Definitions and Processes
General Career
Pathways
• Agrisciences &
Natural Resources
• Arts &
Communication
• Business,
Management &
Marketing
• Engineering,
Industrial, &
Technical Sciences
• Family & Human
Services
• Health Sciences
The six General Career Pathways are each a broad plan of study designed to help a student explore and prepare
for post-secondary education, military, apprenticeships, business and/or industry certification, and school-to-work transition. Students selecting a General Career Pathway enroll in a series of courses that teach them the
knowledge and skills necessary to achieve their goals in the world-of-work. Davenport Community Schools’
General Career Pathways have been developed with experts in curriculum, business, and the community and
are applicable for all students regardless of post-secondary intentions. A General Career Pathway includes
progressive exposure to the world-of-work.
A General Career Pathway is flexible. As a student learns more about career opportunities, s/he may:
1. Remain in the same general career pathway throughout high school;
2. Switch general career pathways to explore an additional career area; or
3. Enroll in a specific career pathway designed to help students develop knowledge and skills related to a
specific occupation. Many multi-credit career/technical programs and some content-area courses offer both
high school and post-secondary credit (concurrent enrollment/dual-credit).
Each General Career Pathway, and some Specific Career Pathways, has an active advisory council with broad
membership representing the District, parents, students, post-secondary institutions, community, business and
industry.
Pathways
courses related to a career focus area. Some sequences lead to college credit and/or a certificate/credential recognized by business and industry. Examples are: Project Lead The Way (engineering), ProStart (Culinary Arts), construction trades, welding, the medical field, etc…
Plan (ACP)
Also known as five-
year Academic
Career Plan
1. An outline of the courses the student expects to take throughout high school;
2. Information on post-secondary programs and career enhancement opportunities; and
3. Potential occupations the student may consider within that career pathway.
As per Iowa legislation, the 5-year career plan is initially developed in 8th grade, based on career exploration,
and is part of each student’s cumulative academic folder. Once students enter 9th grade, they develop their ACP using documents located on the DCSD website www.davenportschools.org under “Students” and “Career Pathway”.
& Decision-Making Computer Program. Choices® Explorer is targeted to middle school/junior high school students and offers tools for career and college major exploration, high school planning, homework helpers, and personal interviews with professionals. Choices® Planner is targeted to high school students and offers 5 different assessments to help match students to various careers, programs and college majors. Students can also search for specific career and labor market information, post-secondary schools, and scholarships; create a resume and cover letter; and design a career plan.
terms, the following
process applies to all
students beginning in
7th grade.
• All 7th grade students participate in career exploration activities during their Advisor/Advisee time. At some point during 2nd semester all 7th graders are introduced to Choices® Explorer and receive 2 lessons related to career explorations provided by the guidance department.
• All 8th grade students participate in career exploration activities during their Advisor/Advisee time and receive 3
lessons on career exploration through the guidance department prior to the winter break.
° Using Choices® Explorer, each 8th grader selects one of six General Career Pathways using the Parent
Signature Sheet for Student Career Pathway Choice.
° As per Iowa Legislation, parents sign the parent signature sheet and the plan is then placed in the student's
cumulative folder for transfer to 9th grade.
• All 9th grade students, in either Computer Applications I or Word Processing, will use Choices® Planner to further explore careers and refine their ACP.
° Students use the Plans of Study worksheets on the Davenport Schools website listed under “Students” and then “Career Pathways” when designing their ACP for high school and beyond.
° All students, beginning in 9th grade and each year thereafter, will meet with their guidance counselor
at least two times per year (at least once prior to registration for the following year) to review and refine
their ACP, as per the American School Counselor Association model.
• Teachers, school staff, and district employees, with the guidance of each advisory, will develop curriculum,
activities and opportunities for students to learn about and experience the world-of-work, including 21st Century
Skills as identified by the US Department of Education.
by providing a quality education enriched by our diverse community."
counselors and other caring adults providing guidance and resouces, students and families can explore college and career
opportunities at the school, online, or in the community.