Career Exploration Pathways: Home

John Stark Regional High School: Career Exploration Pathways

Career Exploration Pathways are designed to inspire students to think deliberately about their futures and build toward life-long success by developing an individualized program of study that bridges secondary and postsecondary systems and opens doors to a wide range of career options.  Students are empowered to design a personalized coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of academic and technical coursework, dual-enrollment, early college, post-secondary credentialing, and extra-curricular involvement that:

• Incorporates challenging, state-identified academic standards;
• Addresses academic and technical knowledge, as well as employability skills;
• Is aligned to the needs of industries in the state, region, community or local area;
• Progresses in content specificity;
• Has multiple entry and exit points that allow for credentialing; and
• Culminates in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential.

The Pathways approach provides the opportunity for students to earn industry-recognized credentials and college credit(s), participate in field trips, conferences, job-shadows and/or internships, and other academic experiences designed to prepare them for life-long success through exposure to the content, skills, and aptitudes required in the post-secondary world.

Pathways exploration is student-driven and flexible.  Students are required to declare their intent to pursue a Pathway, and may switch pathways by submitting a completed change of intention form to School Counseling.  Graduating seniors who successfully complete an exploration pathway and submit documentation of completion are eligible for recognition reflecting that academic achievement.  The requirements for recognition are included with each Pathway below. Ideally, students will initially declare intention to pursue a given pathway during their freshman year in order to achieve maximum benefit.  

All pathways provide students with the opportunity to complete the JSRHS graduation requirements.  Thirty-five Community Learning hours and a Capstone Project are required regardless of the Career Exploration Pathway selected.

Honor Cord/Recognition Requirements for all Career Exploration Pathways:

An honor cord signifying achievement in any of the Career Exploration Pathways may be earned by:

• Successfully completing all required and elective courses in the Pathway with an overall GPA of 3.0?? higher?
• Maintaining an overall GPA of 2.75?? Higher?
• Successful completion of a job-shadow and/or internship in the Pathway
• Participation in quarterly club meetings and activities related to Pathway (noted with each Pathway below)
• Preparation of resume highlighting Pathway focus
• Submission of portfolio documenting all formal requirements of Pathway, including a final essay reflecting on individual experiences and growth within the Pathway
• Completing any additional Pathway-specific requirements as noted below

Arts, A/V Tech & Communication Pathway (multi)

• Performing Arts
• Communication
• Visual & Digital Arts

Building & Construction Trades Pathway

Business, Hospitality, & Computer Information Technology Pathway (multi)

• Accounting/finance
• Marketing 
• Computer Information Technology
• Hospitality & Tourism

Design your Own Pathway (requires ARC application  & approval )

Global Citizenship Pathway

Human Services Pathway:

STEM Pathway (multi)

• Environmental Science
• Healthcare & Medical Professions (Health Science)
• Engineering, pre-Engineering, & engineering Technologies
• Life Sciences
• STEM Exploration