Oregon City School District has achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first school district in Clackamas County to receive the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) approval to offer pre-apprenticeship classes to high school students. More significantly, the district has volunteered to serve as the pilot for the ambitious Clackamas Youth Trades Initiative – a region-wide effort to grow skilled trades opportunities across Clackamas County.
The groundbreaking program, launched this year in partnership with Area 1 Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 290, provides students who successfully complete the program of study with preferred entry into apprenticeship opportunities – creating a direct pipeline from classroom to career that will serve as a model for expansion throughout the county.
All OCSD high school students can take advantage of the Metals I and II class at Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences (CAIS) thanks to aligned schedules across all three high schools and a shuttle provided by OCSD’s transportation department. Following completion of these classes, students can apply to the apprenticeship program and take Metals III and IV classes at CAIS, plus they are then able to become OSHA 10 certified through the district’s Expanded Options Partnership with Clackamas Community College. Students will walk away with a professional portfolio that demonstrates their workforce readiness.
Students who successfully complete this program dramatically increase their chances of securing apprenticeships that typically lead to careers with excellent wages, benefits, and job security.
Leading Regional Workforce Development
The district is already in conversations with other Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs about expanding this model to additional skilled trades, with plans to bring more industry partners on board using the same proven framework.
“In Oregon City, we are committed to connecting students with high-wage, high-demand, and high-skill career pathways across every sector. Through strong partnerships with local and regional industry leaders, our students gain meaningful exposure to guest speakers, job shadows, internships, apprenticeships, and more. By building awareness and engagement today, we are laying the foundation for long-term career success and ensuring that every student graduates ready to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow,” said Angie Gilbert, OCSD School to Career Coordinator.
The skilled trades sector faces significant workforce shortages, with plumbers and pipefitters among the most in-demand positions regionally. These careers offer starting wages well above regional averages, comprehensive benefits, and clear advancement opportunities.
As the pilot district for the Clackamas Youth Trades Initiative, OCSD is positioning itself and its students at the forefront of innovative career preparation. The success will position the Oregon City School District to lead additional workforce development initiatives. The district plans to evaluate opportunities for expanding pre-apprenticeship programs to other skilled trades based on student interest, industry partnerships, and regional workforce data.
Information sessions for interested students and families will be scheduled throughout the academic year. Students interested in the program should contact Angie Gilbert, School to Career Coordinator, or Mike Stead, Principal at CAIS.
"We're proud of our district, but we're even more proud of the doors this opens for our students and hopefully others," said Mike Stead, Principal at CAIS. "This is what putting students first looks like – creating opportunities that didn't exist before and ensuring our graduates are prepared for post-secondary success."
About the Clackamas Youth Trades Initiative: The Clackamas Youth Trades Initiative is a region-wide effort to address skilled trades workforce shortages while creating career pathways for students across Clackamas County. Oregon City School District serves as the pilot district, demonstrating successful models for replication throughout the region.
