CONCORD, NC - Pender County Schools Career and Technical Education continues to rank among the strongest CTE programs in North Carolina, earning two Top 10 statewide recognitions during the 2026 CTE Directors Conference in Concord.
PCS ranked No. 4 in North Carolina for credential attainment with an 88.94% rate and No. 10 statewide for total credentials earned, with 8,729 credentials. The results reflect thousands of opportunities for students to earn industry-recognized credentials that can strengthen their resumes, demonstrate career-ready skills and help prepare them for opportunities after graduation.
The latest recognition also continues a four-year run of statewide success for PCS CTE. Pender County Schools has appeared on a state Top 10 list in each of the past four years. In two of those four years, the district earned Top 10 recognition in both credential attainment and total credentials earned.
For CTE Director Dominique Bates, that consistency reflects the work taking place every day in classrooms across the district.
“To be on a Top 10 list for four straight years says a lot about the consistency of our program, our teachers and especially our students,” Bates said. “And in two of those years, we’ve been recognized in both credential attainment and total credentials earned. These teachers and students are amazing. They continue to raise the bar and show what is possible when students are given meaningful opportunities to develop real-world skills.”
Industry credentials are earned through CTE coursework and can demonstrate a student’s knowledge and proficiency in specific career and technical areas. Depending on the program, those credentials may connect students directly to employment opportunities, advanced training or continued education after high school.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Breedlove said the results highlight both student achievement and the commitment of the educators who help students prepare for those credentials.
“These statewide rankings are another indication of the quality of Career and Technical Education happening across Pender County Schools,” Breedlove said. “Our students are gaining skills that have value beyond the classroom, and our CTE teachers continue to create opportunities that prepare them for what comes next. Sustaining this level of success over several years is something our entire district can celebrate.”
The 2026 results build on a pattern of strong performance and reinforce the district’s emphasis on preparing students to leave high school ready for enrollment, enlistment or employment.
For PCS CTE, the rankings are more than numbers. Each credential represents a student who has demonstrated a skill, completed a challenge and taken another step toward a future beyond graduation.