Early Childhood Education

Welcome to the Arlington Career Center Early Childhood Education Program!

The Arlington Career Center is one of the few programs where high school students can gain hands-on experience with children ages 6 months to 11 years.

By assisting in the curriculum planning, daily operation and teaching in our onsite Career Center Preschool, our students gain valuable skills which put them ahead of others in the field. A second onsite daycare program offers our students the unique opportunity to work with infants and toddlers.

This real-world experience is further enhanced by our partnership with the Montessori Public School of Arlington, where students assist teachers in Pre-K through fifth grade. Students often gain exposure to specialty areas of elementary school teaching, including Art, Music, Physical Education and working with Special Needs children.

The program offers Early Childhood I and II which are both 2 credit High School courses. Students enrolled in both ECE I and ECE II year can earn college credits (while still in High School) toward an Associate Degree at Northern Virginia Community College through dual enrollment. This offers students the opportunity to earn up to 10 college credits, currently at no cost to students or families! Additionally, students in ECE II have the opportunity to sit for the Para Pro Certification test, which is the first step to becoming a teacher’s aide or assistant.

If you love children and want to explore a rewarding career working with children, there is no better place to learn than the Career Center.