BCS students are on the fast track to success, thanks to earning professional credentials in their career and technical education (CTE) courses. The achievement shows students are ready to apply their classroom knowledge in a real-world setting.
“A credential is a formal validation of a student's skills and qualifications, typically endorsed by business and industry partners,” explained Michele Smith, CTE director for Buncombe County Schools. “It is a valid proof of learning that verifies an individual can perform specific tasks or has certain capabilities aligned with industry needs.”
In the fall semester of 2025, BCS students earned nearly 2,200 credentials. The school system offers opportunities to earn certifications in a variety of areas, including agriculture, business/marketing, health science, apparel and fashion, culinary arts, interior design, and trade/industrial and engineering fields. Smith adds the credentials align with high-demand career pathways and give students a competitive advantage in the workforce.
“Credentials provide documentation of student mastery, which helps them secure employment and qualifies them for advancement or higher pay levels within their field,” she said. “Students can earn ‘stackable credentials’ allowing them to build a resumé of portable skills incrementally through structured career pathways while still in high school.”
Last week, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction shared that CTE students across the state earned a record of 382,964 industry-recognized credentials during the 2024-2025 academic year, the highest total in state history. The state ranks second in the nation for the percentage of K-12 students participating in CTE, with 36.1% of all students enrolled in a CTE course.
"The record amount of credentials represents real opportunities for our students," said State Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green. "When a student earns an industry-recognized credential, they're not just completing a course. Students are gaining a competitive advantage in the job market and building a foundation for long-term career success."
Families interested in exploring credential opportunities can reach out to principals for more information on CTE courses and credential opportunities available at their school.
“Credentials have the power to provide significant immediate and long-term benefits to students,” Smith shared. “Opportunities to attain them are another strong reason to choose a district such as Buncombe County Schools.”