ALACHUA COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Students in Alachua County have something very impressive to hang their hats on.

Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) announced that its students received a record number of 5,900 industry certifications during and immediately after the 2023-24 school year.

Not only is this the highest recorded number in the district’s history, but it’s also a 34% increase from the 2022-2023 school year.

“Industry certification is proof these students are well-prepared for work and post-secondary education in their chosen fields,” says Shannon Ritter, the director of Career Technical Education (CTE) for Alachua County Public Schools. “It definitely gives them a significant advantage over other students as they apply for college, jobs or both.”

The district says middle and high school students earn certification by taking an industry exam that confirms their mastery of the skills and knowledge in a particular career field.

Students at Howard W Bishop Middle School work towards a certification in Technology. Courtesy: ACPS
Students at Gainesville High School learn how to save lives towards their Health Profession certification. Courtesy: ACPS
Students at Santa Fe High School discover new possibilities towards their Biotech certification. Courtesy: ACPS

According to ACPS, this can lead to scholarships and college credit for young pupils.

ACPS says students have earned certifications in 80 different industries, with more being added every year. The industries range from technology to healthcare to culinary arts, according to the district.

“We work with committees made up of professionals in each of the career fields offered in our schools,” says Ritter. “Their expertise helps us keep up with industry trends so that our programs stay relevant and rigorous.”

Students tinker with car engines and carburetors for their Auto Tech certification. Courtesy: ACPS
Students learn the ropes as they work towards a certification in Fire Rescue. Courtesy: ACPS
Students at Eastside High School cook up a plan to achieve a certification in Culinary. Courtesy: ACPS

The district estimates more than 6,500 middle and high school students are attending one of the district’s 16 Career Academies or taking a CTE course. In addition, bonus funding is awarded for each certification earned through the Career and Professional Education (CAPE) legislation. According to the district, $2.6 million has been made in funding.

As for where the funding goes, about 80% is put back into the program that earned the certifications. This allows them to purchase new equipment, software, and other items.

Chef Noam Bilitzer, a former ACPS graduate, is a great success story that started with an industry certification out of high school.

Chef Noam Bilitzer, a former ACPS student, now owns a successful Mediterranean restaurant in Kentucky. Courtesy: ACPS

In 2011, Bilitzer graduated from the Institute of Culinary Arts at Eastside High School with certifications from the National Restaurant Association and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.

Bilitzer now owns the Meesh Meesh Mediterranean Restaurant in Louisville, KY, which was recently ranked the Second Best New Restaurant in the South by Yelp.

“ICA was an incredible program, one of the best in the state, one of the best in the nation,” says Bilitzer. “I flew through culinary school with people who had been cooking for a decade and my professors were often telling me that they had to grade me on a different scale, it was not a fair comparison to the other students.”