The Ellenville Central School District (ECSD) is expanding the opportunities available to students through its P-TECH (Pathways in Technology Early College High School) Academy with the addition of a new Business Accounting pathway.
The new pathway is available to all current Year 1 through Year 5 P-TECH scholars and joins the Academy’s existing pathways in Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Network Administration. Students who complete the Business Accounting pathway will have the opportunity to earn a Business Accounting Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree from SUNY Ulster at no cost to them.
“As we continue to listen to our scholars and look at the opportunities that will prepare them for life beyond high school, we recognized the need to expand our P-TECH pathways,” said P-TECH Principal Kerri Galloway. “The addition of Business Accounting gives our scholars another meaningful pathway to explore their interests, develop career-ready skills, and earn a college degree at no cost to them. Our goal is to ensure that every P-TECH scholar can see a pathway that connects their interests to a future career.”
Located within Ellenville Junior/Senior High School, the Ellenville P-TECH Academy is a six-year early college program that begins in Grade 9 and combines high school and college coursework with career preparation and hands-on workplace learning. Scholars begin taking SUNY Ulster college-credit courses on the Ellenville campus during their first year in the program, while working toward the requirements for a New York State high school diploma.
Students pursuing the new Business Accounting pathway will also take business courses through the Ulster BOCES Career & Technical Center to prepare them for their college-level coursework. During the first four years of the program, scholars will participate in workplace learning challenges that provide opportunities to learn directly from professionals in the business accounting field.
In Years 5 and 6, scholars will focus on coursework specifically required for their Business Accounting AAS degree. Courses include Accounting, Entrepreneurship, Business Math, Economics, Legal Environment of Business, Communication, Income Tax Procedures, Payroll Accounting, Accounting for Government & Nonprofit Organizations, and Computerized Accounting.
Workplace learning is an important component of the P-TECH model, connecting students with industry professionals and giving them opportunities to develop the technical and professional skills needed for future careers. In addition to workplace learning challenges, P-TECH scholars have opportunities to participate in workplace visits and internships.
As part of the expansion, Ellenville P-TECH Academy has welcomed Ellenville Regional Hospital as a formal industry partner supporting the Business Accounting pathway. The Academy will also continue its partnership with the Council of Industry, which has supported its Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Network Administration pathways.
“P-TECH is most powerful when students can see how what they are learning in the classroom connects to the world beyond school,” Galloway said. “Our industry partners help make that connection real by providing students with opportunities to learn from professionals, explore different careers, and understand the skills and expectations of the workplace. We are grateful to Ellenville Regional Hospital and the Council of Industry for investing their time and expertise in our scholars.”