After high school, there are many different paths for graduates to take, whether it is furthering their education, going straight into the workforce, joining the military, or one of the countless other directions students may choose.
While there are so many options to consider upon graduation, many schools do not show their students what they are. The North Crawford School District, however, makes a strong effort to represent as many choices for their students as they can.
“Providing multiple pathways for students after graduation is something we are very intentional about,” North Crawford High School Principal Robert Sailer said.
The rural Crawford County school district’s effort to show diverse choices is clear through their annual College and Career Day, which was held on Friday, March 27, and had over 200 students from the area in attendance.
A lot of effort goes into providing students with a wide range of representatives from four-year and technical colleges, to regional employers, to military representatives. The event specifically works to invite businesses that already work with the school in other programs.
This year’s event not only included 20 stations, where students were able to speak with representatives directly, but also a keynote presentation by Shawna Nelson, the CEO of Organic Valley, and 10 other speakers that delivered small group presentations throughout the day.
These speakers allow students to learn more about the opportunities and the day-to-day experience in many different fields in an effective and personal way.
One of the ways the school chooses the invited speakers is through their Academic and Career Planning program (ACP). The program gives the space for all high school students to explore different careers and goals for their futures, share their future plans, and get connected with opportunities within their fields of interest.
Higher education is one of the paths that many North Crawford students, like many high school students across the country, consider taking. The school offers many opportunities for students to explore their options within higher education.
“To your question about why we push this so hard, it really comes down to doing what is right for students. In a small rural district, we know that a one size fits all approach does not serve our kids well,” principal Sailer explained.
North Crawford offers students many college visits to allow students the space to see what feels right for them. Just this March, the freshmen were taken to Southwest Technical College and the sophomores were taken to UW-La Crosse during ACT testing. Getting to visit different campuses, especially different types of institutions, can give students a better idea of what they may want out of higher education.
There is also an emphasis on making higher education more affordable for North Crawford students. Attending a technical or community college is encouraged, both on its own and as a more cost effective stepping-stone to a university.
Military representatives also deliver a similar message to students. While entering the military may be a student’s career choice, it also offers education-related benefits like the GI Bill that give students the opportunity to get an education they may not be able to afford otherwise.
Another way that North Crawford offers students the opportunity to save money on education is through their dual enrollment programs, such as Start College Now, transcripted credits, and CollEDGE Up, which are run through SWTC. These programs allow students to take free courses for college credit while still in high school.
In the 2024-25 school year, 29 North Crawford students participated in a dual enrollment program, nearly a quarter of the student body, and earned a total of 65 college credits. Through dual enrollment, North Crawford families saved nearly $11,000 in tuition costs.
These programs were even more successful this school year. Start College Now had 12 students enrolled in the fall, who earned a total of 49 college credits, and this spring, 11 students are taking on a total of 40 credits. Between both semesters, more than $13,000 in tuition costs has been saved.
The dual credit program, which gives students both college and high school credit, also gave students an incredible opportunity, with two three-credit agriculture classes offered. Plant science in the fall had 20 students enrolled, and animal science in the spring had 22 students enrolled. This gave North Crawford students a total of 126 college credits and more than $38,000 in saved tuition costs, on top of what came from Start College Now.
While there is a lot of effort put toward higher education, that is not where it stops for North Crawford.
“College is a great option for many students, but it is not the only option, and it should not be treated that way,” Principal Sailer stated.
“Our goal is to make sure every student leaves here with a plan that fits them. That might be a university, a technical college, the military, or going directly into the workforce. What matters is that they have had exposure, asked questions, and made informed decisions before they graduate.”
Through their Career and Technical Education program (CTE), student-run businesses. Through the Youth Apprenticeship program, the school offers its students the chance to get hands-on education and experience in a field they plan on pursuing.
Within CTE, North Crawford has opened a ‘Fab Lab,’ a space that allows students to build skills in engineering and production with access to modern manufacturing tools.
The school’s student-run businesses, like selling plants from the greenhouse, provide a similar opportunity. It provides the space for students to build entrepreneurial skills, as well as customer service, marketing, and design skills in a low-stakes environment.
The Youth Apprenticeship program, like the others, gives students the opportunity to build skills, but it also provides a direct connection with an employer. Students get paid to work with partnering businesses while also earning high school credit.
Last year, Gavin Finnell became the first student to complete the apprenticeship program at BAPI, with 450 hours of work in production, hand soldering, and shipping and receiving. This year, he has continued at BAPI, and he aims to have doubled his hours of experience by the end of the year.
While Finnell is a successful case, he is not the only student doing an apprenticeship. North Crawford currently has 15 students participating in apprenticeships, working in fields such as agriculture, construction, healthcare, and hospitality.
North Crawford also works to make sure that no students are left without a plan. Through ACP and check-ins with students and their teachers, the district is able to identify who doesn’t have a strong sense for what they want for the future.
From there, North Crawford gives students the ability to explore their options through job shadows, the Youth Apprenticeship program, and having one-on-one conversations about what they want for their futures.
“We try to make things more concrete.” Principal Sailer said. “Large ideas about ‘careers’ or ‘the future’ can feel overwhelming, especially for students who are unsure. Breaking that down into smaller steps helps. Instead of asking what they want to do for the rest of their life, we might focus on what they want to try next, what kind of environment they enjoy, or what skills they would like to build.”
Staying persistent is incredibly important to helping these students find their next step. Making sure to check in, engage with, and encourage students can be the key factor in helping a student to continue trying to find their way.
Not every student will decide to take the same path, and understanding their options within whatever they may choose to do, as well as what else is out there, gives students the chance to make the right choice for themselves.
Even though students may not take advantage of each and every opportunity North Crawford has for them, the district has made sure that those opportunities are there for those who might want to use them.
“It really comes down to doing what is right for students, about why they push different paths,” Principal Sailer said. “In a small rural district, we know that a one size fits all approach does not serve our kids well. At the end of the day, our goal is that no student leaves without some sense of direction, even if that plan is still evolving. We want every student to feel like they have options and that there are adults here willing to help them figure it out.”
