By james art West Baton Rouge Schools last week celebrated the opening of West Baton Rouge Career Academya new facility offering career and technical education to area high school students.
At the heart of Career Academy’s mission is workforce readiness.
Located adjacent to Port Allen High School, the facility offers concentrated courses and hands-on training to prepare students for careers in a variety of in-demand industries and occupations. Pathways offered include cosmetology, culinary arts, electrical, EMS, medicine, millwright, robotics and welding.
Participating students can earn college credit as well as industry-specific certifications that are likely to be valued in both current and future job markets. They also have access to internship opportunities, mentoring and real-world experience through partnerships with local businesses, community organizations and industries.
In a Facebook post, Port Allen High School called the Career Academy grand opening “an exciting moment for [the] whole area.”
Classes officially started on Monday, October 14. Participating students split their time between their main campuses and the Career Academy.
Read more about the certifications and courses available through the Career Academy here.
The launch of the Career Academy comes at a time when many in Louisiana are sounding the alarm about the state’s labor shortage. The number of jobs in Louisiana has not yet fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statisticsalthough Baton Rouge is an exception.
It’s worth noting that Governor Jeff Landry, in an effort to address this labor shortage, signed into law in June bill that requires the Louisiana Workforce Commission to help businesses fill open positions.