Skip to main content

Community High School District 155

Enter with Promise. Leave with Purpose.

Career Experiences Program Home

  • A student stirs an iced coffee while interning at Dunkin Donuts.
  • A student feed a camel during her micro internship
  • Two students are rolling out dough during foods class
  • A Dual Credit intro to education high school student helps an elementary student with homework
  • Students in autos seminar help fix a vehicle for the cary fire deparment
  • student learns about how machines at AFC work during her micro internship

Career Experiences Program

16 Career Clusters (PDF)

CEP Graduation Requirements (PDF)

CEP Senior College Bound Graduation Requirements (PDF)

SchooLinks

At Community High School District 155, we believe every student should graduate with a plan and a purpose. Our Career Experiences Program helps students explore, experience, and engage with real-world career opportunities before they leave high school.

Building Pathways for Every Student

Our work begins with incoming freshmen, who take part in career assessments, set S.M.A.R.T. goals, identify career clusters, and build a four-year course plan aligned with their interests. From there, students participate in progressively deeper experiences from classroom exploration to hands-on learning in local workplaces.

Expanding Opportunities Through Partnership

In 2022, District 155 was awarded $1.5 million from Advance McHenry County to expand career pathways for all students. Since then, we’ve partnered with McHenry County College and industry leaders to build innovative programs that prepare students for high-demand careers:

  • A new Health Careers Lab at Crystal Lake Central High School gives students across all D155 schools access to Basic Nursing Assistant and Electrocardiogram (EKG) courses, allowing them to earn industry credentials, including the CNA license, while still in high school.
     
  • Our growing Micro-Internship Program connects students with local businesses and organizations to “try on” careers through short, focused placements that build confidence, experience, and community connections.
     

District 155 also offers U.S. Department of Labor-registered Apprenticeships, providing paid, structured training for students entering the workforce immediately after graduation.

 

Justin DeBolt

Director of Community Partnerships & District Safety

Email


Veronica Gutzmer

Career Experience Program Coordinator

Email

 

 

Our Goal

Every D155 student will explore multiple career paths, build employability skills, and identify a clear next step by the time they graduate. We’re proud to partner with our community to ensure every student leaves high school with purpose, direction, and the confidence to succeed.

Apprenticeships

Community High School District 155 offers U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeships that let students earn pay, credentials, and experience while still in high school.

Registered Apprenticeship Information (PDF)

    • Paid experience during high school
       
    • Nationally recognized occupational credential
       
    • 2,000+ hours of structured, paid on-the-job training
       
    • Mentorship + classroom instruction (workplace and technical skills)
       

    Clear pathway to high-demand employment after graduation.

    • Open to Juniors and Seniors (per current course catalog)
       
    • Complete Prerequisite Courses
       
    • Teacher/DL recommendation
       
    • GPA: 2.8 overall and/or C- or better in all Ind Tech classes
       
    • Other: Strong attendance; age 16+ and/or transportation required

    1. Complete prerequisite coursework
    2. Do a junior-year micro-internship in a related area to confirm interest
    3. Tell your micro-internship teacher you want to pursue the apprenticeship
    4. Register for the Work Program your senior year as the apprenticeship course

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Program

Students from across Community High School District 155 have the opportunity to enroll in our Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program, offered in partnership with McHenry County College through a dual-credit course. This hands-on program prepares students to begin a healthcare career while still in high school, earning both college credit and an industry-recognized credential.

  • The district’s state-of-the-art Health Careers Lab at Crystal Lake Central High School includes four patient beds, a shower and restroom area, and clinical-grade equipment that simulates a real hospital or long-term care facility. This environment allows students to practice clinical skills and gain authentic healthcare experience before entering the workforce or continuing their education.

     

  • This seven-credit-hour course is designed to prepare nursing assistants to work under the direction of a licensed professional nurse in a variety of healthcare settings. Students develop essential nursing skills through classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory practice, and 48 hours of clinical experience.

  • Upon successful completion of the Basic Nursing Assistant Certificate Program, students are eligible to take the State Nursing Aide Competency Exam. Passing this exam qualifies students for placement on the Illinois Healthcare Worker Registry, allowing them to be employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).

    To be added to the Nurse Aide Registry, individuals must:

    • Successfully complete a state-approved training program in accordance with the Long-Term Care Assistants and Aides Training Program Code (77 Ill. Adm. Code 395).
       

    Meet all criminal background check requirements and have no findings of abuse, neglect, or misappropriation of property, as outlined by the Nursing Home Act and Health Care Worker Background Check Act (225 ILCS 46).

  • Through this program, District 155 students graduate with real-world skills, professional certification, and a direct pathway to local healthcare employment—a powerful first step toward a rewarding career in nursing or other allied health professions.

Students perform CPR on a dummy in the CNA program.

Manufacturing Career Exploration

Each October, in celebration of Manufacturing Month, Community High School District 155 partners with the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium to offer students unique opportunities to explore local manufacturing careers through hands-on shop tours.

These experiences connect students directly with McHenry County manufacturers, allowing them to see modern manufacturing in action — from precision machining and robotics to design and packaging. Students learn how advanced manufacturing careers offer cutting-edge technology, creativity, and strong earning potential right here in our community.

Students participate in shop tours at local manufacturing companies.

Student & Family Engagement

Depending on the format each year, tours are offered during the school day or in the evening, and often include parents, so families can learn together about the wide range of local career opportunities available after graduation.

“It helped me see what my options are and what I want my options to be in the future.”
— John Gardner, Crystal Lake South student

“I attended with my dad — he thought it was really cool too. Anything that comes to your mind, you can just make it happen.”
— Edgar Camacho, Crystal Lake South student

These experiences reflect District 155’s mission for students to enter with promise and leave with purpose, equipped with the knowledge, connections, and confidence to pursue meaningful, high-demand careers in manufacturing and beyond.

Micro-Internship Program

The Micro-Internship Program at Community High School District 155 provides students with the opportunity to “try on” careers before graduation, short, focused, and meaningful experiences that connect classroom learning with the real world.

Real-World Experience in Real Time

Students are matched with local businesses and organizations for 8–15-hour micro-internships aligned with their career interests. These placements are designed to fit within the school schedule, providing authentic exposure to the daily work of professionals across a wide range of industries, from healthcare and business to engineering, education, trades, and technology.

Micro Internship Information (PDF)

A student completes a ride along with the Prairie Grove Police Department as part of a microinternship.

  • During each micro-internship, students:

    • Explore potential career paths before committing to college or training programs.
       
    • Develop professional skills like communication, collaboration, and time management.
       
    • Gain valuable insight into workplace expectations and opportunities.
       

    Begin building a professional network within the McHenry County community.

  • District 155 partners with dozens of local employers, nonprofits, and government agencies to provide these hands-on opportunities. Partners have the flexibility to design meaningful projects that fit their work environment while supporting student learning and career discovery.

  • Our goal is for every student to graduate with a clear sense of direction and purpose. The Micro-Internship Program helps them build confidence, define goals, and take the first step toward a successful career — whether that means continuing education, training, or entering the workforce after high school.

    Businesses or community partners interested in hosting students can learn more or sign up through our Career Experiences Program page or by emailing cep@d155.org.

Please note: This page contains links to documents that are in Adobe's PDF format.  If you have accessibility needs that make it difficult for you to access and/or interpret information in PDF format, please call 815-455-8500 or email distmail@d155.org, and we will be happy to assist you.