New Career and Technical Education centers open for student job training

New Career and Technical Education (CTE) centers are opening in Lauderdale County and Robeson County to provide students with specialized job training and skilled trade programs.

In Robeson County, an $87.2 million facility has opened, featuring 15 classrooms and four labs. The center offers 14 programs, including plumbing, electrical work, masonry, computer engineering, automotive technology, welding, and graphic design. Officials noted that the facility replaces a 50-year-old center and aims to prepare students for high-paying roles in a region with high demand for skilled labor.

In Lauderdale County, the new CTE center has begun operations with a centralized model designed to pool resources and offer cutting-edge programs that were previously unavailable at individual schools. To manage transportation from four different high schools, the district has implemented a block schedule to rotate students through the facility throughout the day.