RAPID CITY, S.D. — Custer High School dedicated its new Career and Technical Education (CTE) building on Monday, marking a major investment in programs that prepare students for growing industries across South Dakota.
The 18,000-square-foot addition is designed to expand hands-on learning in fields such as architecture and construction, building trades, welding, hospitality and tourism, culinary arts, health science, arts and technology. The $9 million project has been three years in the making.
Custer School District Superintendent Tim Frederick said the expansion reflects a larger shift in public education statewide. “It’s something across South Dakota that we're looking at doing in public education right now. We're trying to make learning relevant for all of our kids, give them opportunities that are beyond necessarily a four year college. We want to present our kids with pathways that allow them to have the credentials coming out of school to go right into the workforce if they desire,” Frederick said.
Custer High School instructor Jared Webster emphasized the practical advantage students now gain. “This is just an excellent opportunity for these kids to have to go out into the real world. They can start a job right out of high school, or they can go on to a technical school if they want, or go to that four year school. And they always have this for a background where they can help themselves out,” Webster said.
The new space includes industry-grade training labs, culinary workstations, welding bays, and collaborative classrooms that allow students to earn job-ready credentials before graduation. Educators say this approach prepares students not just for college, but for immediate entry into high-demand job markets — from tourism and hospitality to construction and healthcare, two major industries in the region.
Frederick noted that career and technical programs have transformed dramatically over the decades, shifting from small project-based work to partnerships with industry leaders. He reflected on that evolution, saying, “Back in the 80s, 70s, 80s, we were building trophy cases and completing little projects where today we are giving our kids not only the soft skills, but also those essential skills that they're going to need to be successful going out into the workforce, whether it's two years from now or when they graduate from high school.”
At Monday’s dedication ceremony, hundreds of students, local residents, staff, and dignitaries filled the new facility. U.S. Senator John Thune delivered remarks, joined by South Dakota Secretary of Education Joseph Graves, representatives from District 30, and members of the Custer School Board. Leaders praised the project as an investment in South Dakota’s future workforce and an example for other districts pursuing industry-driven learning.
Originally reported by Jerry Steinley in News Center 1.
