Career and College Readiness in Middle School

Creating a broad culture of career and college readiness will be unique to your school’s goals. Here are more resources that we think will help our begin and grow a middle school program

ASPIRE Trackers help keep students and their mentors on track through the years:

• MS Trackers- Printable
• MS Tracker- Fillable PDF

Middle School Checklist

• MS Checklist

Five Mini Lessons

The Middle School Collection of ASPIRE mini lessons contains a set of five lessons that focus on career exploration and introducing a variety of postsecondary pathways. 

• Mini Lessons

Near Peer Mentoring Activities 

Activities to help middle school students think about their upcoming high school experience. Hearing from near peers is beneficial as they consider their college and career options.

• Near Peer Mentoring Activities

The following resources come from important partners who work in career and college readiness for students.

American School Counselor Association (ASCA)

• Middle School Conversation Starters

Career Connected Learning (CCL)

• Career Connected Learning
• CCL Intro Guide for Families

Educational Credit Management Corporation (ECMC)

• Believing the College Dream (4^th-8^th grade)
• Believing the College Dream (4^th-8^th grade)- Sections
  • Index
  • Section Guides
  • A1. Who are the copilots in my life
  • A2. Oral history
  • A3. What does success mean to me
  • B1. Who am I
  • B2. Road map to success
  • C1. Navigating the road to my future
  • C2. Helping my friends stay on track
  • D1. The benefits of college
  • D2. Educating myself benefits others
  • E1. What type of student am I
  • E2. What types of students do colleges want
  • F1. Changes, choices and lessons
  • F2. Preparing for high school and beyond
  • G1. Curriculum reflection
  • G2. Student education pledge
  • G3. Friends and family night
  • H. Guides for parents and community
  • H1. Looking ahead expectations for our children's future
  • H2. Why college
  • H3. Learning outside of school
  • H4. Changes making successful transitions
  • H5. Roots and wings
  • I. Appendices

Gear Up

• Middle School Parent Guide
• Student Guide to Job Shadows (MS or HS)

National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)

• Middle School Curriculum
• Step-by-Step: College Awareness and Planning

Oregon Department of Education (ODE)

• Career Journeys
• Toolkit

Oregon Employability Skills

• Middle School Curriculum

Oregon Goes to College

• Middle School Checklist 
• Resource and Activities: On the Resources page select Middle School as the Target Audience and click Filter