Help Your Child Decide if Vanguard Tech Center, Post Secondary Options and Advanced Placement

are right for them

Vanguard Tech Center

• Vanguard Tech Center (VGTC) has 19 different lab classes to offer juniors and seniors.

• This diversity in opportunities means there is a lab experience for almost everyone.

Vanguard Tech Center Labs• Auto Collision• Automotive Technology• Buildings and Grounds• Carpentry• Digital Technologies*• Cosmetology• Criminal Justice*• Culinary Arts• Design Engineering and

Architecture*• Early Childhood Education• Electrical Trades

• Engineering Technologies and Robotics*

• Landscape Greenhouse Management

• Marketing• Masonry• Medical Aide• Medical Careers*• Medical Information Technology• Welding and Fabrication

* Classes that are college ready

Vanguard Tech Center ScheduleStudents can attend full-time

• Students will attend VGTC for their lab (seniors in the morning, juniors in the afternoon*).

• The other half of the day students will attend academic classes at VGTC.

• Students in non-college ready programs have the option to attend a first period class at Ross.

*Digital Technologies has both AM and PM labs for juniors and seniors

Vanguard Tech Center ScheduleStudents can attend part-time

• Students will attend their lab at VGTC (seniors in the morning, juniors in the afternoon*).

• The other half of the day students will attend academic classes at Ross.

*Digital Technologies has both AM and PM labs for juniors and seniors

College Ready Programs at Vanguard Tech Center

• College ready programs are programs that have a college component.

• Each semester students will take a class at Terra State Community College.

• There are 5 college ready programs at VGTC.

College Opportunities at Vanguard Tech Center

VGTC’s 5 college ready programs available: • Criminal Justice• Design Engineering and Architecture• Digital Technologies• Engineering Technologies and Robotics• Medical Careers

College Opportunities at Vanguard Tech Center

• Students in the non-college ready programs may take college courses at Terra along with their lab.

• VGTC has articulation agreements with several two year colleges. Many students attending four year colleges can also get credit for their labs.

Intangible Skills learned at VGTC

• Students participate in DECA, BPA, FCCLA, FFA, Skills USA.

• These organizations build leadership skills, public speaking skills and teach students how to work within a group.

What are other reasons college bound students should consider VGTC ?

• VGTC is a great way to try a career “on for size”.

• Students can help pay for college with higher paying part-time jobs.

• Students learn skills that can help them in their day to day life.

Advanced Placement and Post-Secondary Options

• Advanced Placement (AP) classes are college level courses taught at the high school by high school teachers.

• Post-Secondary Options (PSEO) program is an opportunity for high school students to take classes at a college or university while still a high school student.

Benefits of AP

• There is no application for AP classes.• Classes are taught at Ross.• The value of earned grades are one grade letter

higher in AP classes. Ex: a B in an AP course is factored in the GPA as if it were an A.*

• Students can receive college credit for these classes.

* Student must take the AP exam to receive the higher grade value.

Benefits of PSEO

• Students receive college and high school credit for completed courses.

• Juniors and Seniors can take all of their classwork at a college or university.

• Students have the opportunity to experience real college classes.

• The classes and books are paid for by the school district.*

*If option B is chosen.

How to choose the “right” AP and PSEO classes

• There are no “right” classes when choosing AP and PSEO.

• Each person needs to ask themselves why they are taking these classes and then follow that path.

• Some reasons include: I want to get as many college credits completed as possible, I want to earn Associates Degree, I want to take a class not offered at Ross, I want to explore a career.

How to choose the “right” AP and PSEO classes

• Encourage your student to start with their strengths.

• Encourage your student to not bite off more than they can chew.

• Understand that the “right” classes for your student may not be PSEO or AP classes.

Combining VGTC, AP and PSEO

• Students may combine two or more programs in a school year.

• Students must apply to each program individually and meet each individual program’s requirements.

Questions?

• Contact the sophomore counselor, Ms. Blanton, at 419-334-5479 or email her at BlantonL@fremontschools.net

• Contact a Vanguard Tech Center counselor at 419-332-2626

• Visit Terra’s website at terra.edu