Career and tech education credentials hit record high in NC high schools

By: Ahmed Jallow

Outlets: North Carolina Newsline

Published: February 5, 2026

Words: 607

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 1 day ago

Body Text Preview

For John Brumley, an 11th grader in rural Pender County, a CTE health science class made a career in medicine feel tangible.

“Health Science II was the turning point for me,” Brumley said Wednesday during a press conference. “We got to practice what we were learning. I wasn’t just reading a textbook.”

Brumley is among a growing number of North Carolina students earning industry-recognized credentials while still in high school.

According to data released Wednesday …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Email Us