Careers Enter the Classroom as District Expands CTE Course Offerings for 2026-2027 School Year

BY MADISON LEE ’27

Course selection season has kicked off at Jericho High School, and the endless discussions over students’ future schedules have started. But this year, building these schedules has become even more difficult with the addition of two notable courses: AP Business with Personal Finance and college-level Clinical Healthcare.

Both classes supplement students with in-depth coursework, offering practical knowledge and potential college credit in their respective fields. In recent years, high schools across the country have begun prioritizing career and technical education (CTE), which is a style of learning that prepares students for specialized jobs and careers. 

School administrators are not the only ones who aim to integrate CTE into high school curricula. Students nationwide are beginning to demand more vocational opportunities, too. In a College Board survey, it was reported that “Four in five high school students want more career exploration.”

As a result, College Board announced a new AP Career Kickstart program, including the courses AP Business with Personal Finance, AP Cybersecurity, and AP Networking, all launching in the 2026-2027 school year. These courses were developed to teach high school students how to succeed in the workforce, combining rigorous academics with CTE.

The Jericho Business Department has decided to adopt one of these career-building classes for the upcoming school year, AP Business with Personal Finance. This course will teach financial management and professional development skills to students, all while supplying employer-endorsed credentials to those with qualifying exam scores.

Curriculum Associate of Social Studies, Business & Libraries Dr. Eric Sundberg has noticed a growing student curiosity in applied business and finance courses. This interest is what drove the department to adopt AP Business with Personal Finance in its inaugural year. 

Shelly C. ’27 said she liked how the course will “look at business overall, rather than the specifics, like marketing.” Shelly appreciated how AP Business with Personal Finance covers multiple business sectors in just one class, so she can figure out which ones she enjoys the most.

Moreover, Dr. Sundberg acknowledged the course’s potential usefulness in all disciplines beyond just business. He said, “Whether you’re interested in pursuing a business career or not, [the course] is still going to build skills in analyzing data, working with information, working in teams, and communicating clearly.”

Studies have suggested that offering pre-professional courses early on motivates students to keep pursuing higher education. Researchers from the Annenberg Institute at Brown University found that “Some programs, like Healthcare and Education neatly tie into a postsecondary pathway, and [students] may receive explicit preparation and encouragement to continue in those programs.”

Jericho is also expanding on its career-oriented programs by introducing Clinical Healthcare, which is a dual enrollment course that will offer hands-on experience for upperclassmen interested in the medical field. Through partnerships with local hospitals and Northwell’s MedVoyage program, students will be able to complete clinical rotations with real healthcare professionals. These professionals will range from surgeons to nurses, providing students with industry insight and connections in various medical specialties. Additionally, the course qualifies students to take the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) exam, earning their certifications while still in high school. 

Curriculum Associate of Science & Technology Education Dr. Janna Ostroff believes that the new Clinical Healthcare course will benefit students by teaching applied knowledge, rather than strictly conceptual knowledge. Unlike traditional science courses, Clinical Healthcare will have experiential opportunities in emergency treatment and medical observations. “It’s not a theory. It’s not an academic pursuit. It’s actual experience where [students] have their hands in something,” said Dr. Ostroff. 

Dr. Ostroff also thinks that Clinical Healthcare will give a unique advantage to students applying to competitive medical programs. “This [course] sets students apart. There are plenty of students out there in this world right now that are taking many, many AP courses. But very few students have actual experience in clinical healthcare,” she said.

Some students may enjoy these pre-professional opportunities in school, but others may feel overwhelmed with choices—especially if they are still unsure of their future paths. 

Although future planning may cause pressure, giving students career-oriented options has still proven to be positive. “Planning early helps me stay focused and gives me a sense of direction, even when I am unsure about my final career choice,” said Tahirah C. ’27.

Jericho’s new career-oriented courses only aim to support this planning. Whether they end up working on Wall Street or in operating rooms, the students in these courses will be equipped with the technical skills required for success.