By Corey Haugen Director of Information Services Corey Haugen Austin Public Schools has introduced a new college and career readiness platform for the 2024-25 school year. SchooLinks, a comprehensive digital platform, offers students from grades nine through 12 a range of tools designed to support career exploration, college planning, and skill-building for future success. The district’s adoption of SchooLinks aligns with its mission to Inspire, Empower, and Accelerate students with skills for college and career readiness while personalizing the educational experience. Starting this fall, SchooLinks will be available to all Austin High School students, providing tools that allow students to research colleges, explore career options, and even access scholarship opportunities. This new platform is part of Austin Public Schools’ broader strategy to enhance student engagement and success by giving students more control over their educational journeys.  SchooLinks, a crucial element of the Packer Profile, houses all the college and career readiness curriculum for 9-12 students. The platform includes many additional tools, such as resume builders and scholarship searching and applications, in addition to allowing students to build their Packer Portfolio right within the program. With the flexibility and personalized tools offered by SchooLinks, students can work toward their unique goals based on their interests and aspirations. SchooLinks includes features like career interest assessments, resume-building tools, and college application tracking, which enable students to navigate the often-complex journey from high school to higher education or direct entry into the workforce. “The adoption of SchooLinks reflects our commitment to providing students with the best possible resources to prepare them for life after high school,” said Jane Carlson, Austin High School’s Career Pathway Coordinator. “This platform goes beyond traditional college and career counseling by helping students connect their education to real-world goals.” As job markets and college admissions grow increasingly competitive, tools like SchooLinks empower Austin High School students with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed decisions about their futures. This proactive approach to college and career readiness positions Austin High School as a forward-thinking institution, prioritizing student success in an evolving world. Since launching SchooLinks, initial feedback from students and staff has been very positive. Many report that the platform makes planning more manageable and less overwhelming. “While working with SchooLinks, I thought found it was a way to send college applications and send school transcripts.  It took me maybe five minutes to send my transcript to a college,” shared Austin High School senior, Aubrey Newell. “SchooLinks has really been helpful, especially when you’re working to stay on track for school.” Austin High School’s adoption of SchooLinks is a significant step in providing students with meaningful resources for college and career planning. As the school year progresses, Austin Public Schools will continue to assess the platform’s impact and work to ensure every student is empowered to pursue their dreams. For more information about SchooLinks and its impact at Austin High School, visit https://www.schoolinks.com/ or contact the AHS Counseling Department. The post APS Column: Austin High School implements SchooLinks to enhance college and career readiness appeared first on Austin Daily Herald.