Great Oaks is a public school district that serves as the career-technical department for 36 school districts in southwest Ohio.

Each year, more than 14,000 students prepare for a career and college through Great Oaks—either at a local high school or at one of the four Great Oaks Career Campuses.

Diamond Oaks6375 Harrison Ave.Dent

Laurel Oaks300 Oak DriveWilmington

Scarlet Oaks 3254 E. Kemper RoadSharonville

Live Oaks5956 Buckwheat RoadMilford

Why do students attend Great Oaks?• To try out a career field before committing to it

in college• Because they are hands-on learners• To earn professional certification to begin

working immediately after high school• To earn college credit to give them a head start• To get started on a career path that they are

passionate about

A typical day at

Great Oaks:

• 2 ½ hours in career labs• Four academic classes

Each student is provided a laptop for their use during their time at Great Oaks.

Great Oaks offers:• Small class sizes• Career teachers who

have real-world experience• Team teaching• Individual attention

Programs are available in these career clusters: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Architecture and Construction Arts, Audio/Video Technology and Digital TV Education and Training Health Science Hospitality and Tourism Human Services Information Technology Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security Manufacturing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Transportation, Distribution and Logistics Other

All programs have been developed in partnership with local business leaders, and are based on current and future needs in southwest Ohio.

Many of these programs lead to careers that are on the Buckeye Top 50 list of Ohio’s most in-demand professions.

Can Great Oaks students still participate in activities at their current school?

Great Oaks students are involved in extracurricular activities at their home schools AND…

YES!!

…participate in Great Oaks activities which promote leadership, excellence, and teamwork.• National Technical Honor Society• Family, Career & Community Leaders of America• Business Professionals of America• DECA• FFA• SkillsUSA• JROTC

What do students earn by the time they complete the program?

• A diploma from their current school district

• A Great Oaks Career Passport which includes• Certificate of Career Preparation• Recommendation letter from Great Oaks CEO• Competency Profile• Great Oaks Warranty• Student awards and achievements• Resume

AND…

Real world experience - at local businesses – earning while learning…

And the chance to earn professional certification that offers a competitive advantage in the workplace…

Success!

Distinguished Alumni 2012

Gary GilbertCo-owner, HGC Construction

Joan JunkerOwner, Hair Management

Bradley GeorgeChief, Paint Creek Joint Fire/EMS District

Great Oaks graduates include police chiefs, fire chiefs, award-winning chefs, inventors, business owners, corporate vice presidents, an Emmy Award nominee, veterinarians, horse trainers, health care professionals, and more.

Great Oaks offers options:• A different kind of learning• Professional certification• The chance to explore a career field• College credit• A competitive edge in the job market

And you can still go to college:

People say you can’t attend college if you go to the Oaks… But you can and yes we do!

on the website

My daughter Emily goes to Live Oaks in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program. She has always wanted to work with kids or animals and decided on working with special education kids. She has really exceeded my expectations of her while at Live Oaks. She enjoys going to school and going to lab to learn more. This year she has gotten to work with kids at a local elementary school. In the core classes she is taking the teachers take time to explain what they are teaching along with offering help to the kids. My son went to Live Oaks for computers in 2012. I went to Scarlet Oaks for Early Childhood Education in 1989.

For any parent and their child looking at vocational school, I would suggest to take it seriously because this is a good first step for their career and not just a job. Vocational school is not what it used to be, an easy way out. The teachers and students take their labs serious to the point of preparing them for jobs or going to college.

What do Parents say about Great Oaks?

My husband and I would like to thank you.  You probably remember that you had to beg and virtually drag us onto the Live Oaks campus to discuss Madeline’s potential with the DAAD program face-to-face.  Our concern was that she would be pigeon holed into a trade, and locked out of college opportunities.  After your presentation, we acquiesced and (and still with some reluctance) signed the papers to transfer her to Live Oaks for her junior year.  Madeline was very excited. I want you to know that as we approach her graduation this year, we could not happier with the outcome of her high school education and overall experience.  As promised, her Live Oaks teachers and you have helped a young girl gain confidence in her abilities as an artist, and as an academic.  She has won awards, been admitted to the honor society, she has been an ambassador of the DAAD program, (she is a pretty good public speaker I hear), and taken college level classes that have earned credits that will go with her to Bowling Green State University next fall.  That’s right!  -Accepted to college, and well on her way to achieving even more. We are so proud of the independent young woman she has grown to be, and look forward to what is ahead.  I think my husband shared at a parent conference recently that we credit the support you have shown her, and your encouragement for her to attend DAAD at Live Oaks, with who she is today.  In hind sight, that application to Live Oaks was the best paperwork we ever signed off on.  She is on her way! Thanks again!Tess Filimonov    

What do Parents say about Great Oaks?

“I've met such an amazing group of people at Live Oaks. I wouldn't trade my second family for the world. Coming to Live Oaks had to be one of my best choices; I never knew what I wanted to do in life, until I got to visit the Animal Science Program.”

Mariah MoffordClass of 2014

What do the students say about Great Oaks?

Come Explore the options offered at

Great Oaks Career Campuses during the 8th grade

Career Expo this November