Capital Area Career Center: Top Alternative Education in Springfield IL (2026 List)

About Capital Area Career Center

The Capital Area Career Center is a leading public vocational and technical school in Springfield, Illinois serving approximately 850 high school juniors and seniors from 25 area high schools. The school, named a best school for career and technical education, provides a hands-on learning environment with an approximate student to teacher ratio of 18:1. The center is one of the leaders among schools with various program areas such as Nursing (LPN/CNA), Cosmetology, Law Enforcement, Engineering and HVAC/Electrical Systems. The Capital Area Career Center is one of the most recognized schools for workforce readiness and has a vibrant and diverse student population including many economically disadvantaged students. Proficiency information for Math and Reading are usually maintained at the student's home high school. This center is known as a top school for its specialized certifications and college credit opportunities. The institution remains one of the top schools for preparing students for high-demand careers with a focus on skill-based training and state-of-the-art technology, and it is one of the best high schools in Illinois.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 0%

Reading 0%

State average proficiency is 0% in Math and 0% in Reading.

28

Full-time Teachers

0

Total Students

$66456

Avg. Teacher Salary

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

Capital Area Career Center Contact Information

Address

2201 Toronto Rd, Springfield, IL, 62712

View on Map

Phone

(217) 529-5431

Call Now

Website

http://www.uths.net/area-career-center/

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 8:15 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

Capital Area Career Center hosted the 2025 Illinois SkillsUSA Regional Competition with Lincoln Land Community College, and 47 LLCC students qualified for the state competition after competing in automotive, welding, culinary, and baking events at CACC. The “Makers on the Move” bus tour stopped at CACC on October 7, 2025, highlighting manufacturing pathways, and Principal Lacy Glenn noted a CACC student designed the tour bus wrap. CACC offers 22 programs for local students to earn industry credentials, dual credit, and entry-level career skills in areas like Health Science, Emergency Medical Technician, Nursing Assistant, and Medical Assistant.

FAQ

Q1. Do students have lockers in Capital Area Career Center?

Ans. Yes, students are given lockers in the hallways at the start of the school year.

Q2. Do students get help with standardized tests?

Ans. Yes. Yes, The school has resources to help students get ready for the SAT and ACT tests.

Q3. Are there ways to get better at school?

Ans. Yes, advanced classes and projects make students work hard in school and think for themselves.

Q4. What kinds of programs for careers are there?

Ans. Programs include skilled trades, healthcare, IT, culinary arts, and other paths that lead to jobs.

Q5. Are there chances to be a leader at Capital Area Career Center?

Ans. Yes, student council and team-based activities help students learn how to be leaders.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

See the projects happening right in your neighborhood

What Parents Say