College and Career Readiness

We empower students to pursue their passions—and get a head start on their post-graduation career goals.

Our Career Offering

Discover Your Full Potential

Whether your student has a clear idea of what they want to do after high school or is just starting to figure out their goals, Connections Academy® is passionate about helping our students feel confident and prepared to take on the future. Our unique college prep and career offerings are designed to give the knowledge, skills, and connections students need to succeed long after graduation. 

Offered to middle and high school students in select states, our career-readiness offering is designed to help students thrive, whether in college or in the job field. Participants complete traditional courses as well as industry-leading electives focused on in-demand and growing career fields, and can engage in meaningful experiences through our partnerships with top companies, organizations, and higher education institutions.

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Hear from Pearson's Head of Career Solutions, Lorna Bryant, about how we prepare students for future career paths through partnerships with organizations like Coursera, HOSA, Home Depot Path to Pro, The SEMI Foundation, and more!

High school Connections Academy college and careers nursing program student in scrubs

Career Exploration

Find Your Unique Direction

For many students, the future can seem intimidating—but it doesn’t have to be. We give students the freedom and support they need to discover which career fields excite them most. 

We currently offer career pathways in three high-growth industries, with more areas coming soon. These include: 

  • Information Technology
  • Business
  • Healthcare 

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Build Professional Skills That Employers Look For

By completing traditional core courses and career-focused electives, students develop both soft skills (such as critical thinking, time management, communication and more) as well as specific skills aligned with their chosen career focus. 

Blog: How Can High School Prepare Students For A Job?

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Credly logo

Earn Digital Credentials with Credly

Our students can earn industry-recognized badges through Credly to showcase their skills to future employers or schools. Sample badges include Leadership, Communication and Collaboration, and Time Management.

Leadership, Communication and Collaboration, Time Management Credly Badges
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Earn Professional Certificates with Coursera

We’re the only virtual public school that partners with Coursera, which gives students the chance to earn entry-level professional certificates from top companies, including Google, Meta, IBM, Salesforce, and more. 

"This program helped me develop more skills and helped me have more career choice opportunities."

— Rachel, Iowa Connections Academy Student

Career program student in suit shaking hands with a professional

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Start Building Your Network

Relationships and connections are important at any stage of a career, including at entry-level. We partner with best-in-class companies, organizations, and higher education institutions to bring relevant opportunities, experiences, and meaningful engagement to our students. Through these opportunities, students learn the interpersonal skills they need to establish and grow connections with others, as well as begin to build their own professional network, all before graduation. 

Meet Our Partners

Coursera logo
Credly logo
FBLA logo
The Home Depot Path to Pro logo
HOSA logo
National Technical Honor Society logo
SEMI Foundation logo
SC Future Markers logo
SNHU logo
UMKC School of Medicine logo
UNT logo

Learn About Our Partnerships

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Dive Deeper With Our Career Magazine

Discover how College and Career Readiness at Connections Academy can empower your child to find success on their own terms.

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Connections Academy Career Magazine cover

Our Career Offering

Discover Your Full Potential

No matter what their post-graduation plans are, we believe that all students can benefit from a career-focused education. Discover all the ways we help our students prepare for higher education, including SAT prep, college application guidance, NCAA-approved courses, and more. 

Dual- & Tri-Credit Opportunities

In addition to honors and Advanced Placement®* courses, students have opportunities to participate in dual-credit and tri-credit opportunities.

*AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.

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Get Our Free eGuide

Our free eGuide is designed to help you feel empowered to make the best decision for your child’s learning journey. Get a sneak peek at the online school experience, and we’ll give you a call to answer your questions. 

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Student Stories

5/5    “Connections Academy ROCKS!”   Nicole M.

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We appreciate you taking the time to sign up for our free eGuide. We look forward to sharing all the ways our online public school can help your child thrive.

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