Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

What are the four Schools of Study?

Schools of Study help to organize the curriculum into broad program areas that are interrelated in terms of academic content and career pathways. 

1.  Arts and Humanities         3.  Engineering and Integrated Technologies

2.  Business and Information Technology 4.  Health and Human Services

What is a career cluster?

A career cluster is an organizational “clustering” of common educational preparatory paths for students with similar goals, strengths, interests, and skills. Simply put, career clusters are a way of organizing and tailoring coursework and work experience around specific groups of careers. Each cluster is designed to provide three exit points for students: to the workforce or military, to a two-year technical college, or to a four-year college or university.

What is the purpose of career clusters?

1. Clusters serve to focus student learning and course selection in the advisement process.

2. Clusters help students see the relevance of their high school studies to their next step (i.e. college or technical school, military, or work).

3. Clusters help create smaller learning communities within a large high school setting.

4. Clusters encourage curriculum integration at the school level.

5. Clusters help provide structure for the curriculum and advisement process.

6. Clusters enhance articulation with post-secondary institutions.

What is an EEDA major?

Each career cluster can have several career majors. Career majors involve at least four related units of study. Majors help students focus their elective courses around a more specific career path. Example:

School: Engineering and Integrated Technologies

Cluster: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM)

Majors: Math, Project Lead the Way: Pre-engineering

When do students declare a cluster (or EEDA major)?

Beginning in the 8th grade, middle school students develop an Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) where they select a School of Study and potential Career Cluster. In the 9th grade, students revise their IGP and may select a major. Beginning in the 10th grade, students declare a major to focus their elective choices.

Can students change a school, cluster and/or major on their IGP?

Absolutely! Students can change a career major if they find that this is not in their area of interest.   Students are never locked into a specific cluster or major. Successful completion of four of the required courses listed in the template constitutes a major.

Do all students have to declare a major?

According to the EEDA, all students are expected to declare a major by the end of the 10th grade. However, students are not required to complete a major for graduation.

How does a student earn a cluster cord or cords?

1. A student who completes a major (four courses passed, based on course availability) as defined in the Program of Studies catalog may purchase and “walk” at graduation with a cord representing the School of Study. 

2. Each of the four clusters will have a separate color.

3. Students may be completers in more than one major in a cluster, or more than one major in multiple clusters, and may wear cords accordingly.