Plan Your Future

Showing up consistently signals dependability, responsibility, and readiness to handle routines and commitments—qualities that both employers and admissions committees care about.

Good attendance is a key indicator of readiness and shows you’re engaged, responsible, and able to follow through on commitments. 95% present means missing fewer than 9 days per school year.

Completing your Individualized Career and Academic Plan (ICAP) shows that you’ve actively explored and planned your goals beyond high school. By thoughtfully working through each phase of the ICAP, you demonstrate readiness to take your next steps—no matter where they take you.

Strong academic performance shows you’re developing the knowledge, skills, and discipline you’ll need after high school—whether that’s in college, employment, training, or the military. This includes your grades, GPA, and standardized test scores (e.g. The ACT).

Colleges, employers, and training programs may consider your grades, the difficulty of your classes, and your overall progress as indicators of your readiness for future challenges.

Taking and successfully completing Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses shows that you’re gaining industry-specific skills, technical knowledge, and real-world experience — all of which prepare you for both college and a future career. These classes demonstrate your ability to apply what you’ve learned, solve problems, collaborate with peers, and manage responsibilities that align with workplace expectations. Colleges, training programs, and employers view CTE as strong preparation for post-high school success, whether you choose employment, further education, or a combination of both.

Completion of challenging courses, such as AP, Dual Credit, Project Lead the Way, and Honors, shows you’re developing the knowledge, skills, and discipline you’ll need after high school.

Colleges, employers, and training programs may consider your grades, the difficulty of your classes, and your overall progress as indicators of your readiness to take on future challenges.

Scores from exams like the SAT, ACT, ASVAB, and industry certifications, along with other assessments, can highlight your skills, knowledge, and preparedness to meet future challenges.

Earning industry certifications or licenses while in high school signals a readiness to perform a specialized role or pursue further training in a particular field.

Getting involved in clubs, sports, community service, or other organizations helps you grow interpersonal skills, learn responsibility, collaborate with teammates, and manage your time effectively—all qualities that prepare you for future endeavors. Extracurriculars also demonstrate your readiness to take initiative and make a positive difference.

Employment—whether a part-time job, internship, or other work experience—helps you develop essential skills like communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and professionalism. It shows responsibility, maturity, and readiness to contribute to a team, and lets you explore career fields, make connections, and discover what you’re passionate about. Employment is a powerful way to prepare for your future and demonstrate your readiness for whatever comes after high school.

Creating a portfolio or completing a project lets you showcase your skills, creativity, and ability to follow through from start to finish — qualities that are valued by both colleges and employers. Whether it’s a piece of art, a coding project, a business plan, or a community service initiative, your portfolio reflects your passions, your growing expertise, and your readiness for future challenges. It’s a powerful way to demonstrate what you’re capable of and to tell your own story as you prepare for future endeavors.