Tampa Tech Prep

Wouldn't it be great if high school students could be guaranteed a bright future, even if they didn't go to college? It's happening in Hillborough County.

As Bill Ratliff explains in Assignment: Education.. it's all in a program called "Tech Prep."

These dental lab students at Tampa Bay Tech are among 11-thousand Hillsborough County highschoolers sinking their teeth into a course of study called "Tech Prep." Tech Prep is one of five courses of study combining required academics with a technical component.

---[Principal Sylvia Albritton says:] "The students are taking high level courses particularly in math and science. We offer all courses that are offered at other high schools including advanced placement, honors courses, dual enrollment is offered as well."---

It appears to be working. Last year 67 percent of Hillsborough County's Tech Prep students went on to college. Others went into the military to advance their technical training. Stephen Jjudd was among last year's Tech Prep grads.

---[Graduate Stephen Judd says:] "Well I made a choice to go to college. So I'm going to college for electrical engineering which I'm attending USF, and I'm there right now."---

Administrators say the Tech Prep students are very focused, hands on, and tend to know what they want to do. A good example is senior George Varner, who wants to become a residential architecht.

---[Drafting student George Varner says:] "I hope to go to college and learn more about architechtural drafting, and one day I hope to get into an architechtural firm."---

Classmate Mike Phalin has similar plans.

---[Drafting Student Mike Phalin says:] "I just thought that tech would give me a better opportunity. That if wanted to go to work right after high school or just go onto college it gives the same opportunity."---

Bill Ratliff Newschannel 8.

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