Tech-Focused Career Pathways

Polaris Tech is Transformative.

Our goal is to create an entirely new narrative for students in Jasper County, one that broadens possibilities and creates new and exciting choices for the future.

Polaris Tech’s curriculum goes beyond the academic core and reaches into South Carolina’s industry needs and interests. Every student chooses a tech-focused career pathway that leads to industry certification. Students engage in hands-on, technology-rich experiences, interacting with industry professionals in the community to gain insight into tech-focused careers and occupations that spark interest and ignite passion.

Career exploration and our tech-focused curriculum currently include four exciting and relevant pathways: Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical Science, Computer Science, and Business Management.

Students are introduced to all six pathways early in their Polaris Tech experience. They navigate these pathways differently each year, building knowledge, skills and expertise as they grow.

• Middle School (6th and 7th grade): Students explore several career and technology pathways through the Project Lead the Way Gateway to Technology modular courses.  Additionally, students participate in the Polaris Tech Advisory Program that includes career interest inventories, habits of success and next generation skills.
• High School (8th and 9th grade): Students enroll in the first required course of their chosen career pathway in keeping with their Individual Graduation Plan and continue with the second level of their advisory program building in the habits of success and next generation skills.
• High School (10th and 11th grade): Students enroll in the second and third courses of their chosen career pathway in keeping with their Individual Graduation Plan and continue with the third level of their advisory program building on the habits of success, next generation skills, and college and career planning.  Additionally, qualified students may participate in a work-based learning experience (internship or cooperative education), community service or early college credit opportunity with our partner colleges.
• High School (12th grade): Students enroll in the fourth course of their chosen career pathway in keeping with their Individual Graduation Plan and continue their advisory program with a focus on activities that support the transition to college, technical education for the workforce or military service.  Additionally, students will prepare for industry exams related to their chosen career pathway and participate in a capstone project to be presented to the school and community members.  Qualified students may continue with a work-based learning experience or early college credit opportunity.

We believe that this multi-faceted approach to educating our youth is vitally important. Companies like Google, Gulfstream, Boeing and Volvo are expanding in our region, bringing job opportunities, projects and the potential for success. Our unique, career-focused curriculum motivates, excites and prepares students to make the most of all of the exciting opportunities that are on the horizon.