PAES is an acronym for Practical Assessment Exploration System.  

There are five different career strands in the lab.  Students complete "jobs" from a different strand each time they come to lab.  The lab is set up to function as closely as possible to a "real life' work simulation.  The teacher in the lab, Ms. Donley, acts more as a supervisor than a teacher.  Although teaching does take place, students are assessed on their job skills and abilities to function in a real-life work environment.