Classes that are currently waitlist only for 2023-2024 School Year:
Maritime Vessel Operations (Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle Maritime Academy)
PM Automotive Technology (West Seattle HS)
AM Automotive Technology (Washington MS – Skills Center Building)
AM & PM Nursing Assisting (Franklin HS)
AM & PM Construction (Wood Technology Center, Seattle Colleges)
PM Video Game Animation
The Seattle Skills Center is committed to delivering advanced career and technical education for high school students.
The Seattle Skills Center is a free program in Seattle Public Schools that prepares students for college, careers, and life. We do this by providing advanced Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses that give students options to continue career-focused learning in four-year colleges, earn post-secondary certification, or join the work force after high school.
Seattle Skills Center programs are located within Seattle Public Schools’ high schools and community-based sites throughout the city.
How are Skills Center courses unique?
Most CTE courses in middle and high school are one hour per day, one or two semester offerings, and a majority are exploratory courses. While these continue to be excellent options for students, Skills Center Courses provide much more in-depth and authentic learning experiences and are preparatory courses. Courses offer high school credit, industry recognized certification, advanced learning, and college credit.
These courses are driven by market demand, so Seattle Skills Center students are motivated to enter the workforce AND prepare for college and careers. Many courses result in industry recognized certificates and prepare students to continue in focused, post-secondary training or credential programs, or head directly into the workforce.
Pathways to college, career, and life!
School Year Skills Center courses are a half day long- three periods out of a six period school day, or around 2.5 hours.
Courses are a full year long Students that complete a year of Skills Center courses earn 3 CTE credits. Many of our courses offer credit equivalency in other fields such as Math, Science, English, and Physical Education. See our course list below for details.
Daily Course Schedule
Daily Schedule: Monday-Friday, Full School Year
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday (2.5 hours per day)
Only students of Seattle School District can enroll in Seattle Skills Center courses.
For school year courses, students must be high school students.
Apply for only one course, unless special arrangements have been made with your school counselor.
Registration Priority: To help ensure that 12th grade students have access to a Skills Center program before they leave high school, the Seattle Skills Center will give this year’s 11th grade students applying for Skills Center classes priority placement until March 1, at which point we will begin placing all other applicants into classes on a first come, first served basis.
Current school year 2022-23: Wood Technology Center, SCC
Next school year 2023-24: Wood Technology Center, SCC
Aerospace Advanced Manufacturing, Aerospace and Maritime
Credit Equivalencies with Math or Science available
CTE Dual Credit available and Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Science, Engineering, and Industry – Seattle is home to two of the world’s largest and most progressive industries: Aerospace and Maritime. Launch your career or college acceptance by key manufacturing skills used across shipyards and aerospace employers in the Pacific Northwest. Students learn safety, tool identification and proper use, fastener installation, and machining. They also learn welding, fabrication, and complex system identification and repair. We strive to help students gain industry experience and college credit and prepare them for an upcoming and fulfilling career in industry.
Current school year 2022-23: Washington Middle School or West Seattle High School
Next school year 2023-24: Washington Middle School or West Seattle High School (West Seattle HS is Waitlist Only)
Automotive Technology
Credit Equivalency with Science available
Dual Credit and Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Science, Engineering, and Industry – Are you interested in a hands-on class that requires critical thinking as well as an interest in the auto industry? Gain a solid foundation in automotive technology and the skills for gainful employment. You will learn about brake systems, maintenance, and other systems that function within a vehicle. Gain certification that meets industry needs. College credit can be earned in this program.
Current school year 2022-23: Ingraham High School or Wood Technology Center, SCC
Next school year 2023-24: Ingraham High School or Wood Technology Center, SCC
Construction Trades
Credit Equivalency in Math or Science available
Industry Certification available
Career Pathway: Science, Engineering, and Industry – This course covers both residential and commercial construction with an emphasis on job site safety. Students will focus on employability skills, problem-solving, trainability, team building, and will work on a tiny house for the homeless. Through hands-on projects students gain experience with the tools, materials and processes of the following trades: Cement and Masonry, Wood Frame Carpentry, Roofing, Siding, Drywall and Painting, Finish Carpentry, Cabinet installation, flooring and countertops.
Class offering contingent upon funding and enrollment
Location:
Current school year 2022-23: N/A
Next school year 2023-23: Health Science Center (1200 12th Ave)
Dental Assisting
Credit Equivalency with Science
The course introduces students to the high demand field of dentistry and dental assisting. Students explore topics that includes people skills, psychology, ethics, pre-clinical science, OSHA standards, HIPAA regulations, clinical sciences, healthcare provider CPR and 7-hour HIV training required for mandatory state registration as a dental assistant for employment.
Current school year 2022-23: Washington Middle School
Next school year 2023-24: Washington Middle School
Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services
Credit Equivalency with Lab Science and PE (not Personal Fitness)
Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Science, Engineering, and Industry – This course prepares students for careers as fire fighters and other emergency services careers. The cadet will be able to manage self, others, activities or events with responsibility for a positive outcome; apply leadership skills in real-world, family, community, and business/industry applications; and be tested on their ability to work with peers in a variety of subject areas by completing training and preparations at the highest levels.
Cross Credits in Science and Applied Math available
CTE Dual Credit and Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Health & Human Services – Enter Medical Assisting, a fast-growing medical profession that is part of Allied Health and the Health Sciences career cluster. Students practice the language and skills of doctors and other health professionals, using core knowledge that leads to healthcare, medical assisting, and medical office assisting occupations. The program uses National HOSA student leadership projects, modules, computer programs, industry standards, college curriculum, and problem-based activities in school and industry settings.
Current school year 2022-23: Seattle Maritime Academy and Center for Wooden Boats
Next school year 2023-24: Seattle Maritime Academy and Center for Wooden Boats (Waitlist)
Maritime Vessel Operations
Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Science, Engineering, and Industry – Learn how to work on ships in Puget Sound! This course blends modern and traditional seamanship and deckhand skills with training in engine maintenance and repair. Learn what it takes to work on fishing vessels, ferryboats, cargo ships and more! Develop fundamental skills in navigation, tides, currents, boat handling, knots, safety, communications, radar, meteorology, tool use, and marine engine maintenance and repair. The class is taught in two locations: the Center for Wooden Boats (1st semester) and Seattle Maritime Academy (2nd semester). Course work is taught on the water and in the classroom. Students prepare for summer jobs and further training after high school that could result in Coast Guard certification.
In this course, students will gain a wide variety of digital media production skills and begin developing their own Media Arts portfolio. Students will learn the principles of graphic design, website design, animation, audio production, and video production with an emphasis on real-world projects.
CTE Dual Credit and Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Health & Human Services – Nursing Assistant training is a fast track to post-secondary Health Sciences, and related Nursing Careers and immediate employment in a rapidly growing field of nursing. Nursing is considered one of the entry points into the medical profession. Students first complete the 11 national health foundation standards, test basic knowledge and skills in their classroom and clinical site, then test for state license. National HOSA leadership, problem based learning, and clinical experiences provide opportunities. If the student earns at least an 80% in the Skills Center Nursing Assistant Program/Med Careers during the full academic school year (completes both semesters), and completes all necessary training for their CPR/BLS they will receive 14 Allied Health Credits with Seattle Colleges
*To prepare for the Nursing Assistant Certification test and complete the coursework for this program, hands-on learning (“clinicals”) at an assisted living care will take place in second semester. Students are required to provide proof of several common vaccinations before entry into assisted living facilities, and these vaccinations will likely continue to include COVID vaccine and boosters.
CTE Dual Credit and Industry Certification available
Career Pathway:Health & Human Services – This comprehensive course will take you on a journey of exploration into the world and work of teaching and the field of education. Through hands-on learning, this course will provide opportunities to gain experience working in various educational settings and preparation for success in post-secondary teaching programs that may lead to a future career within this high demand career pathway. Following successful completion of this course students may take the instructional assistant test which can lead to career opportunities in Seattle Public Schools including childcare, instructional assistant, teacher, principal, and school counselor.
Career Pathway:Technology – Create animation and games! Learn sketching and story-boarding in 2D animation and concepts of 3D, learn skills necessary for a career in the animation and gaming industry. The Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) is a leading educator for Computer Game Development and 3D digital media. This college is a star of 3D animation, game design, and visual FX. This course is a great preparation for college and career.
Application 2023-24 School Year
2023-2024 School Year Applications are now open! Apply by clicking the button below. Have any questions? Contact us at skillscenterinfo@seattleschools.org.
