West Baton Rouge Schools last week celebrated the opening of the West Baton Rouge Career Academy, a new facility offering career and technical education to area high school students.
At the core of the Career Academy’s mission is workforce readiness.
Located next door to Port Allen High School, the facility provides concentrated courses and hands-on training to prepare students for careers in a variety of in-demand industries and professions. Pathways offered include cosmetology, culinary, electrical, emergency medical response, medical, millwright, robotics and welding.
Participating students are able to attain college credits as well as industry-specific certifications that are likely to be valued in both present and future job markets. They also have access to internship opportunities, mentorships 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’s grand opening an “exciting moment for [the] entire district.”
Classes officially commenced on Monday, Oct. 14. Participating students split their time between their primary campuses and the Career Academy.
Read more about the certifications and courses available through the Career Academy here.
The Career Academy’s launch comes at a time when many in Louisiana are sounding the alarm about the state’s labor shortages. Louisiana’s job numbers have yet to fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, though Baton Rouge is an exception.
It’s worth noting that Gov. Jeff Landry, in an effort to address those labor shortages, in June signed into law a bill that requires the Louisiana Workforce Commission to help businesses fill open positions.
