Career Pathways is a comprehensive program of career awareness, exploration, and preparation/application. K- 12 in nature, Career Pathways establishes a curriculum with two different, yet equal, programs of study. Both the “Traditional Academic” pathway and the “Technical Academic” pathway offer a rigorous, practical education which helps students focus on a non-binding career cluster in high school and guides them in the selection of course sequences necessary to achieve their educational and career objectives. Parkland’s goal is to meet the individual needs of students while, at the same time, preparing them to find success as an adult.

The Career Pathways program aims to achieve the following objectives:

1. To raise the level of learning and meaning for all students
2. To prepare all students for lifelong learning
3. To provide for an improved system of counseling and management for students
4. To provide for flexibility in career choice and focus in course planning

How Does Career Pathways Work?

By the middle of eighth grade, students will have been introduced to the four broad career clusters that form the basis of the Career Pathways model. They are as follows:

1. Business and Communication Technology
2. Engineering and Industrial Technology
3. Arts and Humanities
4. Health and Human Services

Students will then choose their academic focus by enrolling in the “Traditional Academic” program, which is for students whose plans include study at a traditional four-year college or university, junior college, or community college, or the “Technical Academic” program, which is for students whose interests lie in the pursuit of a career through study at a vocational-technical school, trade school, business school, or initial entry into the world of work. Students will then focus on a flexible career plan within their chosen path.

Also, within the core curriculum of the “Traditional Academic” and “Technical Academic” programs are a list of electives within the four career clusters from which students will choose. If at any time throughout high school the student changes his or her mind about a pathway or cluster, Career Pathways offers the flexibility for students to redirect their course of study.

Finally, within each section of this Course Description Guide, charts will specify which elective courses align to each of the four career pathways as aforementioned. Students and their families are encouraged to select courses that will help them with studies in that respective pathway. Look for the “Career Pathways” charts within each content area section of this book.

Traditional Academic Pathway

The Traditional Academic curriculum is designed for the student who wishes to pursue a career that requires four or more years of education at a college or university. Students who select the Traditional Academic curriculum should elect subjects necessary to satisfy college entrance requirements. The term “college” is used to include junior colleges, nursing schools, technical institutes, and other institutions of higher education.

Students who are planning to enter a four-year college or university must realize that entrance requirements as well as graduation requirements vary with each institution. It is important that college bound students begin to study college catalogs and consult with their counselors in the sophomore year. It is imperative that students continue their study of mathematics, science, and foreign languages to challenge the limits of their ability and not to meet the minimum requirements of any one college.

Every college admissions committee looks favorably upon the student who has studied in subjects beyond minimum requirements. Many colleges will exempt students from basic required courses when the high school records indicate advanced study, and the students indicate proficiency by special examination. In addition to wise course selection, high academic achievement is an essential requirement for college admission.

Criteria are listed as prerequisites for entrance to the most challenging courses. All students must meet established criteria for gifted/high potential, honors and advanced placement course offerings.

Course Selection for the Traditional Academic Pathway

Students who select the Traditional Academic pathway should choose courses according to the following schedule:

* One full year or two semester electives must be chosen.

** For Class of 2028 and beyond, students must take Personal Finance OR Independent Living to fulfill PDE’s Personal Finance graduation requirement.

Course Selection for the Technical Academic Pathway (LCTI)

Students who choose the Technical Academic pathway and plan to take a half-day program at LCTI should select courses according to the following schedule:

+ Students who are enrolled in 1⁄2 day LCTI will have the opportunity to enroll in CEW classes in English and Social Studies.

* One full year or two semester electives must be chosen

** Variations will occur based on individual need.

*** For Class of 2028 and beyond, students must take Personal Finance OR Independent Living to fulfill PDE’s Personal Finance graduation requirement.