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St. Paul aims for 99% of seniors to complete career inventories by 2029, officials say
Summary
District staff reported a midyear push to raise senior career-inventory completion from about 78% to 99% by 2029 and highlighted new career-pathway programs (EMT, CNA, operating-engineering sandbox) and paid internships aimed at increasing postsecondary and job-entry options for students.
St. Paul — St. Paul Public Schools officials told the board on Tuesday they are ramping up career-inventory work and career-pathway programs intended to connect students to postsecondary and job-training opportunities.
Corita Green, executive director of college and career pathways, said the district's goal is to increase the percentage of seniors who complete a career inventory from 78% in 2024 to 99% by 2029. Midyear data showed 78.26% of current seniors had completed at least one inventory. Green said the inventories use the Xello platform and are integrated across advisory and counseling in middle and high school.
Green highlighted several pathway programs: an EMT program in partnership with St. Paul Fire and Century College that offers nine college credits and EMT certification; a CNA pathway in partnership with St. Catherine University (St. Kate's) that yields college credit and CNA certification; an automotive service technician program with in-district bays; and a new operating-engineers course that offers college and apprenticeship credits in partnership with local trade unions. She said district spring internships are paid and help students gain work experience and resume content.
Green said the district updated the senior exit survey to capture more precise post-graduation pathways (e.g., trades, apprenticeships) and plans to roll the revised survey out this spring to capture graduates completing in the next weeks. Board members asked how the district will increase the senior completion rate; Green pointed to consistent advisory lessons, outreach by counselors and work-based learning coordinators, and targeted follow-up using system tracking.
Next steps: Green said staff will continue to expand the operating-engineers course, broaden industry certifications and use updated surveys to better track where graduates go after high school.
