Davenport Community School District students are learning how to code for the future.
“Every year there are a million job openings in cybersecurity and programming. And only several hundred thousand graduates are able to fill those positions,” says Mr. Doyle Massey, the Computer Science CTE instructor at Davenport West.
Computer science is one of the most sought-after professions on the market, providing endless career opportunities. From game developers to cloud computing and cybersecurity, the computer sciences offer many job opportunities for young adults to advance their skills and grow their experience.
“A lot of companies are realizing their employees can work remotely and do the same quality of work from their home,” Mr. Massey says.
This opens up even more opportunities for students pursuing computer science.
“Everything runs on technology and computers... Having a basic understanding of how computers, computer programs, algorithms, data and cybersecurity all work is a skill that is needed in all fields.” – Mr. Doyle Massey
Currently, computer science is the most requested pathway of all of DCSD’s 14 CTE programs offered for the 2022-2023 school year. About 140 students are already taking the Information Technology (IT) and Developer pathways.
Get College and Career Ready
The Computer Science CTE programs allow students to gain real-world experience in programming and coding with a major emphasis on meeting current industry standards. Students in the program have many advantages when preparing for college or entering the workforce, such as:
Currently, the program offers 4 different paid apprenticeships for students to advance their technical skills as well as soft skills.
“The soft skills are really critical,” says Mr. Massey. “Students in the apprenticeships, especially, are learning how to ask questions and find answers without just being told. They are learning how to problem solve and how to project manage… Even if they don’t go on into computer science, learning to break stuff up into chunks and prioritize is a huge skill.”
The program’s apprenticeships, work-based learning opportunities and certificates give students a leg up when entering the workforce.
That’s the case for Sophia Iniguez, a DCSD senior working as an apprentice at John Deere.
“Working in the office has been a big learning opportunity,” she says. “Learning how my team communicates in meetings and around the office has been helpful. The biggest benefit is the work experience and learning how to work with others.”
In addition, students explore their interests and discover their passions through the program.
“When I first joined the class, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do,” says Clifton Hare, a DCSD junior. “I was kind of lost. Sometimes, the work seems hard and confusing, but you just have to stick with it because you might find your passion in unlikely places.”
Next Steps
Each program has a recommended sequence of courses to take over 4 years.
Students can request the courses when they plan their schedules or join a CTE Program and have these automatically loaded into their Campus Planner. Learn more by visiting the How Do I Sign Up? page!
Check out the Davenport Schools Course Guide for a full description of each course in the Computer Science: Developer and IT sequences.
Read More
1. Davenport’s Early Childhood Education CTE Program
2. Stepping Stones Afterschool Program
3. The Benefits of Becoming an Apprentice
