College and Career Option Overview
EXPLORE – Career Connected Learning in Elk Grove Unified School District prepares students for college, career and life. Students are given the opportunity to Explore their career interests by learning in a hands-on environment with real-world applications in 15 industry sectors. Career Connected Learning provides students with advanced skills needed to be successful, productive citizens. Marketed within the school district as “EXPLORE,” these programs are available in every high school in Elk Grove Unified School District. Career Connected Learning offers small learning communities, learning through a career lens and business and community engagement.
Career academies are small learning communities that encompass a broad-based industry area that includes careers from technical through professional levels. They promote student/employer engagement through work-based learning experiences and give students the opportunity to earn industry certifications and/or articulate credits to post-secondary education. Most importantly, they prepare students for post-secondary pursuits, both for college and the workplace. All of the academies offer students A-G academic classes that are integrated with career classes and work-based learning opportunities.
Students in career academies join a Linked Learning team of teachers and participate in integrated series of core academic and Career Technical Education (CTE) courses related to a career focus area. Much of the three- or four-year course of study is project- and inquiry-based and features community service projects, interaction with business and industry and field trips to colleges. Students develop such critical 21st-century skills as communication, critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and teamwork that will ensure their success in college and career. Moreover, students develop strong relationships and systems of support in the “school-within-a-school” atmosphere of an academy. Local business leaders are involved in the academies through mentoring, job shadowing, and participation in advisory meetings.
Career pathways are another means to explore a potential career interest through hands-on learning. Pathways are a recommended sequence of CTE courses related to a career focus area that include introductory and intermediate courses and conclude with a capstone course that often offers industry certification and/or articulation to post-secondary education.
Strengthening all of Elk Grove Unified’s career learning opportunities are the relationships we have established with local businesses and community members who provide our students with real-world learning experiences.
If you would like your student to participate in our career academies or pathways, please contact the Department of College and Career Options at (916) 686-7709 or speak to a counselor at your student’s middle or high school.
Looking for information about Regional Occupancy Programs? Click here for more information.
