Explore Pathways give students choices and opportunities early on to get them excited about their futures. The model serves as a bridge between middle and high school and is an introduction to Career and Technical Education (CTE).
By Dyuce Woodson
June 8, 2023—Students may be out of school for the summer, but middle school leaders were hard at work Wednesday receiving training about Explore Pathways.
Explore is not about students choosing a career. It allows them to explore different fields so they can discover what they do and don't like before they need to make that big decision of what to do after graduating. It's also about helping students feel like they are part of something bigger.
Principal Joshua Bourgeois, principal at Thomas Jefferson Middle School–an existing Explore school–said he's seen a lot of growth in his students over the past year.
"We saw increases in our sense of belonging and we're proud about the pathways we have chosen," Bourgeois said.
Explore schools offer students the opportunity to explore five career pathways: Business and Communication, Consumer Science, Healthcare Science, Public Service, and Engineering and Design.
"I'm excited to see more schools [offer Explore Pathways] because we have to find a way to engage our middle school kids," Bourgeois said. "We can't lose them during these pivotal years. We want to make sure we engage them and get them set up for success."
Five schools are launching their Explore Pathways later this summer, bringing the district to 14 total Explore middle schools.
JCPS Middle Schools and their Explore Pathways
Academy @ Shawnee: Business and Communication, Engineering and Design
Echo Trail: Business and Communication, Consumer Science, Engineering and Design
Farnsley: Business and Communication, Healthcare Science, Engineering and Design
Grace James Academy: Business and Communication, Healthcare Science, Engineering and Design
Highland: Consumer Science, Engineering and Design
Hudson: Consumer Science, Engineering and Design, Public Service
Kammerer: Business and Communication, Healthcare Science, Engineering and Design
Lyman T. Johnson: Healthcare Science, Public Service
Olmsted Academy South: Business and Communication, Engineering and Design
Newcomer: Business and Communication, Consumer Science, Healthcare Science, Public Service, Engineering and Design
Ramsey: Business and Communication, Engineering and Design, Healthcare Science
Thomas Jefferson: Business and Communication, Engineering and Design, Public Service
W.E.B. DuBois Academy: Business and Communication, Consumer Science, Engineering and Design
Westport: Business and Communication, Healthcare Science, Engineering and Design