Albuquerque Public Schools
Career Connected Learning in Action: Inside CEC's Nursing Pathways
At the Career Enrichment Center, APS students gain real-world experience and launch health care careers before graduation.
As Albuquerque Public Schools wraps up Career and Technical Education Month, the district is spotlighting Career Connected Learning, hands-on pathways that connect classroom instruction to real-world careers.
One of the most established examples is the Career Enrichment Center, a magnet school that provides advanced, in-depth elective opportunities to students from across APS. Students remain enrolled at their home high schools while traveling to CEC for specialized courses that blend academic learning with career and technical education.
Two of CEC’s most competitive programs are in health care: the Practical Nursing Program and the Nursing Assistant Program. CEC Nursing Program Director Rebecca Weatherford said interest in the Practical Nursing Program is always high.
“The program typically receives anywhere from about 120 to 140 applicants each year, but can only accept about 45,” she explained. “The program’s popularity is driven in part by the direct career opportunities available to students upon completion.”
Program graduates are eligible to sit for the nursing board exam, and once they pass, they can work as a licensed practical nurse or LPN. Depending on where they are hired, Weatherford noted wages can range anywhere from about $32 to $47 an hour.
“It's great in the sense that it builds a career,” Weatherford added. “We encourage students to continue their education, but we have many students who stay as LPNs for the rest of their lives. You can do so many different things in nursing.”
Students in the Practical Nursing Program begin with foundational skills in a simulated hospital lab before moving into real clinical environments. In CEC’s lab, students practice on simulated patients with a variety of conditions and wounds.
“They're in the lab learning the basics, which is set up like a real hospital,” she said. “In later semesters, students transition into real-life patient care. They're actually in the hospital doing hands-on care.”
Students from across APS are encouraged to apply to both nursing programs. Weatherford said CEC actively recruits at district high schools to make sure students are aware of the opportunities available. Prerequisites are in place to ensure student success and to meet accreditation requirements.
“As long as they meet the prerequisites, students can apply,” Weatherford added. “We want to make sure they're successful, and the program adheres to standards through our accrediting.”
For students, the programs offer both career clarity and practical experience. Junior Cole Sharp said the biggest benefits of the program are graduating with job-ready skills and the financial accessibility of the program compared to post-secondary training.
“This program gives us a job right out of high school, which currently, is super valuable,” he said. “And it comes mostly free. There's just some equipment and books that we need to buy.”
Sharp said hands-on clinical experiences have helped him learn more effectively. Applying concepts in real situations has made learning stick, and connecting lessons to experiences makes the material more meaningful for him.
“I like the clinicals a lot,” he added, explaining that traditional classroom instruction can be challenging for him. “I have a hard time retaining information when it's just classrooms and lectures. With clinicals, that really helps me out.”
Junior Isabella Sedillo said the program has helped her gain exposure to health care, even as she continues to explore her future plans. “I really enjoy this program, it’s an amazing opportunity.”
She said the experience is valuable for students who may still be unsure about their career path. “If you're not sure what you want to do,” Sedillo said, the program still offers meaningful learning. “It gives you a lot to learn.”
Students in the Nursing Assistant Program are also gaining early insight into health care careers. Senior Kady Zamora said the program has helped her develop professional communication skills.
“I'm really enjoying the program,” she said. “I’m learning how to work with people in real-world settings and apply classroom lessons beyond school. It's pretty amazing.”
For Senior Jasmine Morales, the Nursing Assistant Program is a first step toward a long-term career in health care.
“This is just the start to success,” she explained. “I want to move up to become a nurse practitioner, and this program is helping prepare me for what comes next. I want to take this program to set me up for what I can do in the future.”
CEC’s nursing pathways reflect the broader goals of Career Connected Learning at APS: providing students with hands-on experiences, industry-aligned skills, and clear connections between school and future careers. While health care programs remain among the most popular offerings at CEC, the school provides more than 50 career-focused courses overall, including film production, cosmetology, EMT training, veterinary medicine and many more.
To learn more about CEC and its many offerings, visit the school’s website. More information about the Practical Nursing Program and the Nursing Assistant Program is also available on the CEC website.