Every student’s path after high school looks a little different. Some students may head to college, while others pursue a trade, join the military or enter the workforce. Kalama’s goal is to help every student leave school prepared to take the next step. The district’s Strategic Plan calls this journey Pathway to Prosperity, and aims to prepare 95% of graduates for a post-secondary pathway.
This school year, Kalama’s middle and high schools use a trimester schedule. This added flexibility gives students more room for electives, credit recovery, and college- and career-connected pathways.
During Year 1 of the Strategic Plan, Kalama also expanded its career pathways. The district added Health Science and Education & Training pathways and continued to expand opportunities in Business, Marketing, and Engineering. The district also added Holocaust Studies, Physics, and Anatomy & Physiology, giving students more ways to explore their interests and prepare for what comes after high school.
These changes reflect what students and community members said they wanted during the district’s strategic planning process. Students asked for more electives, hands-on learning and opportunities that prepare them for the workforce and life after graduation. Parents and community members also identified real-world preparation and expanded course options as priorities.
Students have also been building practical skills through Adulting 101 activities during Chinook Time. During the 2025-26 school year, students explored college and financial aid, trade and military careers, resumes and interviews, taxes and budgeting, job-search strategies, and meal planning and cooking. Guest speakers also covered banking, voting, employee benefits and other real-life topics.
Together, these opportunities give students more ways to explore their interests while they are in school and more tools to make informed decisions about college, careers, and life after graduation.