What is Stride Career Prep?
Are you a 7th–12th grader looking to get a jump-start on your future? With Stride Career Prep, you can use your middle and high school years to figure out where you want to go and how to get there. In addition to core courses, you'll take career-focused classes to explore your options and find your passion—all while earning your high school diploma. Discovering what you want to do now can prepare you to dive into a career right out of high school or help you make the right decision about your college major.
Career Fields
Take career-focused courses in the high-demand career field of your choice:
Student Success Coaching
DATX high school students can meet with Stride Success Coaches to get advice on creating résumés, networking, interviewing, financial aid, college preparation, internships, and more! These virtual sessions are free to students at K12-powered schools.
Our Success Coaches also host live, interactive webinars to better prepare students for their futures with expert insight and advice on college and career prep. These events are open to all high school students.
Internship Listings
Internship Listings
Students can search and filter hundreds of internship listings to find on-the-job learning experiences they can complete before graduation. A perfect complement to a Stride Career Prep education, a high school internship is another great way to get ahead on future goals. We also offer tips and advice about building a resume, honing interview skills, and keeping motivated on the job. Internship listings are updated daily, so be sure to check back often.
You can also:
Gain workplace skills
Prepare to take industry-recognized
certification exams
upon graduation*
Career Clubs
Stride Career Prep students can enroll in career clubs, also called career technical service organizations (CTSOs). CTSOs give students with similar career interests the opportunity to connect, practice professional skills, work on service projects, take field trips, and compete against other schools at the local, state, and national levels.
Stride Career Prep at DATX offers the following CTSOs:
BPA – Business Professionals of America
BPA is one of the premier organizations for students pursuing careers in business and information technology. BPA is a co-curricular activity that enhances opportunities for students to participate in professional, civic, and service projects. Membership allows them to:
Connect with like-minded students who have similar career and academic interests
Participate in academic competitions and community service activities
Work toward earning industry-recognized certifications
Participate in the Torch Awards program which guides service-learning projects
Develop leadership skills by running for local or national office
DECA
DECA is a not-for-profit student organization in high schools and colleges around the globe that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Founded in 1946, DECA has impacted the lives of more than ten million students, educators, school administrators, and business professionals.
Participation allows students to:
Practice key leadership skills such as goal setting, consensus building, and project management
Explore professional options, discover new career paths, and access new opportunities
Connect with like-minded students who have similar career and academic interests
Take part in programs and activities that use the latest technology and apply cutting-edge research
FBLA – Future Business Leaders of America
Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) is the premier business career student organization in the world. Each year, FBLA-PBL helps over 250,000 members prepare for careers in business and business-related fields. FBLA-PBL has four membership divisions: FBLA-ML for middle school, FBLA for high school, PBL for college, and the Professional Division for alumni, business professionals, educators, and supporters.
FCCLA – Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America
This national CTSO is for students interested in the services surrounding families and consumers. Participation allows students to:
Build real-world skills
Explore career opportunities
Engage in events and competitions
Apply for scholarships and awards
HOSA – Future Health Professionals
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) is an international student organization that works to promote career opportunities in the healthcare industry and enhance the delivery of quality healthcare to all people. Founded in 1976, HOSA empowers students to become leaders in the global health community.
SkillsUSA
With curriculum that covers 130 job categories and more than 600 national partners—businesses, trade associations, and unions—SkillsUSA gives students the opportunity to:
Practically apply what they learn in the classroom
Take courses in addition to those offered by the DATX course catalog
Participate in academic competitions and community service activities
Connect with like-minded students who have similar career and academic interests
Earn scholarships offered exclusively through SkillsUSA
TSA – Technology Students Association
TSA is a national, nonprofit CTSO of middle school and high school students who are engaged in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Since TSA was chartered in 1978, over 5,000,000 students have benefited from membership. Students in TSA can:
Compete in a wide variety of STEM competitions—from biotechnology and cybersecurity to STEM animation
Participate in intracurricular activities and community service
Gain 21st-century leadership skills
*Many Microsoft®️ Office certificates can be earned after completing one course. Other certificates require more classes to be better prepared, and students who participate in the program for at least two years will have further preparation for certification testing.
