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Middle School Career Exploration

Middle School College & Career Pathways Exploratory Program

Building Curiosity, Confidence, and Career Readiness

The Middle School Exploratory Program gives students the opportunity to discover their interests, develop new skills, and begin exploring career fields before entering high school. Through hands-on, project-based learning, students rotate through a variety of exploratory courses designed to spark curiosity and connect learning to real-world applications.
 
These experiences help students understand their strengths, passions, and potential career paths — laying the foundation for future success in Weld RE-5J’s College & Career Pathways at Roosevelt High School.
Two students, a girl and a boy, are seated at a table, engaged in creating origami objects.

Program Overview

The Middle School Exploratory Program is designed to give students a broad introduction to multiple career fields through hands-on, engaging coursework that builds year over year.

  • In 6th grade, students rotate through six different exploratory programs, each lasting a quarter. These concise courses  allow students to sample a variety of subjects and discover new interests in areas such as Health Sciences, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & Engineering, Digital Media, Agriculture, Construction Trades, and Food and Hospitality.

  • In 7th grade, students deepen their learning by selecting semester-long exploratory courses. These experiences allow for more focused skill development, project-based learning, and early connections to career clusters that match their growing interests.

  • In 8th grade, students continue to explore through in depth semester-length courses and also gain access to several Level 1 College & Career Pathway courses. Completion of a Level 1 course at the middle school level prepares students to enroll directly in Level 2 courses once they transition to Roosevelt High School, giving them a head start in earning credit and progressing through a state-approved College & Career Pathway.

This intentional sequence—from quarterly exploration to semester specialization—helps students make informed choices about their future studies while developing foundational skills that connect directly to high school, postsecondary, and workforce opportunities.

Career Exploration Connections

Each exploratory course integrates career awareness activities, including:

  • Guest speakers from local industries
  • Hands-on projects connected to real-world applications
  • Career interest inventories and reflection exercises
Students begin developing their Individual Career and Academic Plan (ICAP), which helps them set goals and make informed choices about their future high school courses and postsecondary options.
Two young boys are intently focused on creating objects using clay.

Pathway Alignment to High School

The Middle School Exploratory Program is the first step in a continuum that leads directly into Roosevelt High School’s state-approved College & Career Pathways. Each exploratory area connects to one or more of the following pathways offered at RHS:

  • Agriculture
  • Business & Marketing
  • Construction Trades
  • Culinary & Hospitality
  • Engineering & Design
  • Health Science
  • Information Technology
  • Media Arts
By the time students reach high school, they are better equipped to select a pathway that matches their interests and career goals—moving toward The Big Three: Concurrent Enrollment, Work-Based Learning, and Industry Certificates.
Two young women in are working together on a stethoscope task reading blood pressure.

Why It Matters

The Exploratory Program helps students:

  • Discover their interests and aptitudes early
  • Connect classroom learning to real careers
  • Build confidence and curiosity
  • Make informed choices about high school and beyond
  • Begin shaping a personalized vision for their future

Through this intentional bridge between middle and high school, Weld RE-5J empowers students to explore, engage, and excel—preparing them for success in college, career, and life.

The image shows three young students working together in a kitchen setting, with one boy smiling at the camera while the other two are focused on mixing ingredients in a bowl.

Have a Question?

Headshot photo of Michael Curtis.
Michael Curtis
Roosevelt Middle School Assistant Principal

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