Paso Robles High School to unveil new cosmetology facility
By Staff Report · Tue Sep 15 2026
PASO ROBLES — Paso Robles Joint Unified School District will celebrate the completion of the Bearcat Institute of Cosmetology at Paso Robles High School with a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18. The event is open to the public, with tours of the new facility following the ceremony.
The purpose-built salon is part of PRHS’s newest Career Technical Education pathway, which welcomed its first 28 students this fall. The three-year cosmetology program combines foundational coursework with hands-on salon training.
Students in the inaugural cohort are expected to complete the 1,000 training hours required to qualify for the California Board of Barbering and Cosmetology licensing exam by the time they graduate in 2029. The program is designed to give students an opportunity to enter the workforce as licensed professionals after high school.
The new facility includes styling and shampoo stations, manicure and pedicure stations, facial treatment stations, a reception area and professional equipment for students to use as they progress through the program.
Cosmetology joins 17 other CTE pathways offered at Paso Robles High School in fields including agriculture, business, construction, engineering, education, health care, hospitality, digital media, information technology and automotive technology. The district said more than half of PRHS students participate in CTE coursework.
“This facility is an investment in our students’ futures,” said Superintendent Jennifer Loftus. “We are creating opportunities for Bearcats to graduate with professional skills, real-world experience and a clear pathway into a career before leaving high school. Just as importantly, programs like this help our younger students see the possibilities waiting for them at PRHS, and offer another reason to stay engaged in school as they begin imagining what their own future could look like.”
The district estimates that completing cosmetology training through the high school program could save students approximately $25,000 in postsecondary tuition and materials costs. Students will transition into the new facility for supervised hands-on training as they reach the appropriate stage of the program.
Information about future public appointments and salon services will be announced as the inaugural class progresses through the program.
The ribbon cutting will take place at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Paso Robles High School, 801 Niblick Road, followed by tours of the Bearcat Institute of Cosmetology.