John Marshall High School in Glen Dale, West Virginia, is adding a pre-apprenticeship track to its existing two-year carpentry Career and Technical Education program. School officials say it is the first offering of its kind at a West Virginia high school, pairing classroom instruction with a pathway into registered union apprenticeships.
How the Program Works
Starting this semester, carpentry students will take part in a pre-apprenticeship curriculum developed through the North American Building Trades Unions, delivered in partnership with the Upper Ohio Valley Building and Construction Trades Council. Coursework covers construction skills, workplace safety standards and trade council training content. Students who complete the requirements will earn an industry-recognized certification rather than simply a high school course credit.
Who Qualifies and When
The inaugural cohort consists of current high school juniors, who are expected to finish the program and receive their credentials when they graduate in spring 2028. Because the track is built into the carpentry CTE program, participation runs alongside students' regular coursework over multiple years rather than as a short-term add-on.
Connecting Students to Jobs
Organizers describe the goal as building a direct bridge between high school training and registered apprenticeships or construction employment after graduation, giving students a credential that building trades employers and unions already recognize. Matthew Ali, who teaches the carpentry program at John Marshall High School, is the point of contact for parents and students interested in enrolling. Additional background on the pre-apprenticeship framework is available through TradesFutures, the national resource tied to the North American Building Trades Unions.
What Remains to Be Seen
As a newly launched initiative, the program's outcomes, including how many students complete it and how many move directly into apprenticeships, will not be clear until the first cohort graduates in 2028. The partnership structure mirrors broader national efforts to connect high school vocational training with unionized skilled trades, though results can vary by region and local labor market demand.