Boerne ISD and Northwest Vista College are partnering to establish an Early College High School for cybersecurity careers.
Boerne ISD’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Academy is a time- and money-saving dual enrollment program with Northwest Vista College (NVC) and Boerne Independent School District focusing on cybersecurity.
This is the first early college high school for Northwest Vista College, and it allows students to earn both high school and college credits within the same courses. Students who successfully complete the program can graduate high school and earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Information Assurance and Cyber Security from NVC. Multiple entry-level industry certificates are also available and built into the degree plan.
“NVC has a long-standing relationship with Boerne ISD through our Dual Credit. The P-TECH Academy offers additional opportunities for students for entry-level high-tech jobs in San Antonio and prepares them for a university transfer in that career track,” said NVC President Dr. Ric Baser.
With the AAS, students will be ready to pursue a bachelor’s degree and can immediately get a job in the computer technology industry. Work-based skills learned through the NVC Information Assurance and Cyber Security program include how to install security software, monitor networks for security breaches, respond to cyberattacks, and gather data and evidence to be used in cybercrime.
After graduation, a student with an AAS can immediately work in an entry-level computer technology industry job. In 2020, cybersecurity analysts had an average 16.3 percent jump in salary over the previous year, according to IT trade magazine, Redmond.
The built-in certificates help with faster employment and higher salaries, as well, and include computer forensics, cybersecurity, networking, and Linux. Students can choose to take national exams for network security certification, which could lead them to earn up to five credentials and increase their marketability as they graduate high school. Students in NVC’s Information Assurance and Cyber Security typically take eight classes to get the Level 1 certificate.
Evidence shows that “Early College students were more likely than their peers to earn a college degree” reports AIR. The biggest benefit for students enrolled in the P-TECH Academy are courses come with zero tuition costs, bypassing two years of college debt. In San Antonio, that can mean a savings of close to $22,000 in tuition and fees alone at a public university.
The personal benefits for students in P-TECH are high. Students who have an associate’s degree, or who have gone on to earn a bachelor’s degree, can earn from $224,000 to $392,000 more over their lifetimes than a person without a degree, according to The Hechinger Report.
To learn more about Boerne ISD’s Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) Academy, visit: https://www.boerneisd.net/ptech