APEX: Reaching the pinnacle

Boulder TEC (BVSD’s Technical Education Center) has a new name, and expanded offerings

The Boulder Valley School District’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center has a new name, APEX. And with the new name, comes lots of other changes: Expanded course offerings and CTE pathways, a newly renovated space and branding, and countless student opportunities.

Time for a change

“The impetus for change was our BVSD bond program,” says Ming Scheid, APEX principal. “We knew the building needed updates to keep up with how career and technical education has been evolving locally and beyond. And this presented the perfect opportunity to not only update our building but our entire CTE offerings as a district.”

The school was previously called Boulder TEC, (‘TEC’ standing for Technical Education Center) where high school students were able to take classes in fields of interest exploring college and career pathways.

“We needed clarity on what TEC meant in BVSD,” said Scheid. “Some thought it meant that we only teach computer science or technical trades, and we’re so much more than that. We really wanted a name that better represented what we offered to students.”

Boulder TEC students were also craving a new identity for the school as they reported fellow classmates didn’t understand what it was, and created a campaign called “Boulder TEC: BVSD’s Best Kept Secret.”

A student involvement committee was formed where current Boulder TEC students gave feedback, and the district hired a consultant to digest the ideas from student, teacher and community input groups which all had a hand in helping select the name.

The school also wanted a name that encompassed all of the offerings, existing and new that are offered. Apex will soon be expanding course offerings in health science, skilled trades, engineering and STEM. The renovations are creating spaces designed to support this training.

“Apex means the ‘highest point’, we’re the end goal. Students participate in CTE programming throughout their primary years, then reach the APEX here with us in high school where we set them up to accelerate into their future with skills and exposure to the real world of work.”

With the new APEX building, the hope is that CTE offerings at BVSD are no longer a secret, but instead embraced by high school students to accelerate into their future.

Not career OR college, Apex offers pathways to both

Did you know? Every APEX program except for one offers college credit and the opportunity to earn industry certifications. 

Students can also gain work-based learning experience and other offerings tied to BVSD’s Grad Plus framework, designed to ensure that each BVSD student graduates with more than just a diploma.

“We hope to reset people’s understanding of what CTE is,” says Scheid. “There were often some negative connotations, that a student in a CTE pathway wasn’t college bound, but that is absolutely not the case.”

“CTE is about having a plan and getting a taste of what you want to do in your post-secondary life. Exposing students to different worlds of work so they can see what they enjoy, what they’re good at and gain skills along the way.”

New programs and planning ahead

APEX’s most popular programs include their skilled trade courses (think welding, carpentry, and building construction) and health science (think Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), physical therapists, sports medicine).

Beginning next school year APEX’s expanded programs will include more offerings in behavioral health, medical assisting, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) and Aviation and Aerospace. The following year will bring additional new programming for Pharmacy Technicians, Computer Science and Modern Manufacturing.

Scheid’s advice to families and students that may want to take courses is to start early.

“Students can start at APEX their junior year of high school, the application window typically opens in January their Sophomore year,” says Scheid. “It’s important to start talking with your counselor early to know the options and start figuring out how to make APEX part of your high school plan.”

“We are always working to have those conversations earlier through our fifth grade Dare to Dream program and our eighth grade tours of the building.”

A reminder for prospective families and students: Transportation is provided to APEX during the school day, so a student from any high school can leave their home campus to take a course at APEX during their week.

For those not wanting to leave campus, CTE programming is available at every high school via Accelerate courses (CTE courses offered on school campuses). 

“We talk a ton about transferability here. The skills and knowledge students gain from CTE courses transfer to so many other areas in their future life. The learning here is experiential, it’s hands-on and advanced learning. And whether an immediate career or college is in a student’s future employers and admissions offices look favorably on those skills.”

That’s what students are encouraged to do at Apex, experiment. Experiment to find things they’re interested in, eliminate things they may not enjoy, and gain skills for their future selves.

Experiencing the world of work at school

A significant, $25M renovation project is currently underway at APEX to create spaces to support all of the expanded program offerings. In addition to creating updated learning spaces, the multi-phase project will transform the look and feel of the school. New and updated spaces are meant to mimic the world of work: medical facilities, an aerospace lab, a construction site, a video production studio, or working with equipment that is actually used in manufacturing. 

“There’s a phase of construction that’s going to be finishing in December with our new signage where when students walk in it will look and feel different,” says Scheid. “The renovations are creating a bright, open and welcoming space that students can be proud to call their own and will showcase their learning in a new light.” 

Classrooms to house a teacher academy and a new counseling area were completed this fall. A renovated area for criminal justice and medical pathways, which features an open air patio where scenarios of medical emergencies or crime scenes can be created, will be available for students in January when adjacent active construction is completed.  

Future highlights of the project include new spaces for aviation/aerospace, video production, quantum technology, and optical engineering, as well as a new commons area and outdoor courtyard. A prototyping lab will augment the building trades area. There will also be a space for industry partners to meet with students and staff. 

This work is part of the $350M 2022 Bond program which is also bringing CTE renovations to all high schools and middle schools in the district as part of the Accelerate program. 

BVSD middle and high school students and families interested in learning more about APEX’s offerings can attend one of two APEX showcases this school year and tour the space.

• November 18, 2025 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  or
• January 22, 2026 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Learn more and see course and program offerings on the Apex webpage.