A number of positive changes are occurring in the education system. As a result of these changes, you will be afforded the opportunity to be better prepared to make "informed choices" about the types of subjects to take in high school, options for college or other postsecondary education and career opportunities.
The courses you take in high school "do" make a difference in terms of your options after graduation. Based on this fact, West Virginia schools are placing more emphasis on career awareness activities in grades K-4, career exploration experiences in grades 5-10, and options for career preparation in grades 11 - postsecondary. In order to accomplish this, the high school curriculum has been redesigned to require you to take more rigorous mathematics and science courses along with the other academic core subjects and to focus your studies around a system of career clusters and majors.
Career clusters are broad groupings of related careers representative of the types of occupations in the World of Work. Each career cluster is divided into career majors that are broad groupings of related occupations within the cluster.
Along with your parents and a school advisor, you will be asked to select a broad career cluster at the end of 8th grade for continued exploration in grades 9-10. Also, at the end of the 10th grade, you will be asked to select a career major in consultation with your parents and school personnel. The career major should focus on your abilities, interests and goals and will include a sequence of courses or field of study that will prepare you for multiple options after graduation. You may choose to enter the workforce with recognized skills, enroll in a two-year or four-year degree program, or other postsecondary preparation.
You are allowed to change your cluster or major selection based on your experiences and changing interests. However, it is important that as a result of your high school experience, you have established tentative goals and have achieved the academic foundations for success.
Following is the state model for career clusters and majors. However, local school systems have the flexibility of designing their own model. Click on a cluster for occupational information about that cluster.
| Business & Marketing
Cluster Administrative Support Finance/Accounting Management/Marketing |
Health
Cluster Diagnostic Services Health Information Services Therapeutic Service |
Engineering/Technical
Cluster Communication Technology Construction Technology Manufacturing/Production Technology Mechanical Services Technology Transportation Technology |
| Human
Services Cluster Personal and Family Services Public Safety/Legal Services Social Services/Education Hospitality |
Fine
Arts/Humanities Cluster Information Services Creative Arts Applied Arts |
Science/Natural
Resources Cluster Agriculture/Agribusiness Natural Resources Science |