Back-to-School 2026: College and Career Development programs prepare students for tomorrow

     Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is committed to ensuring students are college and career ready. GCPS provides students with a world-class education featuring innovative approaches to classroom instruction, using industry-aligned technology in state-of-the-art facilities.

     At the district level and in schools and clusters, teachers and school leaders are exploring new ways to engage students in their learning. GCPS continues to offer college and career development programs at all schools, including K-12 Computer Science (CS) for All programs, 6-12 Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) programs, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) learning, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and Dual Enrollment. There is also unique and innovative programming at the seven high school College and Career Academies, theme schools like Paul Duke STEM High School, McClure Health Science High School, and Seckinger Cluster schools, and specialty offerings at Maxwell High School of Technology and the Grayson Technical Education Program at Grayson High School. College and Career Development works closely with industry and post-secondary partners to ensure that programs are aligned with the skills and experiences that students need to be future-ready. In the 2025-26 school year, GCPS celebrated 7,038 CTAE pathway completers, 9,620 industry credentials earned by students, and 6,233 students earning Career-Ready diploma seals. While 2026 graduation rates are not final, GCPS boasts a 99% graduation rate for CTAE pathway completers, demonstrating the value of college and career focused learning experiences.

New Instructional Programs in 2026:

    Paul Duke STEM High will open the Artificial Intelligence (AI) pathway in the 2026-27 school year, increasing access to this innovative learning opportunity. The program focuses on deepening students’ understanding of how AI works, the ethical implications of technology, creative problem-solving, and developing AI technologies to solve real-world problems. Students will develop strong programming and data science skills through the industry-aligned learning experiences of the program. Any student in GCPS can access the AI pathway, and other valuable pathways, at Maxwell High School of Technology.

     The Grayson Technical Education Program, Paul Duke STEM High, and Gwinnett Online Campus (GOC) will also be offering College Board’s new AP Career Kickstart course, AP Cybersecurity. This Advanced Placement course is embedded within the existing Cybersecurity pathways, culminating in students being eligible to earn both college credit and an industry credential (CompTIA Security+). Students in this pathway learn through hands-on labs and valuable industry-aligned experiences to prepare them for careers in cybersecurity, one of the fastest growing industries in Georgia.

     Archer High School, Brookwood High School, McClure Health Science High School, and Seckinger High School will pilot College Board’s new AP Business with Personal Finance course. This course is embedded within existing Financial Services and Marketing pathways, giving students an opportunity to earn both industry credentials and college credit.

     McClure Health Science High will add Pharmacy Operations to its list of rigorous healthcare pathways for the 2026-27 school year. Students who complete this high-skill, in-demand pathway are eligible to sit for the national credentialing exam to become a licensed Pharmacy Technician. Archer High will offer the Patient Care pathway, which will mark that school’s first year of Healthcare Science instruction.

     As GCPS focuses on aligning CTAE offerings between the middle and high schools, we are excited to add several new middle school programs, including Marketing Education at Berkmar Middle School and Crews Middle School, as well as Family and Consumer Sciences at Osborne Middle School. In addition to these programs, Dacula Middle School and Trickum Middle School will add Audio Video Technology & Film courses.

 Theme schools go beyond the traditional high school experience:

     Maxwell High School of Technology’s CTAE programs achieved exceptional results this past year. At the SkillsUSA Georgia State Leadership Conference, over 90 Maxwell students competed, with over 40 students placing in their contests, including 18 first-place finishes, sending 15 state winners to the national championships. Student Ella Hardin won the national championship in Cosmetology. The school’s Future Health Professionals (HOSA) team placed at the state competition for the fourth consecutive year, while Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) members collected more than 800 food items for the Quinn House, and 450 diapers for Helping Mamas. Maxwell’s automotive program students earned 834 ASE (Automotive Services Excellence) certifications. A school record 35 students passed all 10 ASE Entry-Level certification exams. Flight Operations teams placed first and third at the state aviation challenge. The Architecture Program renewed their Industry Certification with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). The Industry Certification distinction ensures the program meets strict state and business standards, verifying that students are taught relevant, real-world skills that are highly valued by local employers. Maxwell’s healthcare science teachers certified all GCPS School Resource Officers in CPR this school year. All Maxwell Construction, Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration (HVACR), and welding students earned OSHA-10 certified in construction safety. These achievements demonstrate Maxwell’s commitment to preparing students for successful careers through hands-on learning and real-world experiences.

     Seckinger High School just graduated its first four-year cohort of students and begins its fifth year preparing students for an AI-infused future. AI-Ready learning occurs K-12 across the entire cluster using both discrete and embedded Artificial Intelligence (AI) learning experiences to build literacy and technical skills related to AI. Students at Seckinger High can participate in the three-course discrete AI pathway, which dives beyond literacy to rigorous technical learning for those interested in an AI developer career. Students can also participate in pathways such as engineering, mechatronics, computer science, marketing, audio video technology and film, and international business. All students in the school focus on developing the skills needed to be responsible and ethical users, decision-makers, and problem-solvers with AI. The Seckinger cluster hosts an annual community AI Night to showcase student learning and continues to be a nationally recognized model for innovative and future-ready K-12 education.

     Paul Duke STEM High School is beginning its ninth year and expanding its technology offerings to students. In addition to the new Artificial Intelligence (AI) pathway, all students at Paul Duke STEM High start with introductory courses in computer science, engineering, mechatronics, graphic design, or film, which launches their STEM-focused career exploration. Students can earn industry certification, preparing them to enter the workforce to pursue post-secondary opportunities in high-wage, high-skill, and in-demand STEM career fields, including growing areas in computer science. Paul Duke STEM High boasts a school-wide GaDOE STEM certification, which ensures that all students experience cross-curricular STEM learning experiences across their classes, focusing on solving real-world problems within their community. Students have the opportunity to learn from and work with industry professionals to apply their learning. The Norcross cluster has a strong STEM focus and hosts an annual cluster-wide STEM community event.

     At McClure Health Science High School, the mission is to awaken the wonder and spark curiosity, purpose, and passion in each and every student as they explore the world of healthcare. Now in its seventh year, McClure Health Science High offers a dynamic, college-preparatory experience that blends rigorous academics with real-world exposure to the healthcare field. Through a specialized curriculum focused on health science, students dive deep into industry relevant knowledge while developing the skills and certifications necessary for success in both post-secondary education and healthcare careers. The school offers six distinct healthcare-focused career pathways, and each pathway is designed to connect classroom learning with practical application, preparing students for a wide range of healthcare roles from nursing and medical technology to therapy, administration, and beyond. By combining hands-on experiences, strong partnerships, and a focus on student-centered growth, we inspire students to lead, serve, and thrive in the ever-evolving world of health and medicine.

 College and Career Academies:

     Seven Gwinnett County high schools—Berkmar, Central Gwinnett, Discovery, Lanier, Meadowcreek, Shiloh, and South Gwinnett—offer College and Career-Ready Academies that connect academic learning to real-world opportunities. Through career-themed pathways, students engage in rigorous coursework, project-based learning, industry experiences, industry-recognized certifications, and personalized post-secondary planning aligned to high-demand career fields. In partnership with local businesses, community organizations, and post-secondary institutions, academies provide authentic experiences that help students develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies outlined in the GCPS Portrait of a Graduate. By extending learning beyond the classroom, academies bridge the gap between education and future careers, empowering students to explore their interests, gain valuable workplace experience, and graduate prepared for college, careers, and lifelong success.

Computer Science (CS) for All:

     As computational thinking and technological literacy become more important than ever, GCPS is committed to ensuring our students are future-ready. GCPS partners with industry and post-secondary partners to ensure that programs and student learning experiences are aligned with the skills needed for the future. In addition to foundational understanding of using, creating, and evaluating technology—skills that all students need for their future—CS for All offers valuable programs aligned to high-wage, high-skill, in-demand career opportunities like cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Increasing our computer science learning opportunities for K-12 is an integral part of our Computer Science for All initiative. We are celebrating 100% of our K-12 cluster schools now offering Computer Science (CS) programs. Our CS for All goals are to:

• Improve equity and access to computer science education for all students.
• Develop students as learners, users, and creators of computer science knowledge and artifacts.
• Develop students’ understanding of the role of computing in the world around them.
• Provide students with the knowledge and skills for future and current careers.

     These programs are designed to be collaborative and creative, focusing on real-world problem-solving and hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for their futures. Learning also extends beyond the classroom with competition robotics programs like FIRST LEGO® League Robotics (K-8), VEX Robotics (6-12), and FIRST Robotics Competition (9-12). GCPS has continued to provide support for programs, including teacher training. The system has certified or endorsed nearly 200 teachers in computer science since 2019.

STEM Learning:

     In GCPS, STEM connects learning across subject areas to help students apply their learning and practice their problem-solving skills. STEM focuses on the application of science, computer science, engineering, and mathematics to solve-real world problems, and STEAM extends this to incorporate the application of visual, performing, and/or music arts. GCPS students engaged in STEM and STEAM learning have helped local small businesses create more user-friendly websites, advocated for the installation of an accessible playground on their school campus, and contributed to the restoration of the local river and tributary ecosystems – all by applying what they have learned to solve problems through design thinking and engineering.

     Seven schools across the district carry STEM or STEAM Certification from the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), spanning every level from elementary through high school:

• Elementary: Lovin, Mason, White Oak
• Middle: Coleman [STEAM]
• High: Mill Creek (EPIC Program), Paul Duke STEM, Peachtree Ridge (SPIRE Program)

     Last year, GCPS celebrated its 10th anniversary and GaDOE recertification of the EPIC Program at Mill Creek High School. We also celebrated our CTAE participation and completion rate in our high school STEM initiatives. Among GCPS students who completed the Engineering and Technology CTAE pathway in school year 2025-26, more than 80% did so through a STEM program or school, and our STEM high schools maintain some of the district's highest CTAE pathway completion rates with the majority of their students completing at least one CTAE pathway.

     To support the recruitment and retention of STEM teachers, the GCPS STEM Residency provides career changers with a technical background in a STEM-related field the opportunity to launch their career with specialized support from the district and their local schools. These STEM Residents help students in their buildings create connections between classroom learning and professional careers and advance student future-readiness with their knowledge of industry trends and advancements. Seven GCPS schools will host STEM Residents as part of the GCPS STEM Residency team in the upcoming school year: Coleman Middle School, Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Lanier High School, Mill Creek High School, Paul Duke STEM High School, Peachtree Ridge High School, and Seckinger High School.