Online program helps Dist. 211 students build career plan

A high school student typically takes a minimum of five academic courses each semester, with some of those falling into the category of electives with participation determined completely by student choice.

Ideally, students' elective courses would align with each student's individualized plan for the future, including the student's college major and desired occupation. To help students build a plan that connects high school coursework to real life interests, Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 uses an online program called Career Cruising.

Career Cruising allows students to explore their career interests and aspirations as they connect classroom experiences with potential career choices. Using surveys and other tools, students identify matches between their interests and future career paths. They can research employment trends, salary details, and requirements for specific occupations.

Exposure to Career Cruising begins when students are in eighth grade. Prior to selecting ninth grade electives, the students establish Career Cruising accounts and complete a career interest survey to gain deeper insights into their own areas of interest and occupations that might align with their personal preferences.

Career Cruising classifies occupations into 16 nationally recognized groups called career clusters. Individual occupations within a career cluster share common connections and help students recognize multiple options related to a specific area of interest. District 211 has aligned its coursework to the full set of career clusters so that students' can easily match elective course choices to a particular area of occupational interest.

School counselors continue to work with students throughout their four-year high school experience to assist with course selection and the development of students' self-awareness. Career Cruising plays an important role in that process.

Parents are encouraged to talk with their students about their Career Cruising accounts and the results the online program provides. Another great resource is the District 211 College Majors and Career Cluster website at www.d211careercluster.org.