In Greenville ISD, we mean business when it comes to preparing our students for the world beyond graduation.

"We are committed to opening as many doors as possible for our students," Superintendent Dr. Demetrus Liggins said. "Whether our students are career or college bound after graduation, we are focused on fully preparing them for life. We offer everything from health sciences to welding and culinary arts."

Business partnerships play a crucial role in the Career and Technical Education program.

"This year, we established a CTE Advisory Board comprised of several members of Greenville’s business community to partner with our CTE programs to align our instruction with what employers are looking for," Greenville High School Dean of Instruction Matt Spivy said. "The very jobs CTE classes are preparing students for today are in high demand, and we will continue to follow the market trend. Our business partners keep us up to date."

Students may choose from 73 CTE offerings ranging from anatomy and small animal science to floral design and welding. CTE classes are growing in both importance and popularity -- 88 percent of GHS students take at least one CTE class during their high school careers.

Word is spreading about Greenville ISD's rigorous and career-focused educational offerings. In fact, several area school districts and charter schools have toured Greenville High School's CTE wing and studied its program as a success model.

Here are just a few examples:

• Girl-Powered: An annual event for all girls in Greenville ISD to nurture and encourage their curiosity in STEM fields. It coincides with the International Day of the Girl, Oct. 11. 
• College and Career Center: A highly organized and effective program that supports students with scholarship/grant applications, job applications and career counseling services.
• Billboard: Greenville ISD is so proud of its students that we are telling their stories on a giant billboard on westbound I-30. The billboard is part of a pride campaign that is 100% paid for by local business and community advertisers who support GISD and its mission to open the doors to the future for all students.

"Student success is our focus every single day," Liggins said. "We want to take the time to spotlight our students' academic and extracurricular talents and to shine the light on our students as individuals."