CTE Closer Look: Cybersecurity and Engineering Pathways in San Antonio

Students from KIPP Somos Collegiate partnered with representatives from local industry as part of the ACE Mentoring Program and learned about engineering through hands-on opportunities.  

San Antonio’s economy is powered by innovation. According to published reports, San Antonio is second only to the nation’s capital as the city with the largest concentration of cybersecurity experts. To meet this unique demand, KIPP Somos Collegiate School Leader Jeremy Gray and the school’s team established a Computer Science/Cybersecurity Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathway.

Students engaging in this pathway take specialized CTE courses as well as curated Advanced Placement (AP) classes. By combining CTE and AP classes, students learn about planning, implementing, upgrading, and monitoring security measures to protect computer networks and information while working toward valuable industry-based credentials. And when students follow the pathway, they can make substantial steps toward careers as software developers and information security analysts, which have seen 10-year growth rates of 36% and 49%, respectively, and offer median salaries around $110,000.

KIPP Somos Collegiate also offers an Engineering Pathway, established in direct response to students’ requests. The program teaches students to design, test, and evaluate projects related to engines, machines, and structures while applying scientific, mathematical, and empirical evidence to solve problems. Students earn valuable industry-based credentials like Autodesk Associate (Certified User) in AutoCAD, Fusion 360, and Inventor for Mechanical Design. In addition, students are introduced to occupations in growing fields. Over the past 10 years, there has been roughly 20 percent growth in the demand for aerospace engineers and mechanical engineers, who earn median salaries of $115,000 and $99,000, respectively.

All KIPP Somos Collegiate students participate in a CTE pathway. By aligning the curricula with regional workforce needs, the A-rated school connects high school learning to industry-based credentials, college degree programs, and in-demand careers. KIPP Somos Collegiate students—many of whom will be the first in their families to attend college—are gaining the academic foundation, technical training, and 21st-century skills needed to thrive in San Antonio’s rapidly evolving economy.