New Partnerships Build on District's Growing Commitment to Career-Connected Education for Each and Every Student
Oregon City, Oregon – April 2, 2026 – Oregon City School District has achieved another milestone in its commitment to preparing students for life after high school, announcing two new career pathways: a BOLI-approved pre-apprenticeship program in partnership with the Western States Carpenters, and a BOLI-approved behavioral and mental health pathway through United We Heal.
The announcements build on last fall's launch of the district's plumbing pre-apprenticeship through the Clackamas Youth Trades Initiative — which made OCSD the first district in Clackamas County to receive BOLI approval for pre-apprenticeship programming. With these additions, Oregon City School District continues to expand opportunities aiming to become one of the most comprehensive career-connected learning programs in the region.
"There are no other programs like this in the county currently," said OCSD’s School to Career Coordinator, Angie Gilbert. "We're providing students with quality training that puts them ahead of any of their counterparts in Clackamas County."
The district's momentum has earned statewide recognition: On April 28, Oregon's Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) Commissioner, partners from the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission, and representatives from the Oregon Department of Education will visit the Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences to spotlight OCSD's growing pre-apprenticeship programs as a model for career-connected learning across Oregon. Joining the visit will be representatives from local trades and apprenticeship programs — giving OCSD high school students a firsthand look at the career opportunities available to them, while giving industry partners a firsthand look at the talent Oregon City is producing.
Western States Carpenters Pre-Apprenticeship — Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences
Clackamas Academy of Industrial Sciences’s (CAIS) Woods program has received BOLI approval for a pre-apprenticeship program in partnership with the Western States Carpenters' Regional Apprenticeship and Training Council.
The program is distinguished by the rigor of its curriculum. Rather than coursework simply aligned to industry standards, OCSD students are learning by using the exact curriculum developed by the Western States Carpenters — the same materials used to train working professionals in the field today. "We are teaching the carpenters' curriculum directly to our students — and we're meeting their hours requirements," said CAIS Principal and OCSD CTE Administrator, Mike Stead. "Students completing the pre-apprenticeship will get nearly 500 hours of training, which is unheard of for a high school program."
That investment in preparation translates directly into opportunity. Upon completing the program — including coursework, an industrial safety certification, and a professional portfolio — OCSD students will enter the apprenticeship process as among some of the strongest candidates in the applicant pool. "In the eyes of the carpenters, if they have space, these kids [will be] on par with their highest-rated candidate — because of our training program," said Mike Stead.
The program is open to students at all OCSD high schools, including Oregon City High School and Oregon City Service Learning Academy. Students will forecast next year’s course selections in the coming months, with a full program launch planned for the 2026–27 school year.
United We Heal — Behavioral and Mental Health Pathway
Oregon City School District believes every student deserves a clear path from the classroom to a career that matters — including those drawn to serve their community through health and human services.
Through a new partnership with United We Heal, OCSD students now have access to a behavioral and mental health pre-apprenticeship pathway combining rigorous college-level coursework with real-world career preparation. Interested juniors and seniors complete three credits through Clackamas Community College — Psychology 101, Psychology 201 (equivalent to the district's AP Psychology course, which is another option), and Psychology 215: Human Development — at no cost to students or families.
Students engage with the same academic content pursued on college campuses, building both the knowledge base and the professional foundation to enter the behavioral health field with confidence. Courses are available and are designed to layer onto a student's existing high school schedule. Students interested in this pathway can connect with their high school counselor or administrator to learn more.
A Growing Ecosystem of Career Opportunity
These partnerships reflect Oregon City School District's sustained commitment to ensuring every student — regardless of the path they choose — graduates with the skills, credentials, and confidence to build a life right here in their community. That commitment is grounded in the priorities OCSD's community set through its strategic plan, which calls on the district to ensure every student is career ready. The district is delivering on that promise: students are training to industry standards, earning meaningful credentials, and are preparing to step into careers that will strengthen the very community that raised them.
The April 28 event at CAIS brings together state leaders, industry partners, and labor unions in a celebration of what's possible when schools and community invest in students together. For CAIS students, it's also a rare opportunity to showcase the skills they’ve learned— and to hear directly from the trades and apprenticeship programs that could define their futures.