Questions and Answers about Personalized Pathways

We have some of the best high school teachers, courses and programs in the state. We take pride in each of our unique high school communities and the opportunities they provide students. But not enough of our students are graduating, or graduating with options to determine their own future. We need to do more. We need to provide more opportunity to more students so they can be successful.

Personalized Pathways do that by giving students the opportunity to explore what they are passionate about, to connect their schoolwork to their future, to see limitless possibilities and to support them on their journey.

The Personalized Pathways model takes the best practices – integrated curriculum, experiential learning opportunities and relationships – and systemically creates a new way for students and families to experience high school on the path to graduation and beyond.

Every student’s pathway will lead to graduation with a post-secondary plan that leads to an associate or baccalaureate degree or and industry-recognized certificate or license. This video does a nice job of explaining Personalized Pathways in our schools.

Smaller learning communities are made up of 80-100 students per grade level. Because students in a pathway will share a common set of teachers and a common set of core classes, they will experience a tighter sense of connection with both staff and students. Close relationships with peers over four years will support students’ sense of belonging.

Consistent relationships with a small group of teachers over four years will enable teachers to better support students’ individual needs, goals and aspirations. And because they share the same students, teachers can meet regularly to discuss student strengths and problem-solve concerns. This results in more coordinated student supports – remediation and acceleration – across these core courses. This connection also creates the possibility for teachers to work collaboratively across content areas to create integrated projects.

A student, with family support, may decide to move out of the pathway at the end of each year. An exit protocol will need to be completed (including updating the student's Academic and Career Plan and an exit interview).

Interested students and families must complete and submit an application by January 15, 2021. You can submit an online application or get a paper copy from your school counselor. You can also request an application be sent to you via US mail by filling out this form.

Absolutely. Access to electives is an important part of our high school experience and will not change as part of Personalized Pathways. Students will still have choice in taking courses outside of the pathway and in engaging in the rich selection of electives.

Every student will be exposed to real-world learning experiences like college visits, guest speakers, internships or apprenticeships. Students get to choose the level of real-world experiences that best fits their needs and interests. Colleges, universities, community-based organizations and businesses serve as resources, supports and locations for these real-world experiences. Within each thematic smaller learning community, students can personalize their pathway to graduation by selecting their courses and experiences from a designed program of study.

Students can earn credit for high school and college at the same time by taking courses offered by higher education institutions such as UW-Madison and Madison College. Some classes are taught at high school, while others are taught on the college or university campus.

Absolutely! Students, with their families, will select the most appropriate math option.

The same support services that are outlined in an IEP (Individual Education Plan) would be available within the pathway experience.

In many cases, Pathways and Dual Language Immersion (DLI) opportunities can be combined; however, each school and each pathway may provide different options within or outside of a pathway. Please contact the Pathway Learning Coordinator at your respective high school discuss options specific to your needs and interests.

Within a pathway, students will explore postsecondary and career possibilities, as well as experiential learning opportunities, which will help them to discover and “try on” the many options open to them.

Throughout their annual Academic and Career planning processes including their Pathways experience, students will develop portfolios that contain work they are proud of, reflections on how they have grown, next steps and emerging postsecondary plans. They will share these portfolios with staff, community members and families through Portfolio Presentations.

All students will continue to have access to counseling and other student supports. However, students in a pathway will have a counselor aligned to the pathway that meets regularly with the students and their teachers. They may identify and connect students to needed supports that through this close relationship.

No. A pathway theme is broad and provides students a real-world context for learning. The coursework in a pathway prepares students for success in a 4-year university, 2-year college, 1-year certificate program or any other post-secondary education option, whatever they decide to study. Personalized Pathways help students develop key 21st century skills (creativity, collaboration, interpersonal skills, cultural competence) that benefit students regardless of their post-secondary plans.