At Patrick Henry High School on Monday, a robot launched yellow, grapefruit-sized foam balls into the air. The school’s robotics team built it.
“When I joined, I never looked back. Best decision of my life,” said senior Ruby Aguilera. “And now I feel like I really do make an impact on the team.”
Aguilera manufactured the robot’s parts. She’s part of a sub-team that takes the designers’ sketches and uses industrial machinery to make the parts, assemble the robot and wire it. She also taught a group of freshmen and other new team members how to repair and operate it.
“What I like about robotics is the people,” she said. “I like being around people who just like learning.”
Aguilera is part of the engineering track at Patrick Henry. It’s one of several college, career and technical education pathways in the district. Other options include graphic design, patient care, architecture and child development.
The San Diego Unified School District wants more high schoolers to enroll in those pathways. It can help students narrow down what they might like to do after graduation, said Kerri Rose, who oversees Patrick Henry’s CCTE program.
“If a student were to start a course their freshman year and realize it's not for them, they don't have to continue,” she said. “It’s really an opportunity to explore.”
It’s also a way to find a community. Patrick Henry is the district’s largest high school, with 2,600 students, according to the district. Students stay together as they complete their pathway courses, Rose said.
“Keeping school exciting, engaging and a place where you want to go each day,” she said.
Many of the classes meet course requirements for applying to the University of California or California State University systems, she said. Some pathways have opportunities for students to earn community college credit.
This year, Rose and other district leaders plan to add more workplace visits, job shadows and internships.
Last year, the state considered more than 70% of San Diego Unified graduates prepared for college or a career.
