Choosing Courses to Ensure Career, Life and College Readiness

D.C. Everest offers a broad curriculum designed around 16 Career Clusters that provides students with the opportunity to explore their interests while earning four- and two-year college credits, attaining industry credentials, gaining hands-on classroom experience, and completing work-based learning opportunities prior to graduation.

Our curriculum is designed to help students prepare for a 21st-century career, balance professional and personal responsibilities, and be prepared — at any point in their post-secondary life — to be a successful learner on the job or while attending a two- or four-year college or university.

Each student is unique and there is no single metric we use to determine a student’s life, career and college preparedness. We look at the whole person — the breadth and depth of coursework, extracurricular activities, ACT scores, grades, third-party certifications, and ability to demonstrate soft skills within and beyond the classroom — to determine student readiness.

Below are the research-based criteria the district recommends students refer to in order to set academic goals based on their personal and professional aspirations.

COLLEGE READY INDICATORS

Students are considered ”college ready” (able to successfully complete an entry-level college course) if they meet the academic indicators OR standardized testing benchmarks listed below.

ACADEMIC INDICATORS

• Earn a GPA of 2.8 or better and attain one or more of the following:
• Earn an Advanced Placement Exam Score of 3 or better
• Complete an Advanced Placement Course (A, B, or C)
• Complete a Dual Credit College English and/or Math course (A, B, or C)
  • Written Communications DE
  • Applied Calculus and Trigonometry DE
  • Algebra III
  • Algebra II (A, B, or C)

OR

Standardized Testing Benchmarks (minimum score)
ACT Exam: English (18) - Reading (22) - Science (23) - Math (22)
College Readiness Placement Assessment (determined by post-secondary institution)

Additional Factors that Contribute to College Success
Earn As, Bs, Cs as a secondary student; complete the FAFSA application (financial aid assessment form); enroll in career pathway course sequence during high school; take part in college academic advising; participate in college-bound bridge programs; complete a senior year math class; complete at least one math class after Algebra II.

CAREER READY INDICATORS

Students are considered “career ready” (possessing the knowledge, skills, and education necessary to successfully engage in your chosen career's job training) if they have identified a career cluster and meet two of the benchmarks listed here:

• Maintain a 90% attendance rate in school
• Complete 25+ hours of community service
• Participate in a workplace learning experience
• Earn an industry standard certification
• Complete a dual credit course
• Participate in two or more organized co-curricular activities

Students who plan on entering the military upon graduation must meet the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) passing scores for their intended branch of the military.

LIFE READY INDICATORS

Students are considered “life ready” if they graduate from high school with the “soft skills” (leadership, collaboration, service, creativity, critical thinking, perseverance, self-awareness, and problem solving) necessary to be successful in their post-secondary life. Students can demonstrate they are “life ready” by utilizing these skills in the classroom, during extracurricular/co-curricular activities and while on the job. This diagram outlines the “life ready” soft skills that are indicators of success.

We look forward to partnering with you in making the best choices for your future success. Please reach out to your adviser or school counselor with any questions.