Uintah Basin high school students are taking advantage of the CTE Pathways program at a greater rate than their peers on a state level. State statistics show that 80 percent of Uintah Basin high school students were defined as “concentrators” in a Career and Technical Education Pathway course while statewide that number is at 56 percent. 46 percent of Uintah Basin students were defined as “completers” compared to 25 percent of students in the state. The students in Daggett, Duchesne, and Uintah Counties that were considered “concentrators” also graduated at a higher percentage than their non-concentrator peers at 93 percent versus 87 percent. Uintah High School graphic design and commercial art teacher Joseph LeDesquet believes the CTE Pathways program provides students with a double-edged focus on skills needed in a variety of fields. “I think this is what sets our classes apart from other courses out there,” shares LeDesquet. “We recognize that strategies, methodologies, and software change and what is the standard in an industry today could be completely defunct in five years. The principles, however, remain true forever. I love that we are preparing students to succeed regardless of industrial evolutions and societal trends.” Uintah Basin coordinator Brandon Aycock says the Basin has great business partners that provide students with opportunities for work-based learning internships. During the 2016-2017 school year, 362 Uintah Basin students completed work-based CTE internships.
