What is the Rapid City Pathways Approach? 

The Rapid City Pathways Approach (RCPA) will bring intentional career-connected learning into Rapid City Area Schools, as well as build strong connections to employers, institutions of higher education, and community-based organizations.

What is the purpose of the Rapid City Pathways Approach?

The purpose of the RCPA is to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to explore career options throughout each level of school and participate in a career Pathway in high school. This approach will help students develop a plan that leads graduates to a successful transition beyond high school including postsecondary education and training, careers, and life responsibilities.

What is a Pathway?

A pathway is a course of study (high school graduation requirements will be embedded) offered in our two comprehensive high schools. Each pathway includes two or three courses organized around a career theme and offered in a planned sequence of courses that move from general knowledge to deeper skills.

Within an RCAS Pathway, a student will take:

• A Pathways Explore Course;

• A Pathway Engage Course;

• A Pathway Experience Course; which could include a Capstone course; and

• Electives, including Fine Arts, World Language, Physical Education, and Special Offering courses.

What are the RCAS Pathways? 

RCAS will offer nine pathways that are not only tailored to our regional needs, but also address national and global workforce opportunities.

How were the RCAS Pathways selected?

Over 90 business, postsecondary, and community partners helped RCAS leaders to determine the RCAS Pathways. The focus on these areas was made through deliberate use of workforce data while begin mindful of the overall high school enrollment, capacity, and resources as well as projected job growth.

What are the benefits of a pathway system?

The pathway system is designed to support the development of college, career, and life readiness skills so that students can successfully enter and advance in a career path.

What is GRADtime? 

GRADtime is a dedicated period of time that will offered eight times per year where students will receive Graduation, Readiness, Advising, and Direction from school counselors in a classroom setting through an online learning platform. This advisory course will allow students to have intentional time to explore college and career options, reflect on their own educational journey, and obtain the skills needed to fulfill the RCAS Profile of a Graduate. 

How will students identify a career interest?

During elementary and middle school, each student will be learning about a full range of careers, and during their 8th grade year, will identify a ‘career interest’ to guide further exploration. This career interest will be revisited each year and can evolve or shift. The student’s career interest will influence their choice of career pathways, work-based learning experiences, postsecondary education and training, and employment opportunities.

How will students select their pathway?

Student will be asked to identify their top pathway preferences after they explore nine Pathways during the Freshman Seminar course.

Will students be locked into a pathway?

Through the 8-10th grade exploration experiences and career development courses, students will begin to learn what options are a good fit and what areas they are not interested in and are not a good fit. Students will be able to explore a pathway in 10th grade and, should that not be a good fit or their interest changes, they can switch to another pathway during 11th grade.

Will students be expected to make a career decision?

Students will be encouraged to explore career interests, but they will not be pressured to make an actual career decision.

Some students do have a very specific career goal coming out of high school. There will always be some students who know exactly what they want to do. The goal for these students is to help identify their next steps.

Many students will not have a specific career goal by the end of high school and that’s ok.

What if students are not prepared to make decisions about life after high school?

The purpose of the RCAS Pathways is to help all students make well-informed decisions about college, career, and life aspirations. For each pathway, teachers and counselors will explain the range of options that are open to students and what type of postsecondary education and training they need to pursue these careers. It is up to the individual student, with advice and support from their parents and caregivers, to decide what direction is best for them. 

Will the RCAS Academies limit postsecondary opportunities?

Each of the RCAS Pathways are being designed with three potential outcomes. These outcomes are not mutually exclusive:

• an industry-recognized certification while in high school or after a short-term training program;

• an associate degree at a two-year or technical college; and

• a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university.

By including all three options in every program, the pathway programming is made relevant for all students whether immediately following high school they wish to enter the workforce or college.

How will the RCAS Pathways affect fine arts students?

We currently have, and will continue to maintain, robust fine art course offerings. All students will continue to have the opportunity to participate in music programs, art courses, and dramatic arts as graduation requirements include one credit devote to the fine arts and the 2.5 minimum elective credits remain the same. As is the case now, more than 80 percent of our high school graduates exceed the high school graduation credit requirements to pursue their academic and creative interests.

For students who desire to pursue arts as a progression, their experience will be enhanced by linking their talents to either a design, business, education, or other pathway of their choosing. Furthermore, as pathway courses are developed, courses may emerge that are specific to those students who are interested in a career in the fine arts. Additionally, work-based learning placements or senior capstone experiences for these students may include work with community-based arts organizations that exist in our community.

How will this impact at-risk and special needs students?

For at-risk students, the hope is that more relevant high school experiences will lead to better outcomes. Additionally, a workgroup is exploring ways to help at-risk students be successful under this new academy model.

The pathways programming will provide students with disabilities the opportunity to select a pathway of study that meets their IEP transition needs (academic, vocational, social, emotional, and recreational experiential).

What role will business and industry play in the RCAS Pathways?

Business, industry, and postsecondary engagement and partnerships have and will continue to serve as an integral piece of the RCAS Pathways as students will rely on these connections to have successful career-connected opportunities. In addition, each pathway will have an advisory council that provides input on workforce trends, curriculum & equipment, work-based learning activities, and teacher externships.

We know that we cannot do this work alone and have invited representation from many industries to join us in our work. With that, we are also continually looking for additional partners to join us as we move in this direction. If you have a specific person, business, or postsecondary connection you feel would greatly enhance this work, please direct them to the RCAS Community Partnership Opportunities page.

 How can we ensure that our students are prepared for jobs that are available globally, not just locally?

Each of the RCAS Pathways reflect the high-wage, high demand workforce development needs and opportunities that not only exist in the state of South Dakota, but globally. The only exception to this may be the Hospitality & Culinary Arts pathway. With this pathway, RCAS is being mindful of a regional and local need. Behind Agriculture, tourism is the 2nd largest industry in South Dakota and brings in about $2 billion annually. This industry is especially important to the Black Hills region and many RCAS patrons.

Students are required to complete 22 credits that ensure they graduate college, career, and life ready. To learn more about the graduation requirements for the graduating class of 2024 and beyond, click here.

What are the Advanced Endorsements?

The new graduation requirements allow students to earn Advanced Endorsements that align with their college, career, and life ready plan. To learn more about the South Dakota Graduation Requirements and Advanced Endorsements, click here.

Can students still choose electives? If so, how many each year?

The number of elective credits will remain unchanged at 2.5 during grades 9-12. Students can take more credits than what is required by the Base Diploma. In fact, more than 80 percent of our current graduates have taken more credits than the state credit requirement.