Hamilton County students earned 224 certifications in 2019

The number of students earning an industry certification more than tripled from 2018 to 2019, with 224 earned this year by high school students, according to Hamilton County Schools. Industry certifications allow graduates to leave high school with a certification for a job skill in a particular career field.

During the 2016-17 school year, students from only five schools earned 48 certifications. In 20172018, students from the same five schools earned 61 certifications.

During the most recent school year, students from 11 schools across the county earned more than 200 certifications, thanks to the district’s focus on increasing student access to early post-secondary opportunities and advanced coursework.

“We want to make sure our graduates are prepared for success after high school and that we provide them opportunities to leave school with a plan for their future with access to these programs,” said Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, in a statement. “A major priority of our strategic plan is to provide access to advanced courses, dual enrollment options, and industry certifications and it is an area of investment in the proposed budget for next school year.”

Marie Holland, a 2019 graduate of Sequoyah High, was one such student. Holland was the only female student in her welding class but by the time she left high school, she had a job offer in hand from Heatec, a local company that manufactures and markets heaters and liquid storage tanks.

“Welding stood out to me because I was looking for something that I would enjoy for a career,” said Holland in a statement. “I want to enjoy where I work and what I do because if you do not enjoy what you do, it is work to you.”