Kent ISD Plans Second CTE Center in Caledonia

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Kent ISD is expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities with plans to build a second CTE center to serve more students. The expansion is needed to meet the continued demand for CTE experiences from students, parents and employers throughout Kent County and beyond. 

“By creating a second CTE center, Kent ISD will be able to provide more access and opportunities for high school students to participate in career-focused, hands-on learning that can be life-changing,” said Kent ISD Superintendent Ron Gorman. “Building the new center with the potential to house nearly a dozen programs will allow us to serve hundreds more students and will help us meet a strategic goal and a goal of CareerPrep 2030, to double the number of students in Career and Technical Education by the year 2030.” 

Kent ISD currently offers nearly 30 CTE programs where students get hands-on experience in high-tech labs at Kent Career Tech Center. Additional Kent ISD CTE programs are offered at Davenport and Grand Valley State Universities, West Michigan Construction Institute and Next Step of West Michigan. Each of these programs prepares students for success in careers and college, and many provide opportunities to earn professional certifications. Many programs currently have extensive waiting lists as capacity cannot keep up with demand. 

In January, the Kent ISD and Caledonia Community School’s boards approved plans for Kent ISD to purchase the site. Pending final closing of the sale, Kent ISD will build a new CTE center at this location, currently home to the old Dutton Elementary School building which will be demolished to make room for the new CTE center. 

Information and answers to frequently asked questions about the project will be available throughout the development of the new CTE center on Kent ISD’s website. 

Please direct media inquiries to Joy Walczak, Kent ISD Communications Specialist at joywalczak@kentisd.org or 906.632.6290.