Families in San Antonio’s largest school districts are showing a strong interest in career and technical education programs, with a significant increase in applications for trade-based and early college programs, especially those with a focus on the medical field, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Popular Programs

San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD), North East Independent School District (NEISD), and Northside Independent School District (NISD) have seen a surge in applications for magnet and choice schools that offer specialized programs. At NEISD, the Medical Professions Academy and Space and Engineering Technology Academy are among the most popular, with over 640 and 450 applications, respectively.

NISD’s Health Careers High School has also seen a significant increase in applications, with over 500 students applying for the upcoming school year. The school offers different medical tracks, including pharmacology and clinical research.

Expansion of Middle School Magnets

School districts are responding to the growing demand for career-focused programs by expanding middle school magnets. At NEISD, the number of middle school students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs increased by 3,000 during the 2025-26 school year, despite a district-wide enrollment drop.

NISD has also launched new middle school magnets, including a multimedia and design program at Jordan Middle School, which has received over 340 applications. The district has also introduced a sports medicine magnet at Stinson Middle School, with around 140 students applying for the upcoming school year.

Original reporting: San Antonio Report — read the source article.