Academic and Career Planning

Throughout the school year, students are supported to think about how their experiences help them to grow and get closer to who and what they want to become. This is the Academic and Career Planning (ACP) Process, which occurs in grades 6-12.

MMSD Graduate Vision

Why ACP?

The Madison Metropolitan School District has a goal for all our students to graduate with the skills and abilities to be successful in college, career and community. This goal was developed with feedback from more than 2500 students, teachers and community members. You can see these skills above in what we call the MMSD Graduate Vision. Teachers support student development of Graduate Vision skills as part of the Academic and Career Planning process.

Through Academic & Career Planning, students are beginning to answer these questions:

Who am I?
Where am I going?
How will I get there?
Who are we together?

MMSD's Six Post High School Paths

To achieve success after high school, every scholar will plan to pursue one of 6 paths to a physically, financially, and social/emotionally healthy life. These paths are research proven avenues that will lead scholars to a myriad of high-quality opportunities after high school.

2 & 4 years Colleges/Universities

Employment

Military

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeship is post-secondary education like a college or university, but apprentices learn only a portion of their skills in a traditional classroom. They receive most of their training on-the-job, while working for an employer who pays a good wage. Employment is the primary requirement for an apprenticeship - a job must exist for the apprentice to be trained. The classroom instruction is usually provided through the Wisconsin Technical College system.

Job Training

Gap Year

Families Matter in ACP!

We know that families have hopes and dreams for their children. Academic and Career Planning helps family members learn and support the interests and dreams of their children as they continue to develop. Family support is one of the critical ways that young people see themselves in the world. We want families to know they matter in the ACP process. Check out this link for more family resources.

What is the community’s role in the ACP process?

From both a financial and staff perspective, it will be important to connect to other providers outside of school to ensure access to expertise and services that cannot be provided by the school alone. From occupational expertise; teacher externship opportunities; job-shadow, work-based learning, service learning and volunteer experiences; dual credit articulations; intensive social interventions; and career development support from workforce development and economic development groups, the district ACP team should leverage common goals and partnerships. Interested in providing some experiences to our students? Click here to learn more.