Portrait of a Graduate

Ensuring Our Graduates Have the Academic, Career and Life Skills to Succeed

At D.C. Everest we rely on a diverse set of research-based metrics to assess a student’s academic, career and life preparedness. We consider the whole person — the breadth and depth of their coursework, participation in extracurricular activities, ACT scores, grades, third-party certifications, community service, and ability to demonstrate soft skills within and beyond the classroom — to determine student readiness.

These same metrics serve as guideposts that help students make informed choices about the courses, activities, community service, and work-based learning experiences they engage in based on their personal and professional goals.

Developing a Learner's Mindset

We prepare students to become lifelong learners who can adapt to change and advance their skills with on-the-job or post-secondary academic training.

Students are considered college ready if they meet the academic indicators OR standardized testing benchmarks listed below.

Academic Indicators:

Earn a GPA of 2.8 or better and attain one or more of the following:
Earn an Advanced Placement Exam Score of 3 or better
Complete an Advanced Placement Course (A, B, or C)
Complete a Dual Credit College English and/or Math course (A, B, or C)
- Written Communications DE
- Applied Calculus and Trigonometry DE
- Algebra III
- Algebra II (A, B, or C)

Standardized Testing Benchmarks

(minimum score):

ACT Exam: English (18) - Reading (22) - Science (23) - Math (22)
College Readiness Placement Assessment (determined by post-secondary institution)

Additional factors that contribute to collegiate success:

Earn As, Bs, Cs
Complete the FAFSA application
Enroll in a career pathway course sequence
Take part in college academic advising/bridge programs
Complete a senior year math class
Complete at least one math class after Algebra II

Securing Career Skills

We provide classroom and work-based learning experiences to help students secure a job, sustain employment, and attain credentials that differentiate them from others applying for the same opportunities.

Students are considered “career ready” if they have identified a career cluster and meet two of the benchmarks listed here:

Maintain a 90% attendance rate in school
Complete 25+ hours of community service
Participate in a workplace learning experience
Earn an industry standard certification
Complete a dual credit course
Participate in two or more organized co-curricular activities
Attain Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery passing scores for their intended branch of the military

Preparing for Change and Challenges

Most students will have multiple careers in their lifetime and need to navigate challenges when things don’t go as planned. Our “life ready” metrics assist students in acquiring the skills (leadership, collaboration, service, creativity, critical thinking, perseverance, self-awareness, and problem solving) they need to become a responsible and productive member of the community.

Students can demonstrate they are “life ready” by utilizing these skills in the classroom, during extracurricular/co-curricular activities, and while on the job.

Plan Your Future

DCE has a number of tools to help students explore career fields, track their activities and create post-secondary plans to match their personal goals.

The College, Career and Life Ready Canvas Course

All students have access to the CCLR course to help ensure they are on track for life after high school regardless of their chosen path: college, military or workforce. Through the course and advisory class, students are guided through a variety of academic, career and life lessons to help them identify post-secondary options that are a good fit for them. Students have a multitude of resources and opportunities available while at DCE, which are often outlined in the course, such as:

Academic and Career Planning (ACP) lessons
Life Ready lessons
Seminars that are tailored to specific grade levels
College, employer and military recruiters
Events and field trips to help students explore options

Parents and guardians can view their child’s College, Career and Life Ready progress:

Log in using your observer account credentials
Select the College, Career and Life Ready Course from the dashboard
Explore weekly modules, activities, and reflections

Xello

Xello Interactive Tool

Provides students interactive career, personality and learning style assessments to help students understand their unique interests, skills and strengths.