How Students are Turning Classrooms into Residential Construction Launchpads

Every February, the home building industry celebrates Career and Technical Education Month, a time to spotlight the training and educational opportunities that prepare students for careers in the trades. This is the fourth story in a weekly series highlighting the month.

From showcase homes to hands-on jobsite shadowing, high school students are taking more immersive pathways toward potential careers in construction. With their sights set on full-time jobs, internships and apprenticeships, students connected to local home builders associations are turning classrooms into launchpads.

Students Built a Showcase Home in Utah

At Career Tech High School in southern Utah, students didn't just complete a class project — they entered the prestigious St. George Parade of Homes, one of the region's most anticipated residential construction events.

The home they built and designed intentionally excluded extravagant features, instead showcasing something far more powerful: a thoughtfully designed, more broadly attainable 2,000-square-foot home.

Construction and architecture instructor Jeremiah Herron says that's exactly what resonates with visitors. Spectators appreciate seeing a realistic, affordable home brought to life by students who are just beginning their careers in the trades. It's a testament to both craftsmanship and possibility.

The project is one of many initiatives the school undertakes in partnership with the Southern Utah Home Builders Association (SUHBA). Together, they're creating meaningful opportunities for students to connect with industry professionals, earn internships, and in some cases, secure full-time employment before they even graduate.

Students Build a 20' x 20' Mini Home Structure

In southern Alabama, students at Baldwin Preparatory Academy are taking a similarly ambitious approach, but on a different scale. Instructor and remodeler Scott Larson is leading more than 60 students through the construction of a fully functional 20-by-20-foot training structure. But this isn't just a simple build: It's a full-scale collaboration that brings multiple trades together under one roof.

The project requires HVAC installation, plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, electrical wiring, interior design, and tight coordination to ensure every system works seamlessly. Each student contributes their specialty and learns firsthand how the trades rely on one another to deliver a finished product.

Though Baldwin Preparatory Academy is only in its second year, the momentum is already building. Larson has launched an internship program that has placed students with a large commercial construction company to learn site development, land clearing and pipe installation. Others have gained experience in a local cabinet shop, sharpening their craftsmanship in a real-world setting.

For these students, the lesson is clear: Collaboration and competence open doors.

Students Learn Directly From the Brightest Minds in Building

In eastern Pennsylvania, students at Middle Bucks Institute of Technology are stepping directly onto active jobsites to learn from seasoned professionals.

Under the guidance of instructor Randy McDowell, students participate each year in National Groundhog Job Shadow Day on Feb. 2. Most recently, they partnered with residential construction teams at Toll Brothers and Lennar Corporation to get a firsthand look at life in the trades.

The experience goes far beyond observation. Students tour local jobsites, follow the process from purchasing land to settling on a completed home, and engage directly with project managers, tradespeople and business leaders. They ask questions, explore career paths, and begin identifying which roles best align with their skills and interests.

Equally important, they're learning how to present themselves as professionals. From understanding employer expectations to creating polished LinkedIn profiles, students are preparing to enter the workforce with confidence.

These experiences give them something invaluable: visibility. By meeting industry leaders face to face, they're not just learning about potential careers — they're putting themselves on the radar of the very people who may hire them one day.

Learn more about Careers in Technical Education Month.