10th Grade
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Today’s High school students have grown up in the digital age and use online technology to connect and learn. They respond to an innovative and engaging curriculum. We offer a range of online public high school courses, including core subjects, honors and AP classes, and career readiness courses tailored to prepare them for life after high school.
In addition to general education courses, students will enroll in career-focused academies aligned to their college and career goals. With multiple paths to success, students can gain a competitive advantage against their peers, whether that includes college, career, or both.
Within each Learning Community, students can specialize in a program of study that connects with their interests, skills, and talents. No matter which academy a student chooses, they will develop essential workplace skills and have the opportunity to gain industry-recognized credentials related to their program concentration.
Students will specialize in their pathway and strive to earn industry credentials relevant to current, in-demand careers. Pathfinder’s credentials include Lean Six Sigma, Rise Up, Microsoft Office, and OSHA.
* Course offerings are subject to change and may vary based on school staffing.
Foundations of Success Academy
As students begin their journey with Pathfinder Career Academy, each student will spend their first two years of high school in the Foundations of Success Academy. Here, an emphasis will be on identifying personal strengths, interests, and passions that build the foundation for their college and career path. One-on-one support with a success coach allows students to begin to explore the major they will choose to attend upon completion.
Career Discovery Academy
Not sure what careers you are interested in yet? In the Career Discovery Academy, students learn strategies and skills for lifelong learning and success. They will learn about career paths, industries, and job functions that will help clarify interests, goals, and aspirations. Students will develop interview skills and learn professionalism, communication, team building, networking, and negotiation.
Career Exploration
Career exploration involves actively investigating and researching potential career paths in more depth. It goes beyond basic awareness and includes conducting informational interviews with professionals, job shadowing, internships, volunteering, and taking on projects that provide hands-on experience in a specific field.
Career Tech Club Participation
Participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) clubs holds several significant benefits for students. These clubs enhance the overall educational experience by providing students with opportunities for skill development, networking, and practical application of knowledge. During the 8th and 9th grade school years, students will be encouraged to participate in various club meetings, ensuring exposure to several CTE pathways. During a student’s 10th grade year, students solely participate in club meetings related to their desired pathway. Lastly, during a student’s 11th grade year, they will have chosen their CTE pathway and continue participating in the associated club throughout their journey at Pathfinder.
Career-Based Intervention
Career Based Intervention (CBI) is a systematic approach or program designed to assist students in making informed career decisions and effectively transitioning into the workforce. These interventions provide guidance, support, and resources to help individuals explore, plan, and pursue their desired career paths.
Key Components of CBI:
- Assessment
- Exploration
- Education
- Goal Setting
- Training and Soft Skill Development
- Counseling and Guidance
Project-Based Learning
Project-Based Learning (PBL) is an educational approach that focuses on active and collaborative learning through the completion of real-world projects. In PBL, students engage in an in-depth exploration of a complex question, problem, or challenge relevant to their interests or the curriculum. They work together to investigate, research, plan, design, and create solutions, often culminating in a tangible product, presentation, or outcome. PBL also allows for cross-collaboration opportunities between academic and CTE courses.
Future Fridays
Future Friday is a comprehensive idea aimed at preparing students for their future careers by offering a variety of resources and opportunities that focus on career exploration, skill development, and industry exposure. Future Fridays will give students dedicated time to engage in activities beyond traditional classroom learning. We designed Future Friday to help students make informed decisions about their educational and career paths, connect with professionals, and gain practical insights into different industries. Students will have the opportunity to participate in the following:
- Videos: Live and recorded video presentations or documentaries that showcase different careers, industries, and success stories. These videos give students a visual and informative introduction to various career paths.
- Guest Speakers: Bringing in guest speakers from various industries allows students to hear firsthand professional experiences and insights. These speakers may discuss their career journeys, share industry trends, and offer advice to students.
- Sessions: Workshops, seminars, and interactive sessions focus on skill development, resume building, interview preparation, and other practical aspects of career readiness.
- Events: Future Fridays may host job fairs, industry panels, and workshops highlighting specific fields of interest. These events allow students to ask questions, network, and gather information.
…and so much more! We welcome our students’ ideas and suggestions for Future Fridays at Pathfinder!
Career Counseling on Pathway Selection
Career counseling on Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway selection involves providing guidance and support to students in choosing a specific CTE pathway that aligns with their interests, strengths, and career goals. CTE pathways are structured programs of study that offer education and training in specific industries or career fields, such as healthcare, technology, engineering, business, and more. The CTE Coordinator, School Counselor, and CTE teachers will be crucial in helping students decide which CTE pathway to pursue based on their unique preferences and aspirations.
Independent Study
In an independent study, students can choose their pathway, set their learning goals, and have input regarding their learning activities. This approach allows students to explore career pathways they are particularly interested in or to pursue more in-depth study in a specific area. Independent study will require prior approval by the Pathfinder team.
Independent study will involve the following:
- Personalized Curriculum
- Research and Exploration
- Job Shadowing
Certifications
Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt – Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training focuses on the origins of Lean Six Sigma and why organizations benefit from it. You will learn Lean Six Sigma roles, the 8 Wastes, the DMAIC improvement method, and the main tools and techniques used in the five phases of DMAIC. Students will have the opportunity to earn this specific certification during their 10th grade year.
10TH GRADE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
10th grade is a critical year for students to begin exploring career pathways, building foundational academic skills, and developing employability skills. Academic coursework is connected to real-world applications and career readiness, ensuring students are prepared for future success. Listed are some examples of how Pathfinder’s academic and CTE teachers will incorporate real-world applications in your student’s coursework:
💡 English Language Arts (ELA) – Career Communication & Research
🧮 Mathematics – Financial Literacy & Career Applications
🔬 Science – Career Connections in STEM & Technical Fields
🌎 Social Studies – Economic & Business Awareness
🚀 Career Exploration & Readiness
10th grade is the foundation year for career development, with students participating in career exploration activities, self-discovery assessments, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Naviance Plan of Study & Career Counseling
- Students will work with the CTE Coordinator & School Counselors to develop a Personalized Plan of Study based on career interests.
- CTE pathway selection, elective options, and available industry-recognized credentials.
Naviance Career Interest Surveys & Pathful Connect Activities
- Students will complete career interest surveys to discover potential careers.
- Participation in live virtual career fairs, guest speaker events, and interactive industry experiences.
Introduction to CTE Pathways & Industry-Recognized Credentials: Opportunity to select specific program and start required CTE elective courses associated!
- Overview of the five Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways:
- Construction Pathway
- Health Science Pathway
- Teaching Professions Pathway
- Business Administration Pathway
- Career Based Intervention (Seniors-only)
Career & Technical Education (CTE) Programs
Sophomore year is about further exploring career pathways and developing foundational skills. You will engage in project-based learning, hands-on activities, and career exploration to prepare for certifications, internships, and leadership roles in 11th and 12th grade.
CTE Programs & Experiences:
- Health Science
- Teaching Professions
- Business Administration
- Information Technology (I.T.)
- Construction
At Pathfinder Career Academy, your sophomore year is the bridge between career exploration and hands-on experiences. By engaging in real-world learning, industry connections, and leadership opportunities, you are setting yourself up for a successful junior and senior year.
Core Curriculum: Grade 10
English 10
English Language Arts for tenth graders provides interactive, engaging instruction and practice in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language skills. The course includes explicit instruction and practice for grade-level skills along with opportunities for more independent, inquiry-based learning.
Skills for Success units provide the scaffolding students need to comprehend, evaluate, and respond to complex texts. Students read texts multiple times to move from basic comprehension to deeper understanding of key ideas and the author’s craft and structure. They use a variety of skills to determine the meaning of unknown words and phrases, including interpreting figurative language and nuances in word meanings. Students respond in writing to prompts to practice crafting responses in shorter time frames, demonstrating command of the conventions of standard English grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Making Connections units center around a Big Question that students seek to answer as they work through the unit. Students read assigned texts in various modes and genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama, and conduct their own research to learn about topics that are relevant to their lives and experience. As they gather and interpret information, they share ideas by speaking, listening, and writing. Students use a process for writing that includes planning, drafting, sharing, evaluating, revising, editing, and publishing. Work products in these units offer opportunities for student voice and choice.
The course includes classic literature from the United States and around the world, along with original texts. Students also have the opportunity to read a text of their choice at least once each semester. They have multiple opportunities to practice writing narrative, informative, and argumentative texts.
Geometry
Geometry is the study of the measurement of the world. What makes Geometry so engaging is the relationship of figures and measures to each other, and how these relationships can predict results in the world around us. Through practical applications, the student sees how geometric reasoning provides insight into everyday life. The course begins with the tools needed in Geometry. From these foundations, the student explores the measure of line segments, angles, and two-dimensional figures. Students will learn about similarity, triangles and trigonometric ratios. Geometry A consists of six modules. Each module comprises ten lessons for a total of 60 lessons in the course.
Biology
Biology engages students in the study of living systems through questions that connect directly to their own lives and experiences. Rather than focusing on memorization, students explore biological phenomena such as inheritance, cellular function, and disease by examining why patterns occur and how systems interact within organisms and across populations.
Students learn biology by doing the work of scientists—analyzing authentic data, interpreting research models, and using interactive simulations to make complex processes visible. Instruction emphasizes student-driven investigation, guiding learners from observation and questioning to testing ideas and developing evidence-based explanations. Through this approach, students gain a lasting understanding of how living systems function and what happens when those systems break down.
American History
This course covers the discovery, development, and growth of the United States. Major topics include American Indian cultures, European colonization of the Americas, and the causes and effects of the American Revolution. Geographical, economic, and political factors are explored as the key factors in the growth of the United States of America. American History A is a survey of the struggle to build the United States of America from the colonial period to the beginning of the 20th century. By means of reading, analyzing, and applying historical data, students come to appreciate the forces that shaped our history and character as an American people. Not only are the topics of American history discussed, but students also explore research methods and determine accurate sources of data from the past. Knowing the facts and dates of history are just the beginning: each student must understand how history affects him or her.
Electives
Health
Students begin this life course by exploring the different dimensions of good health and ways they can take charge of managing their health. The semester continues with a focus on good nutrition and safe food preparation and handling. Then, students take an in-depth look at the elements of physical fitness and its importance across the lifespan. A discussion of infectious and noninfectious diseases follows, with an emphasis on preventing disease. Students then investigate substance use and abuse, their effects on health, and ways to avoid or quit using. The course concludes with a focus on community and environmental health along with safety in the home, school, and community. A minimum grade level of 9th grade is suggested.
PE
In this course, students are introduced to exercise and physical fitness and the general recommendations for physical activity, while examining the benefits of exercise, lifestyle choices that can help prevent disease, and tips for kick-starting a healthier lifestyle. Students will explore each type of fitness, include the benefits, and the federal guidelines for exercise in detail. Students will also learn about bones and joints and the functions of the skeleton, and the different types of movements that occur at various joints. Students will learn about the different types of muscle in their bodies, and how they are structured, with particular attention to the different types of muscle fibers. Students will explore the functions that muscles perform, how they work, and their interaction with the central nervous system and special considerations for safe and effective exercise.
Game/IT
Have a great idea for a video game? It’s time to bring it to life. In this hands-on course you will create a playable MVP (minimum viable product). Explore video game history, which provides a springboard to learn about game mechanics, storytelling, character creation, and world building. And yes, you will learn how to code. Through fun, interactive projects, you’ll bring your ideas to life and see what it takes to design a game from start to finish. Plus, if you’re thinking about a future in game design, you will get a behind-the-scenes look at the gaming industry and what it’s like to collaborate with a development team. By the end, you’ll have a game prototype and the skills to keep creating!
CREDIT RECOVERY
We designed our Credit Recovery courses to serve students seeking to recapture credit for courses previously taken. Our credit recovery courses have the same scope and sequence as the original credit courses. However, some teacher-graded assignments have been removed from the course to accelerate the student’s path.
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