Culinary Arts

About the Culinary Arts Program

Our Culinary Arts program offers extensive hands-on opportunities in all areas surrounding catering events and food service.

Academic and technical studies are included in the program and build proficiency in:

• Global food production and cooking
• Cost control
• Sanitation
• Workplace safety

Students gain real-world work experience through collaborations with other CTE programs, and community professionals and mentors in the hospitality industry. Students build their career skills through team building and creative problem-solving opportunities.

Jobs in the Culinary Arts Field

• Chef
• Caterer
• Food Safety Specialist
• Nutritionist
• Restaurant Manager

PROGRAM LOCATION:

Fort Vancouver High School
5700 E. 18th Street
Vancouver, WA 98661

Multilingual fliers

Career Outlook

0K

Average annual job openings in Washington*

0K

Average annual teacher wage in Washington*

CERTIFICATIONS
• WA State Food Handlers Card

COLLEGE CREDITS
Available through our partner program at Clark College.

LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS
• Clark College
• The Cove Restaurant
• VanMall Retirement Center
• Simply Sweets
• Vancouver Hilton Hotel

*Wage Data and Job Projections – Washington STEM
**Job Growth Outlook – U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

How do I apply?

Attend an information night

Parents and prospective students are invited to attend an information night during application season or contact the school at which the program is located.

January 16, 2025 at 6 p.m.

Application

Students interested in Choice Programs and Schools can apply for the 2025-26 school year starting January 13, 2025.

Applications for all programs must be submitted via the online application system during the application period (beginning January 13, 2025 at 8 a.m.). Students may apply for more than one program. If the deadline to apply has passed, please inquire about availability by contacting the Culinary Arts coordinator.

Login to apply to a program

Instructions to apply

EXISTING FAMILIES: Has your ParentVUE account been activated? If yes, you are ready to apply to a program. If you have not yet activated your ParentVUE account, please contact your school to activate your account.

NEW FAMILIES: If you are new to Vancouver Public Schools, click “login to apply to a program” and select “create new account”.

QUESTIONS? Please contact Career and Technical Education at (360) 313-1350 or vps.cte@vansd.org

Contact

Colleen Dunegan360-313-4000

Culinary Arts coordinator

High school, college and career planning

Sample four-year plan

Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
Freshman English	Sophomore English	Junior English	Senior English
Exploring Foods or Horticulture	Culinary Arts (2 period block) *Lab Science 1 year	Advanced Culinary Arts (2 period block) *Lab Science 1 year	Culinary Arts Special Projects (2 period block) *Lab Science 1 year
Art	Culinary Arts (2 period block) *Lab Science 1 year	Advanced Culinary Arts (2 period block) *Lab Science 1 year	Culinary Arts Special Projects (2 period block) *Lab Science 1 year
Math	World Themes: WA Perspective	U.S. History	Contemporary World Problems
Science	Math	Math	Art or Personalized Pathway Requirements
PE (both semesters)	Science	Science	Health (first semester) and PE (second semester)

*Personalized Pathway Requirements are courses that lead to a specific post-high school career outcome chosen by the student, based on his or her interest and High School and Beyond Plan.

Programs of study

For more information on related high school classes, post-secondary options and potential careers, please review the culinary arts Human Services Pathways.

Recognition and/or certification

Certification

Food Handler’s Card
Washington State Career Skills Certificate
- Foodservice/Culinary Arts