Rising Enrollment and 2014-20015 Brings New Programs

Enrollment at the Dorchester Career and Technology Center (DCTC) is on the rise and with new programs slated for the 2014-2015 school year, Principal and County Career and Technology Education Supervisor Kermit Hines is excited about the opportunities available for local students and employers.

“In the next five years, I think we’re going to see a huge presentation of the investment the county has made in this facility and these programs,” he said.

Total enrollment this year is 608, which includes students in the many career tracks offered at DCTC on the Cambridge Beltway (now in its third school year) as well as those in two programs also offered at North Dorchester County High School. Enrollment was 565 in 2012-13 and 485 the year before.

Through federal and state grants and Project Lead the Way, DCTC plans to introduce pre-engineering and biomedical sciences programs next year. Both tie closely with STEM-related job opportunities (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

A Project Lead the Way installment is also planned for all the county’s middle schools at each grade level.

Hines says Culinary Arts, Homeland Security, Collision Repair, Medium and Heavy/ Truck Repair, Welding, Cosmetology and the Teacher Academy are the most popular programs at the school with 15 to a maximum of 20 students enrolled.

And he sees two new programs currently with eight to 10 students – interactive media production and the Cisco Networking Academy – gaining momentum.

“Those programs haven’t had the word-of-mouth benefit yet,” Hines said. “They’re upstarts about to take off.”

The education and skills gained at DCTC prepare students for job opportunities or further learning at two- and four-year institutions or trade schools.

Hines says a recent survey showed that every body shop in Dorchester County and surrounding counties has a DCTC graduate. In several cases, they own the shop.

All the diesel mechanics repairing buses at Delmarva Community Services went through the program. Culinary students are working the line alongside chefs at the Hyatt, Stoked, The High Spot and many other county restaurants. And manufacturers like GKD and Cambridge International employ graduates.