Grand River Technical School, Chillicothe, Missouri

Overview of Grand River Technical School (GRTS)

Grand River Technical School (GRTS), located in Chillicothe, Missouri, is a public career and technical education institution offering secondary and postsecondary programs focused on hands-on career preparation. The provided document appears to be an official Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) informational sheet detailing GRTS’s approved career education programs, support services, and enrollment options, particularly for secondary students and adults seeking certificates.

Key Contact Information:

Director: Mr. Adam Wolf
Email: awolf@grts.org
Address: 1200 Fair Street, Chillicothe, Missouri 64601-1299
Phone: (660) 646-3414
Fax: (660) 646-3568

The school serves students from multiple sending school districts across counties (e.g., Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, Grundy, Linn, Livingston), with assigned support services such as guidance/placement, counseling, and financial assistance.

Approved secondary career education programs are referenced via the DESE website for the full list.

Secondary Programs with Adult Enrollment (1- or 2-Year Certificates)

The document highlights specific secondary-level programs (coded as “08-10 STS”) that allow adult enrollment, enabling adults to earn 1- or 2-year certificates alongside high school students:

Child Care Provider/Assistant (CIP 19.0709)
Autobody/Collision and Repair Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0603)
Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician (CIP 47.0604)
Carpentry/Carpenter (CIP 46.0201) — Highlighted below
Welding Technology (CIP 48.0508)

Additionally, it notes longer 500+ contact hour adult career education programs (details starting on page 62 of the full document, not provided here).

Highlight: Carpentry Program (Building Trades)

In the document, the program is formally listed as Carpentry/Carpenter (CIP code 46.0201), classified under the “08-10 STS” category. This indicates it is a secondary technical program approved for state funding/support, with options for adult co-enrollment to complete a 1- or 2-year certificate.

From the school’s current program details (aligned with this listing):

The program is titled Building Trades (often encompassing carpentry as the core focus).
It combines classroom theory with extensive hands-on training.
Students learn skills in rough framing, roof framing, exterior/interior finishing, blueprint reading, project estimating, math applications, tool usage (hand tools, portable power tools), and working with materials like lumber, roofing, fasteners, drywall, and cabinetry.
A signature feature is the annual construction of a full residential house (valued at $250,000–$400,000), providing real-world experience in home building, roofing, plumbing basics, electrical basics, painting, and related trades.
Program length:
- High school juniors/seniors: 3 hours/day over 2 years.
- Postsecondary/adult students: 6.75 hours/day for 9 months (1,080 total hours).
Certifications earned: OSHA 10 Safety Certification and Forklift Operator Certification.
Career preparation: Entry-level roles in construction, carpentry, home building, highway/bridge work, and related fields (median carpenter wage cited as ~$49,520 nationally).

Does it use the NCCER curriculum? No. The provided document does not mention any specific curriculum. The school’s official program description also makes no reference to the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) curriculum, modules, or credentials. The certifications offered (OSHA 10 and Forklift) are industry-standard but not NCCER-specific. The program appears to follow a custom, hands-on curriculum aligned with Missouri DESE standards and local industry needs, emphasizing practical house-building projects rather than NCCER’s modular, nationally standardized training system.

Overall, GRTS emphasizes practical, career-ready training in trades like carpentry/building trades, with strong opportunities for both secondary students and adults to gain certificates and employable skills.