Career Exploration

Grade 6: Career Awareness 

Explore My Possibilities
Future Ready Foundations & Junior Achievement Biztown (Center for Innovation)

Through the Future Ready Foundations course, all 6th-grade students begin exploring the world of work and the many possibilities available to them. Students investigate the six career service areas and 14 career clusters, building an early understanding of how their interests and strengths can connect to future career pathways.

Classroom learning culminates in a day-long immersive experience at JA BizTown, where students experience what it takes to participate in and contribute to a community and economy. Students operate businesses, manage restaurants, work in banks, write checks, make financial decisions, and participate in civic responsibilities such as voting for mayor.

By connecting classroom learning to a simulated community and workplace, students begin to see how academic skills, financial literacy, teamwork, communication, and decision-making are used in the real world.

Student outcome: Students develop an initial awareness of career pathways and begin connecting what they learn in school to the skills and responsibilities of the workplace.

Grade 7: Career Exploration 

Identify My Interests
Xello Career Exploration; Dream Accelerator (Center for Innovation) & Kirkwood STEAM Institute Field Trip 

In 7th grade, students begin shifting from exploring the broad world of careers to considering which possibilities may connect to their own interests and strengths.

Through a series of career and financial literacy lessons embedded in Social Studies, students use Xello to reflect on their interests and complete career-matching activities that introduce them to careers they may want to explore further.

Students build on this learning through an immersive Dream Accelerator experience viewed through a financial literacy lens. They explore the relationship between career choices, income, budgeting, financial decision-making, and the lifestyles those choices can support.

Students also participate in an all-day STEAM Institute field trip. This hands-on career exploration experience introduces students to pathways in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Through interactions with local industries and professionals, students explore career options, experience aspects of the world of work, and make connections between classroom learning and real-world careers.

Student outcome: Students identify personal interests and begin connecting those interests to potential career pathways while developing an understanding of how career choices can influence future opportunities and financial decisions.

Grade 8: Career Discovery & Planning

Discover My Pathway
Career and Academic Planning Experience (Center for Innovation)

In 8th grade, students move from career discovery to intentional planning. Through the Discover my Pathway experience at the Center for Innovation (CFI), students deepen their understanding of career pathways while exploring the academic, career, and experiential learning opportunities available to them in high school.

Students connect their interests and potential career pathways to high school courses and programs and develop a personalized four-year high school course plan aligned with their strengths, interests, and postsecondary goals.

Student outcome: Students enter high school with an individualized four-year academic plan (ICAP) connected to their developing interests and future goals.

Grade 9: Career Skill Development

Build My Skills
Career Exploration with Dream Accelerator (Center for Innovation) & JA Career Inspire

In 9th grade, students deepen their career exploration while developing the essential skills needed to be successful in the workplace.

Through career-oriented lessons embedded in Earth & Space Science, all students have the opportunity to earn the Junior Achievement Essential Work Skills Industry Recognized Credential (IRC) by the end of their freshman year.

Students extend this learning through immersive career experiences, including the Dream Accelerator at the Center for Innovation and JA Career Inspire, where they interact with local business and industry partners, explore a variety of career fields, and connect workplace expectations to the skills they are developing in school.

Student outcome: Students expand their understanding of career opportunities, strengthen essential workplace skills, and have the opportunity to earn an industry-recognized credential.

Grade 10: Career Pathway Exploration

Experience My Options
Career Caravan (Kirkwood Regional Center)

In 10th grade, students begin connecting their interests to more specific educational and career pathways through the Career Caravan at the Kirkwood Regional Center.

Students explore Career Academy offerings, learn about career clusters and workforce opportunities, and see how high school coursework can connect directly to college programs and career preparation.

Career Academies provide students with opportunities to explore specific career fields through structured sequences of courses, build real-world and technical skills, and, in many cases, earn both high school and college credit.

Student outcome: Students develop a deeper understanding of career academies and identify educational pathways that may align with their interests and future goals.

Grade 11: Postsecondary Planning

Plan My Next Steps
Internship & College Fair (Center for Innovation) 

In 11th grade, students work toward identifying specific opportunities for life after high school.

Through the Internship Fair, students connect with employers and community partners while exploring internships, apprenticeships, work-based learning, and other opportunities to gain real-world experience.

At the College Fair, students connect with representatives from more than 80 colleges and universities from across the state, region, and nation. Students explore programs, learn about admissions requirements and scholarship opportunities, and begin identifying postsecondary institutions and experiences that align with their goals.

Student outcome: Students identify potential postsecondary, career, and work-based learning opportunities and begin developing a clearer plan for their transition beyond high school.

Grade 12: Career Preparation 

Prepare for My Future
Work-Based Learning Expo & Postsecondary Connections (Center for Innovation) 

By 12th grade, students transition from exploring possibilities to preparing for their next steps.

Through the Work-Based Learning Expo, students showcase their experiences, connect with employers and community partners, and learn about opportunities that can support their transition beyond graduation.

Students also explore the full range of postsecondary pathways available to them, including four-year universities, community colleges, trade and technical programs, apprenticeships, employment, and military service.

These experiences provide students with opportunities to ask questions, make professional connections, compare pathways, and identify concrete next steps aligned with their individual goals.

Student outcome: Students leave high school with a clearer postsecondary plan, meaningful connections, and identified next steps for pursuing their future goals.