Options for High School

Explore Career and Technical Options for High School

All Nock students have opportunities to explore some of our local high school options. As a part of our Advisory Program, every student will develop what is called a MyCap, a plan with goals and ideas for their academic studies in high school. If you or your child have any questions or want to learn more, please reach out to your Advisory Teacher.

Innovation Pathways at NHS

Newburyport High School offers three CTE pathways: Environmental, Health & Social Assistance, and Advanced Manufacturing. For more on the NHS programs, please see the NHS webpage.

Whittier Tech

Newburyport is a partner in the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical District. Whittier offers 22 vocational-technical majors, divided into six clusters (Arts & Communication, Service, Construction, Technology, Manufacturing, Transportation). For more on the Whittier Experience, please see their website at: https://www.whittiertech.org/.

Essex Tech

Newburyport is within commuting distance of Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. NPS students are eligible to apply for admission to the animal science, agricultural, and natural resource programs. See their webpage for details: https://essexnorthshore.org/.

Rupert A. Nock Middle School

Career & Technical Education Policy

Policy Overview & Options

Newburyport High School offers three CTE pathways: Environmental, Health & Social Assistance, and Advanced Manufacturing.

These offerings provide students with a variety of post-middle school options. Any of these programs may connect to our students’ secondary and post secondary plans which are identified through the MyCAP and advisory programs.

Building Awareness and Creating Connections for Students

Nock Middle School students use SchoolLinks software to track their progress in the MyCAP domains. This software also allows students to explore careers and provides exposure to colleges. SchoolLinks lessons support our middle school students in developing goals and documenting their progress.

As noted above all 8th grade students attend a school-sponsored field trip to Whittier Tech. All students also learn about Essex Tech programs. Students (and their caregivers) who share an interest are connected with the Essex Tech outreach opportunities. These opportunities broaden our students’ understanding of what pathways are available to them after 8th grade.

Guided by the questions “Who am I?” “What can I become?” and “How do I get there?” all 6th and 8th grade students participate in a career speaker series. Speakers are asked to share their own answers to these questions, and their “identity wheels” serve as a shared structure for the program. Over the past 3 years, speakers have included an HVAC teacher (from Whittier Tech), local business owners, a YouTube blogger, FBI agents, medical professionals, and many more.

Finally, every 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student participates in a visit to a local college. By the end of the 3-years of middle school, all students will have visited 3 colleges. These schools have included Curry College, Endicott College, Suffolk University, UMASS Lowell, and Merrimack College.

Collaborating with Local CTE Schools

The Newburyport High School provides all 8th grade students with a showcase of possible pathways. An evening showcase for all 8th grade students and parents takes place in the fall. The NHS guidance team visits the middle school in January.

All 8th grade students attend a field trip to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical District. During the visit, students learn about the program options and the application process.

Essex Tech typically comes in the fall for a full-school presentation. When the tech school is not available, Nock counselors review Essex Tech options with 8th grade students as a part of the advisory program.

Ensuring Every Student and Caregiver is Aware of Local CTE Options

Through the Middle School Advisory Program, 6th-8th grade students learn about the local CTE options (including summer camp programs when available). All 8th grade students visit Whittier as a field trip. Essex Tech visits and presentations are supported based on interest.
The Middle School Principal provides information on the CTE options to parents and caregivers through website and newsletter communication annually.
The middle school web page has links to regional CTE schools.

Grade	Focus	Lessons
GRADE 6: Discovering Self & Strengths	“Who am I?” Students build self-awareness, explore interests, and connect personal strengths to school engagement.	Student Led Conversations & Goal Setting Speaker Series School Links Lessons College Visit
GRADE 7: Exploring Careers and Skills	“What can I become?” Students deepen awareness of career options, workplace skills, and the relationship between school and future pathways.	Student Led Conversations & Goal Setting School Links Lessons College Visit
GRADE 8: Planning & Transitioning to High School	“How do I get there?” Students connect career awareness to academic planning, high school transitions, and personal goals.	Student Led Conversations & Goal Setting High School Planning: Whittier Tech Visit, NHS Pathways, Essex Tech Presentation School Links Lessons College Visit

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