National Career Development Month 

For many years, students felt they had to choose one path after high school: go to college or go to work. Today, that mindset is changing. Career and Technical Education (CTE), dual enrollment, industry certifications, and workforce partnerships have shown that students don’t have to choose—they can graduate prepared for both college and a career.

In Bay District Schools, career and college readiness go hand in hand. When students build real-world skills, explore their interests, and understand their strengths, they gain the confidence to succeed no matter which path they take next.

Skills Today, Choices Tomorrow

Career readiness gives students more than technical knowledge—it builds problem-solving, teamwork, communication, creativity, and resilience. These skills help students thrive in:

• College coursework

• Apprenticeships and workforce training

• High-demand, high-wage careers

• Any postsecondary path they choose

At the same time, college readiness remains essential. Strong reading, writing, and math foundations open doors to advanced training, technical degrees, and university programs. In today’s workforce, education and skills work together—not separately—to support long-term success.

CTE: A Gateway to Both College and Careers

CTE programs give students opportunities to explore careers, earn industry certifications, and build work-ready skills starting in middle and high school. These experiences help students:

• Discover what they enjoy

• Understand the education needed for different careers

• Build confidence through hands-on learning

• Connect classroom lessons to real jobs

Many CTE students continue their training in college, earning technical degrees or moving into university programs in engineering, healthcare, business, cybersecurity, digital media, construction, and more.

In fact, students in CTE programs often earn industry certifications before graduating—credentials that hold value in the workforce AND strengthen college applications.

Multiple Pathways, One Purpose

A modern, future-ready education offers many different ways for students to succeed:

• Industry Certifications: Give students an advantage for jobs and college programs.

• Dual Enrollment: Allows students to earn college credit early—often at no cost.

• Work-Based Learning: Internships, apprenticeships, and on-the-job experiences build confidence and real-world competence.

• CTE Programs: Connect academic learning with hands-on technical skills.

• Career Planning Tools Like Xello: Help students explore interests, set goals, and understand the education required for different careers.

No matter which path a student chooses after graduation, these experiences prepare them to adapt, grow, and make informed decisions about their future.

Planning for the Future—Together

Career development starts early, continues through every grade level, and is strongest when schools, families, and community partners work together. Students thrive when they understand their options AND have the support to explore them.

In Bay District Schools, our goal is simple:

Every student graduates with purpose, confidence, and a plan.

Not college or career—but a foundation strong enough to support both.