Life in SVCTE Healthcare
By Shane Gil Nov. 4, 2026
Before dawn breaks over San Jose, Senior Alex Nguyen puts on a pair of navy medical scrubs, grabs a stethoscope and prepares for class at Silicon Valley Career and Technical Education (SVCTE). Operated by the Metropolitan Education District (MetroED), SVCTE is a regional career technical school where high school juniors and seniors take specialized, hands-on courses alongside their standard diploma requirements.
The program offers tuition-free technical training in fields including, but not limited to, Nursing Careers, Film and Video Production, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity and Automotive Technology. All SVCTE courses are UC and CSU “a-g” approved. Depending on their chosen track, enrolled students can earn high school credits, fulfill college prerequisites and receive qualification certificates by maintaining strict attendance, demonstrating hands-on skills and passing final state exams.
Enrolled in the Nursing Careers program, one of SVCTE’s core traditional healthcare tracks, Nguyen originally joined to explore future medical pathways, but what began as career exploration quickly turned into a transformative experience.
“I was prepared for sitting through long lectures and slideshows, but classes far surpassed my expectations as we focused on activities before lectures. I learned that I could retain information more effectively through these activities. In addition, I got to meet new people and learn about their experiences beyond medicine,” Nguyen said.
Nguyen’s routine begins early, arriving at SVCTE at 7:15 a.m. to change into scrubs before the 7:30 a.m. start time. The program teaches upcoming healthcare workers that well-rounded empathy starts with self-awareness. Thus, morning instruction opens with a daily online check-in on Canvas designed to monitor student wellness.
“I appreciate that SVCTE sheds light onto how the healthcare field is not just centered around physical care, but mental health as well,” Nguyen said.
Unlike traditional high school courses, SVCTE prioritizes real-world application. Lectures occur only once a week, reserving most class time for interactive medical labs where students build anatomical skeleton models and construct injury casts.
In addition to lab work, students transition from discussion directly into clinical practice, visiting other SVCTE classes—including HVAC, dental health, veterinary science, construction, culinary arts, automotive and medical assisting—to perform basic health examinations. During these clinical rounds, students evaluate their peers by measuring heart rate, temperature, blood pressure, pupil response and reflexes, recording their findings to analyze how each student compares against standard clinical data.
SVCTE is also a collaborative community—different specialized tracks cooperate to create a dynamic atmosphere where students are able to rely on each other’s talents.
“When a classmate’s car broke down, we contacted automotive students who came over and fixed it for free, and the food served on campus comes directly from culinary students,” Nguyen said.
While this collaborative campus builds a supportive network, succeeding in the program requires strict personal discipline.
“My advice for students looking to join SVCTE is to develop good time management. SVCTE is especially strict with tardies, and missing even one hour can revoke your qualification certificate,” Nguyen said.
Through hands-on experience and professional training, SVCTE gives aspiring professionals a clear head start on their future career path.
About the Contributors
Shane Gil
Staff Writer
Shane Gil is a sophomore at Leland High School and a Staff Writer, plays basketball watches tv shows and movies. When not sleeping he can be found hiking with friends, hanging out with friends, or practicing for track and field.
Eleanor Wang
Front Page and Lifestyle Page Editor
Eleanor Wang is a senior at Leland High School and the Front Page and Lifestyle Page Editor, as well as the Ad Manager for The Charger Account. When not making crafts, she can be found binging movies or shopping with friends.
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