"I really want students to know about the great opportunity the program gives them. That's their future."
- S. S., who interned at Port of Seattle Seaport Maintenance through C-WEST. He now works there full-time.
Overview
C-WEST (Career Workplace Exploration in the Skilled Trades) is a unique school-to-work partnership based at Rainier Beach High School that introduces high school students to future careers in the skilled trades and other disciplines through classroom training and paid, practical internships.
In Detail
Participants are selected for C-WEST through a competitive process involving essays and interviews. They spend 15 hours a week in combined classroom and experiential learning, including:
- 9 classroom hours, combining academic learning such as math with practical skills such as composing resumes, first aid training and other certifications.
- 6 internship hours at the Port of Seattle, City of Seattle and Seattle Public Schools. Each student has the opportunity to gain exposure to two separate crafts during his or her internship.
By matching students with journey-level volunteer mentors (who receive special training for working with youth), students gain access and exposure to a range of well-paying career opportunities in a variety of skilled trades (including carpentry, plumbing, painting, and auto maintenance) as well as engineering, architecture, and computer-assisted drawing.
Successful graduates receive 1.0 credit hours, a letter grade and a Certificate of Completion upon successful completion of the program. Students who complete this program are prepared to compete for apprenticeship positions in the skilled trades where starting wages range from $14-$18 an hour plus benefits. Upon reaching journey level, usually a two to five year process, skilled tradespeople can expect to average $28 - $36 an hour plus benefits.
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