Adults like to ask kids, What do you want to be when you grow up? as if it’s a goal they can’t pursue until they’re much older. But students at some area high schools can start working toward potential careers as early as their freshman year.
Through Principia’s independent studies program, students can work alongside teachers to design courses tailored to their interests. Since the program launched during the 2024–25 school year, about 35 such Quest courses have helped students land jobs before they’ve even graduated.
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The entrepreneurship course also teaches students how to launch their own businesses—for instance, a shoe-art startup, a sticker company, and a student-run bakery. “Students have learned the whole process of design, creation, marketing, and sales,” Upper School principal Samantha Dry says. “They really take ownership of their own experience.”
Beginning in their freshman year, students have two Quest courses incorporated into their weekly class schedule each semester. “By the time they’ve graduated, they’ve been exposed to, potentially, 16 different areas of interest,” Dry says, noting that students may repeat Quests. “If you are able to drive your own experience, we believe it helps you be more successful.”
At Lift For Life Academy, SOAR—an acronym for student, ownership, autonomy, and relevance—follows a similar philosophy. After applying for the charter school’s program as sophomores, those who qualify pursue a career pathway in health science, fashion and beauty, social services, or another field of interest. As juniors, they take a course with field experience opportunities. Then, as seniors, their school schedule is adjusted to allow for apprenticeships and internships.
“Currently, nearly 70 percent of juniors and nearly 60 percent of seniors participate in SOAR classes,” says Katrice Noble, the academy’s deputy director. “The academy has worked closely with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to make sure that SOAR classes help students fulfill state graduation requirements—making SOAR classes core to the high school curriculum, rather than serving as electives.”
For students in the Parkway and Rockwood school districts, the Spark! program highlights in-demand careers and lights the way for hands-on work opportunities with metro-area businesses and community partners. Juniors and seniors can apply to work in digital media, sports medicine, health and biosciences, and other fields.
“Every Spark! student is exposed to a variety of ways to understand what that career pathway would look like in practice for them,” says Lindsey Perkins, Parkway Schools’ director of choice programs. For an immersive experience, Spark! combines professional mentorships, site visits, and internships. Every other day, participating students can spend part of their school day at a local workplace or learning site. High school elective credits, career technical education credit, and college credit are also possibilities, depending on the selected pathway.
Confluence Preparatory Academy paves the path to a college degree through its dual enrollment program and fully funded college campus tours. Students can start college even before they graduate from high school by earning credits at local universities, St. Louis Community College, and Ranken Technical College. Confluence Academies’ revenue and donations help cover the cost of tuition and expenses—an average of $2,500 per student, per semester.
“Supporting dual enrollment is one example of how we prioritize equity and opportunity,” says Confluence Academies CEO Candice Carter-Oliver. “Starting in middle school, our students visit colleges throughout the country, including HBCUs. Some area college and university tours are also free and fully accessible to Confluence Preparatory Academy, Grand Center Arts Academy, Old North Academy, and South City Academy students.”
In partnership with Stowers Realty Group in Florissant, Confluence Preparatory Academy’s real estate licensure program is a similar dual-enrollment opportunity. “Throughout the program, they tour commercial and residential properties, gain insight into the role of a broker, and explore the breadth of the real estate industry,” says college and career counselor Cierra Wourman. “At the conclusion of the 10 weeks, students take the Missouri real estate license examination with the goal of earning their real estate salesperson license.”
High schoolers who are eager to enter the workforce can also get a jump-start with the U.S. Department of Labor’s nationally recognized apprenticeships program. Fort Zumwalt School District, for instance, sponsors students who qualify for various apprenticeships, which formalize on-the-job learning and provide a path to securing a Department of Labor certificate and full-time employment.
“For students that weren’t planning on going to college, this is a great avenue for them because they are basically getting the industry-recognized credential,” says Andy McHaffie, the district’s work-based-learning facilitator. “We’ve had kids that go to a four-year university and come back and work in the summer. It’s a great opportunity because they can remain connected with that company, have an occupation, and still get their degree.”
Apprentices earn an hourly wage, high school credit, and possibly college credit through a partnership with St. Charles Community College. Some cut their school day short to start working and may clock in 20–25 hours per week. During summer, they can work full time toward the 2,000 hours required to complete the program, in addition to 180 hours of career technical education courses.
McHaffie says the district now partners with more than 30 companies in St. Charles and St. Louis counties, which interview, hire, and train apprentices. Says McHaffie, “A lot of other schools are now coming on board because of the success we’ve had.”
