A tiny home built by Aptos High School students has a new owner, completing a two-year project designed to give Pajaro Valley Unified School District students hands-on experience in the construction trades.
The 172-square-foot, one-bedroom, one-bathroom home was purchased and driven away by its new owner Tuesday. The buyer delivered payment when picking up the home, with the proceeds going toward construction of the district’s next student-built tiny home.
The home was built entirely by Aptos High students participating in the district’s Career Technical Education Building and Construction Trades pathway. Students spent hundreds of hours working on the project and gaining experience in framing, roofing, electrical work and plumbing.
“We are thrilled to see the delivery of this first tiny home come to fruition, marking a significant milestone for our community-driven program,” said Julie Edwards, PVUSD director of Strategic Educational Options. “This multi-year project has provided an invaluable, hands-on learning experience, allowing our students to leverage industry-relevant skills while working diligently to construct a beautiful, turnkey tiny home.”
PVUSD launched its CTE Tiny Home initiative in fall 2022 at Aptos and Watsonville high schools. The program is intended to give students practical experience in skilled trades while preparing them for careers and education after high school.
The project has received financial support from Granite Construction, which has helped fund the district’s Building and Construction Trades pathway and the tiny home initiative.
The Pajaro Valley Education Foundation coordinated the transition and sale of the completed Aptos High home.
Money generated from tiny home sales will be returned to the program to help pay for future construction, creating a cycle in which completed homes help finance the next group of student projects.
Another tiny home is already under construction at Watsonville High School. The district said that project will provide additional students with experience in the trades required to construct a fully functioning home.