For many high school students, school means sitting in a classroom and taking notes all day, but for students who attend South Tech, the school day looks much different. 

These students split their time between their home high school and South Technical High School, where they take career-focused classes that emphasize hands-on learning.

South Tech is a career and technical education school that gives students the chance to explore different career paths while still completing academic classes at their home school. Students travel between the two schools during the day, following a set schedule based on grade level. 

Juniors attend South Tech in the morning from 7:29 a.m. to 9:56 a.m., covering blocks 1-4. On red and blue days, this schedule allows students to return to their home school in time to attend blocks 5-8. However, on purple days, juniors miss part of 5th block. Students still eat lunch at South.

Seniors attend South Tech in the afternoon, covering blocks 5-8 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:29 p.m. On red and blue days, students are released from their 3rd and 4th blocks at 10:43 a.m., allowing enough time to travel to South Tech. On purple days, classes end at 10:04 a.m.

Senior Suroosh Weedy is a student in the Dental Sciences program. He said he chose South Tech to further his education and prepare for a future career in dentistry. One of the biggest differences he has noticed compared to a traditional high school is how focused the classes are. 

“It’s more focused on one topic,” Weedy said. 

Weedy said he thinks that hands-on learning is what he enjoys most about South Tech. Through the Dental Sciences program, Weedy has learned skills not usually taught in a regular high school, including sealants, coronal polishing, applying a dental dam, and four-handed dentistry. 

Weedy thinks the program helped him understand what he wants to do after high school. Weedy plans on going to SLU to major in pre-dental and continue to dental school after. 

“[South Tech] gives me a view on what I want to do later in my life,” Weedy said. 

Weedy also believes that smaller class sizes and having one main class help students build better relationships with teachers. 

According to Weedy, he would recommend South Tech to anyone interested.

“Do it because of how fun it is, and it’s such a different experience,” he said.

Senior Mya Morrell is a student in the Cosmetology program. She believes South Tech gave her the chance to focus on something she is passionate about. 

“[South Tech] let me work on skills I’m actually interested in instead of being at school all day,” Morrell said. 

South Tech has helped Morrell fast-track her path toward earning a Cosmetology license for free, allowing her to start her career right after high school. Morrell plans to get her associates at STLCC to further her business education in hopes of one day owning her own salon, while also starting to work at one right after high school. Morrell thinks that the hands-on environment has helped her confirm her career plans. 

“[South Tech has] helped me realize that I want to for sure go into doing hair and not just think about doing it,” Morrell said. 

In the program, Morrell has learned how to do hair, apply acrylic nails, sanitize a workplace, and build her own business and clientele. Because of this, South Tech feels very different from a traditional classroom, according to Morrell. 

“Instead of reading from a board and sitting in a classroom, you’re actually doing the work,” Morrell said. 

Another difference Morrell has noticed is that the teachers are more relaxed and supportive, and often act as mentors for students. 

Senior Gerald Webster is enrolled in the Construction Innovation program. His junior year he was able to try out four different construction classes, changing each quarter. Then specializing on floor laying his senior year. Webster chose South Tech because he knew college was not the right path for him. 

“I knew it [South Tech] led to a lot of opportunities,” he said.  

According to Webster, South Tech involves much more hands-on work, with most of the day spent in the shop instead of at a desk. This has helped prepare him for life after high school by teaching real-world skills and offering apprenticeship opportunities. 

“I’m able to do an apprenticeship that can get me a job coming right out of high school,” Webster said. 

Webster thinks learning from teachers with real-world experience in the trades has been helpful. Through South Tech, Webster has gained interview skills, construction techniques, and useful tips for his trade. One of his favorite experiences was getting the chance to operate heavy equipment, including a mini excavator and a Bobcat.

Although all three students said South Tech is not for everyone, they agreed it can be a great option for students who enjoy hands-on learning and want to explore career options early. Students interested in trades, technical programs, or entering the workforce soon after graduation may benefit most from attending.

When asked to describe South Tech in one sentence to someone thinking about applying, Senior Gerald Webster didn’t hesitate. 

“Your life will benefit a lot from this decision,” Webster said. 

Prior to coming to South High, Assistant Principal Eric Wilhelm was an assistant principal at South Tech. Like Webster, he also said students can benefit from attending South Tech.

“If you have a passion for something and know what you want to do, South Tech gives you an opportunity to have some of those dreams and be more involved in something during an earlier time in your life,” Wilhelm said. “If Parkway South isn’t your ‘jam,’ South Tech is a great opportunity that is exciting and something you may find a passion for.”