High School to TradesHigh schools where you can learn a trade
The paid summer trade jobs and internships in this area run through schools — you get them by being enrolled. These are the high schools in Philadelphia and the four suburban counties with real, hands-on trade programs, verified from each school's own published program list.
Looking for welding?
Welding is the trade students ask about most. It is taught at 14 of these schools — but not at every school with a technical name. Start here:
How getting in works
Philadelphia public schools
One fall application (Find Your Fit). Citywide trade schools admit by lottery; neighborhood schools by home address. Most trade programs start in 10th grade, so the real decision point is the 8th-grade application.
County technical schools
In the suburbs you stay enrolled in your home district and travel to the county tech center, usually for half the day. Your district's boundary decides which center you can attend — and in Delaware and Chester counties, which campus. The campuses do not all teach the same trades.
Private schools
Father Judge and Mercy Tech charge tuition and run their own admissions. Judge's trade academy adds a second, competitive application in freshman year. At Mercy Tech, every student takes a trade program.
A second chance
YouthBuild Philadelphia is for 17- to 20-year-olds who left school without a diploma. It is a route back in — not a transfer option for students already enrolled.
Philadelphia
Jules E. Mastbaum Area Vocational Technical High School
School District of Philadelphia · Kensington · Grades 9–12
The broadest trade menu of any District school. Its welding students have been hired by Philly Shipyard (District).
Trades taught
How you get in
Citywide admission — apply through the District's Find Your Fit school selection (lottery).
Program list: Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2023–24: www.philasd.org/studentplacement/school-selection · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Thomas A. Edison High School / Fareira Skills Center
School District of Philadelphia · North Philadelphia · Grades 9–12
Trades taught
How you get in
Neighborhood school — enroll by home address. Students outside the catchment may apply for open seats through school selection.
Program list: Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2023–24: www.philasd.org/studentplacement/school-selection · Checked Oct 26, 2026
A. Philip Randolph Career and Technical High School
School District of Philadelphia · East Falls · Grades 9–12
Trades taught
How you get in
Citywide admission — apply through Find Your Fit (lottery).
Credentials
Automotive students earn S/P2 safety, EPA 609 and Pennsylvania safety-inspection certificates (school).
Source: randolph.philasd.org/career-technical-education-programs-of-study/welding · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Swenson Arts & Technology High School
School District of Philadelphia · Northeast Philadelphia · Grades 9–12
No welding and no plumbing at this school.
Trades taught
How you get in
Citywide admission — apply through Find Your Fit (lottery).
Credentials
Electrical students earn OSHA 10 and NCCER credentials (school).
Source: swenson.philasd.org/career-technical-education/electrical-and-power-transmission-installation · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Benjamin Franklin High School
School District of Philadelphia · Center City · Grades 9–12 · Trade programs 10–12
Its welding and machining students have been hired by Holtec, Rhoads Industries and the Naval Foundry & Propeller Center (District).
Trades taught
How you get in
Neighborhood school — enroll by home address. Students outside the catchment may apply through school selection.
Source: bfhs.philasd.org/cte · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Murrell Dobbins Career and Technical High School
School District of Philadelphia · North Philadelphia · Grades 9–12
One generalist program — a mix of carpentry, electrical and plumbing basics, not separate trade shops. Every Dobbins student starts a career program in 10th grade.
Trades taught
How you get in
Citywide admission — apply through Find Your Fit (lottery).
Source: dobbins.philasd.org/cte-programs/building-property-maintenance · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Frankford High School — Bright Solar Futures
School District of Philadelphia · Frankford · Grades 9–12
The region's only high-school solar-installation program, in a dedicated solar lab. Its students get the paid summer solar experience.
Trades taught
How you get in
Neighborhood school — enroll by home address. The solar pathway takes cohorts, historically starting in 10th grade.
Source: www.philasd.org/greenfutures · Checked Oct 26, 2026
The Workshop School
School District of Philadelphia · West Philadelphia · Grades 9–12
A working automotive shop inside a small, project-based school.
Trades taught
How you get in
Citywide admission — apply through Find Your Fit (lottery).
Credentials
NOCTI industry credentials (school).
Source: workshopschool.philasd.org/about-us · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Father Judge High School
Archdiocesan · Private, all-boys · Northeast Philadelphia · Grades 9–12 · Trade programs 10–12
Three trades inside a purpose-built Career Pathways Academy, with employer welding co-ops during the school year and summer. The school reports a 100% certification pass rate for its 2022 and 2023 welding classes.
Trades taught
How you get in
Archdiocesan admission first — then a second, competitive application to the trade academy. Only current freshmen may apply; the trade sequence starts in 10th grade.
Credentials
Automotive completers may sit for ASE Student Certification. The school does not publish the name of its welding certification.
Cost
$14,100 a year in tuition and fees (2026–27, school handbook).
Source: 4.files.edl.io/98ae/04/17/26/174034-b02d7ade-6dd5-497b-a68d-a649a6b6f717.pdf · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Mercy Career & Technical High School
Private Catholic · Co-educational · North Philadelphia · Grades 9–12
Every student completes one of seven career programs — it takes the place of a world-language requirement. There is no separate welding shop.
Trades taught
How you get in
Private application, with shadow visits for 8th graders. Students choose their program in the second semester of 9th grade.
Credentials
NCCER Core Curriculum and OSHA 30 (school).
Cost
$10,090 a year all-in (2026–27). The school says 99% of students receive scholarships or aid.
Source: www.mercycte.org/academics-and-programs/career-programs · Checked Oct 26, 2026
YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School
Charter · Second-chance school · North Philadelphia · Grades One-year diploma program
Construction students learn carpentry by gut-rehabbing real houses for low-income families — 89-plus homes so far (school).
Trades taught
How you get in
For 17- to 20-year-olds who are Philadelphia residents without a diploma or GED. It is a route back into school, not a transfer option for enrolled students.
Credentials
OSHA 10, OSHA 30 and NCCER Core (school).
Source: youthbuildphilly.org/vocational-training · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Bucks County
Outside the city, trade training lives in county career and technical schools. Except where a card says full-time, students attend part-time from their home high school, tuition-free — the home district pays.
Bucks County Technical High School
County technical school · Full-time · Fairless Hills · Grades 9–12
The biggest trade school in the region. Five of its programs — welding, electrical, carpentry, plumbing and HVAC — are state-registered pre-apprenticeships that feed straight into apprenticeships.
Trades taught
How you get in
Full-time, for students in the Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, Morrisville, Neshaminy and Pennsbury districts. Apply through your home district.
Credentials
AWS welding certifications (Bucks County Intermediate Unit).
Source: www.bcths.com/about/sending-school-districts · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
County technical school · Half-day · Jamison · Grades 10–12
No standalone HVAC program — heating is taught inside Plumbing & Heating.
Trades taught
How you get in
Half-day, from the Centennial, Central Bucks, Council Rock and New Hope-Solebury districts. Apply through your home high school.
Source: www.mbit.org · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Upper Bucks County Technical School
County technical school · Half-day · Perkasie · Grades 9–12
Welding is in demand here — it carried one of the longest waitlists in the school's 2024 placement report.
Trades taught
How you get in
Half-day, from the Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown districts.
Source: ubtech.org · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Montgomery County
Eastern Center for Arts & Technology (EASTERN)
County technical center · Half-day · Willow Grove · Grades 11–12 only
The latest start in the region: 11th and 12th grade only, so students get at most two years of trade training. Several of its trades run at full capacity.
Trades taught
How you get in
Half-day and tuition-free, from the Abington, Bryn Athyn, Cheltenham, Hatboro-Horsham, Jenkintown, Lower Moreland, Springfield Township, Upper Dublin and Upper Moreland districts. Apply through your school counselor.
Source: www.eastech.org/post-details/~board/news-releases/post/open-house-at-eastern-center-for-arts-and-technology-destination-career · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Central Montco Technical High School
County technical center · Part-time · Plymouth Meeting · Grades Mostly 10–12
No standalone welding, electrical, HVAC or plumbing program — Building Trades here is a generalist maintenance course covering a little of each.
Trades taught
How you get in
Part-time, from the Colonial, Norristown Area and Upper Merion Area districts.
Source: www.cmths.org/building-trades · Checked Oct 26, 2026
North Montco Technical Career Center
County technical center · Part-time · Lansdale · Grades 9–12
Trades taught
How you get in
From the Methacton, North Penn, Perkiomen Valley, Souderton Area and Wissahickon districts — which grades attend depends on the district. Charter-school students are not part of this consortium.
Credentials
Its HVAC program is accredited by HVAC Excellence (center).
Source: www.nmtcc.org/programs-for-hs-students/electrical-trades · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Western Montgomery Career & Technology Center
County technical center · Part-time · Limerick · Grades 9–12
Trades taught
How you get in
Part-time, from the Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Spring-Ford and Upper Perkiomen districts. Applications open in 8th grade.
Credentials
The welding program is an American Welding Society (AWS) certification site (center director).
Source: app.smore.com/n/13mpc-wmctc-weekly-update · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Delaware County
Delaware County Technical Schools — Aston Campus
County technical schools · Part-time · Aston · Grades 10–12 for most students
The trade-shop campus of Delaware County's system — the shops the Folcroft campus does not have.
Trades taught
How you get in
Part-time through your home high school. DCTS draws from all 15 Delaware County districts; most students start in 10th grade.
Source: www.pdsd.org/post-details/~board/sun-valley-high-school-news/post/december-2025-explore-your-future-at-dcts · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Delaware County Technical Schools — Folcroft Campus
County technical schools · Part-time · Folcroft · Grades 10–12 for most students
No standalone welding, carpentry, electrical or HVAC shop at this campus — those are at Aston.
Trades taught
How you get in
Part-time through your home high school. DCTS draws from all 15 Delaware County districts.
Source: www.pdsd.org/post-details/~board/sun-valley-high-school-news/post/december-2025-explore-your-future-at-dcts · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Chester County
Technical College High School — Brandywine Campus
Chester County IU · Full-day or half-day · Downingtown · Grades 9–12
Chester County's largest campus — but it has no welding program. Both of its sister campuses do.
Trades taught
How you get in
By online application, for Chester County students. Your home district decides which campus you attend.
Source: www.tchsbrandywine.org/our-programs · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Technical College High School — Pennock's Bridge Campus
Chester County IU · Full-day or half-day · West Grove · Grades 9–12
No standalone electrical program — electrical work is taught inside Construction Trades.
Trades taught
How you get in
By online application, for Chester County students. Your home district decides which campus you attend.
Source: www.tchspennocks.org/our-programs · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Technical College High School — Pickering Campus
Chester County IU · Full-day or half-day · Phoenixville · Grades 9–12
The fullest construction lineup in Chester County.
Trades taught
How you get in
By online application, for Chester County students. Your home district decides which campus you attend.
Source: www.tchspickering.org/our-programs/welding-and-metal-fabrication · Checked Oct 26, 2026
Program lists change from year to year. This page is re-checked weekly against the schools' own pages. Two Philadelphia schools whose own sites do not publish a verifiable program list are not listed yet.
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