences and Careers, Athletic Medicine, Medical Terminology and AP Psychology. Students in good academic standing become eligible to participate in four hours of field experience in their junior and senior years. Upon graduation, students have the skills and base knowledge to continue in a technical or two-/four-year college experience.
Students in the Medical Arts program may also earn up to 17 Clark College credits. The core curriculum credits for the Health Sciences Strand prepare students to enter one of many Clark College certification programs, including Pharmacy Tech, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Receptionist and Medical Transcription.
Medical Arts fliers
Careers in Education
The Careers in Education program offers a unique experience for students who are interested in working with young people, particularly in the fields of teaching, early childhood education, educational paraprofessionals, child care, counseling, child psychology, pediatrics and social and human service occupations.