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 [email protected]
• Contact a Vanguard Tech Center counselor at 419-332-2626
• Visit Terra’s website at terra.edu