District 88 shares important information about pathway opportunities for students

Para ver el video de arriba en español, vaya a www.dupage88.net/Pathways.

District 88 continues to grow college and career pathway opportunities for students and is focused on providing multiple and flexible pathways for each child to find post-high school success.

The district continues to work with colleges, universities and local businesses to enhance these options, and those collaborations are critical to assist with the labor shortage and to connect students to hands-on, immersive experiences, as well as certifications, credentials and scholarships. The focus is to connect them with viable short-term and long-term career options and work-based learning that can provide a supported pathway through their college pursuits. We are always looking to develop more partnerships, and we invite those who are interested in supporting our students to contact us at www.dupage88.net/BusinessPartnerships.

As pupils register for courses for the 2024-25 school year, District 88 would like to remind students and parents/guardians about the various pathway opportunities available. Course selection is a vital part of a student’s high school career, and parental involvement is essential to assist students in making successful academic choices. Families are encouraged to research the district’s Course Listing Guide via SchooLinks at www.dupage88.net/Pathways.

• We are proud to offer a comprehensive curriculum, including more than 30 Advanced Placement (AP) courses and more than 50 Dual-Credit/Collegiate-Credit courses in 17 career pathway areas, along with award-winning fine arts programming.
  
  
• Our students have access to college-level and dual-credit classes, as well as externally credentialed and dual-credit career pathways, in areas such as automotive technology, culinary arts, business careers, engineering, medical careers, teacher preparation, building trades and more. These courses allow students to potentially earn college credit while in high school, saving them an average of $1 million annually.
  
  
• Our students also earn more than 1,000 career certifications each year in the areas of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Human and Public Services; Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology and Trades; Finance and Business Services; and Health Sciences and Technology.
  
  
• We encourage students to explore and take advantage of the apprenticeships, internships and vocational trainings offered in the district, including the programs below.

CTE Youth Apprenticeship Program

 

Pictured above: Willowbrook students promote the CTE Youth Apprenticeship Program pathways during the school's Curriculum Showcase on Jan. 25.

This course is geared toward juniors and seniors who are interested in pursuing a career in Manufacturing; Information Technology; Human Services; and Transportation, Distribution and Logistics. Students receive school credit, certification in OSHA 10, preparation for an apprenticeship placement, a paid apprenticeship experience and an opportunity to earn career certifications.

Education Teacher Preparation Program
This program provides students with an inside look into the education system. Participants gain field experience and work directly with teachers and students in a classroom. District 88 also offers students two classes of free dual credit and certification, leading to the Education Pathways endorsement through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

Heritage Spanish Career Fluency course
This course helps students develop their skills in professional settings and introduces them to various career paths, while enhancing their biliteracy. This is accomplished through a job-shadow component at local businesses.