Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center
The Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center offers students the opportunity to take advanced-level Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses regardless of their home campus. If you want to take classes at GRCTC, you don’t have to change schools. Students stay at their home campuses and travel to the center for two class periods on either A day or B day.
The center expands the opportunities available to district students with new programs, certifications and advanced-level courses. Courses are taught by industry experts in a state-of-the-art learning environment.
The facility will also showcase an onsite experiential learning program featuring a simulated city designed to teach sixth-graders about participating in a global economy.
Classes offered
The center will offer more than 90 advanced-level CTE courses for juniors and seniors including over 60 new courses. Opportunities include:
- new programs of study in dentistry and firefighting
- a real-world stock market ticker for on-the-job training
- the state's first cybersecurity courses
- never before offered courses in veterinary medicine, architecture, business, fashion design and marketing, logistics, pharmacology, robotics and more
View a list of center courses.
JA BizTown® Program
JA BizTown is a 10,000 square foot kid-sized city within the Gilbreath-Reed Career and Technical Center. Several weeks of classroom learning culminates in a daylong visit to this fully interactive simulated free market where students become adults for a day. By working in one of 14 JA BizTown stores, GISD sixth-graders will learn what it takes to run a successful business, manage a checking account and work as a team. Through daily lessons, hands-on activities, and active participation in this simulated community, they will also develop a strong understanding of the relationship between what they learn in school and their successful participation in a global economy.
Visit the JA BizTown web page to find out more.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses teach skills that translate into professions. Because students in CTE courses receive real-world experience and hands-on training in some of the most high-demand fields, graduates often work their way through college or enter the workforce straight out of high school.
The GRCTC offers more than 90 advanced-level CTE courses taught by industry experts in a state-of-the-art learning environment.
GRCTC expands the opportunities available to district students, adding new programs, certifications and advanced-level courses. GISD’s seven high schools continue to offer their own CTE specializations.
Students remain enrolled in their home campuses and travel to GRCTC to attend courses for two class periods on either A day or B day.
Courses are offered in morning or afternoon sessions, with students either starting or ending the day at GRCTC.
GRCTC serves juniors and seniors from all seven district high schools. Sophomores may also participate in culinary arts and firefighting courses.
District transportation is provided, or students can choose to drive their own vehicles.
Dual-credit courses allow students to not only earn high school credits but college credit, as well. With practicum courses, students gain industry experience through labs that simulate real work environments. Some practicum courses also offer external internships. Certifications and licenses give students the opportunity to start a career after graduation or to earn additional college credit.
Garland ISD is partnering with Junior Achievement of Dallas to host North Texas’ first JA BizTown® at GRCTC, allowing district sixth-graders to run a simulated city. They experience entrepreneurship, civic duty and financial education through working jobs, electing a mayor, obeying laws, opening a bank account and earning a paycheck.