If your child is interested in a career in health care, the Arlington ISD has a new specialized program that can prepare them now for their future. P-TECH at Bowie High School, which opened at the beginning of this school year, is an innovative high school that prepares students for careers in health sciences.

P-TECH AT BOWIE

Pathways in Technology, better known as P-TECH, is the district’s third early college high school and gives students who are the least likely to attend college an opportunity to receive both a high school diploma and an associate degree, along with industry certifications, at the same time.

What sets the P-TECH apart from the other two early college high schools is its emphasis on health sciences. Students can select from four fields of study including pharmacy technician, central sterile processing, health information systems or ophthalmology.

The health science education students receive is real-world and relevant thanks to a partnership with Medical City Arlington.

“We’ll host students who will train here at the hospital with physicians, nurses and technologists and ultimately graduate with hands-on care to serve in the community,” said Keith Zimmerman, the CEO of Medical City Arlington. “We’re so proud to help them move forward in their health care careers.”

The partnership with MCA is so powerful because it works in tandem with an outstanding curriculum driven by a dedicated faculty. And it’s not your average science teacher instructing the classes. The team of experienced staff members includes a professor, chiropractor, pharmacy technician and more.

“The P-TECH is particularly important because it exposes students to real-life situations as well as allowing them to connect what they learn in the classroom to what they want to be in the health care field,” said P-TECH chemistry teacher Minh Dang.”

PREPARING FOR THE JOBS OF TOMORROW

The health care industry is growing, which means the demand for workers is growing, too. But the field – and the jobs in it – are constantly evolving. The P-TECH at Bowie was created to ensure students have the resources they need and get the education required to get jobs at the time they graduate. The intent is to not only educate them for today but to also get them ready for the future job market.

“The world is constantly changing, and we have to recognize that and adapt,” said Brandi Johnson, the P-TECH assistant principal. “Jobs from a few years ago are not the same as tomorrow’s jobs, and P-Tech will set students up for success in an evolving world.”

To ensure the success of this program, administrators worked with Texas Workforce Solutions to assess projected jobs that meet community needs as far as five years out. So even though the economy is changing, your child will graduate and be ready to obtain a job that exists.

REWARDING TODAY

While P-TECH students are preparing for jobs in the future, their school is also designed to enrich their lives today and provide a one-of-a-kind experience with their peers.

Because the skills-based classes in P-TECH are on one hallway in the school, the program feels family-oriented and gives students a healthy space for building relationships with each other. Over time, students build a natural support system and often hold one another accountable for completing projects and activities.

And because the school is located on the Bowie campus – it’s a school within a school – P-TECH students can take advantage of all the traditional high school activities such as athletics, fine arts and extracurricular clubs and organizations.

There are even opportunities for parent engagement by getting involved in the advisory board that helps oversee the structure of the program.

APPLY NOW

With the deadline for specialized programs quickly approaching – Jan. 28 – now is the time to think about your child’s future and apply. If you think this might be the right program for your child, learn more about the P-TECH at Bowie and apply.

Bowie’s P-TECH is just one of the Arlington ISD’s specialized programs designed to give your student opportunities for advancement and a chance to develop their passions. Students in grades kindergarten through 12 can apply for a specialized program that will encourage their unique talents while giving them a head start on college and securing internships.

Learn more about all of the district’s specialized programs. And remember, the deadline for all of them is 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28.

Don’t wait to set your child up for a future of endless possibilities!