Aligning Elementary, Middle, and High Schools to Career Pathways
The Northwest Arkansas STEM Ecosystem is increasing awareness and creating a well-prepared pipeline of employees through collective and intentional efforts at Pea Ridge School District. Pea Ridge Exploration of Pathways (PREP) is a hands-on STEM initiative for Grades K-8 that introduces and cultivates employability skills and leads into the 10 college and career pathways at the high school. A Pea Ridge student’s journey through PREP enables him or her to explore and experience Pitsco curricula matched to Next Generation Science Standards and College and Career Readiness Standards. K-8 students experience hands-on personalized learning strategies while being exposed to more than 230 different careers, many of which can be found at northwest Arkansas businesses including Walmart, Tyson, and J.B. Hunt.