The Challenge

As middle and high school students move through K-12 education toward graduation, they need guidance and durable skills to help them engage in school today and find their future path for tomorrow.

But for too many students, school feels irrelevant and disconnected from real life experiences, leading to a lack of preparation at best – and disengagement, chronic absenteeism, and dropouts at worst.

  • Less than half of Gen Z middle and high school students feel motivated to go to school every day. (Gallup/Walton)

  • Middle and high school students give their schools a B- on preparing them for education after high school, and a C+ on helping them figure out what career they want and on teaching them skills relevant to their future. (Gallup/Walton)

  • Only one-third of the class of 2023 reported regular exposure to a variety of career options post-graduation. (YouScience)

Group of five young people, some wearing purple aprons, standing in a kitchen with white cabinets, a microwave, and a window, preparing for cooking or baking.
A woman with dark hair in a green hoodie standing at a cafe counter conversing with a blonde barista in a black sweater, inside a cafe with brick walls, artwork, and orange curtains.
Infographic about student preparation for post-high school success, including data on student engagement, awareness, and support needed for college pathways, with statistics from a 2023 survey.

In order to shape their own economic futures,students must not only attend school but have time and opportunities within the school day to explore their passions and potential career paths.