Newaygo Public Schools (MI) Graduates Students on the “Cutting Edge” with PowerSchool Naviance CCLR

"We want to make sure our students, when they graduate, are on the cutting edge," says Lisa Piccard, the high school counselor at Newaygo Public Schools (MI).

In today's rapidly evolving employment landscape, ensuring students are well-prepared for their postsecondary paths is more critical than ever. At Newaygo Public Schools, a small rural district in western Michigan, staff recognized the need to enhance its approach to college and career readiness.

The district had previously relied on another college and career platform but sought a more student-friendly, engaging, comprehensive, and integrated solution. When the schools began using other PowerSchool software, they found it logical to stay within the PowerSchool ecosystem for their CCLR (college, career, and life readiness) solution. Ultimately, NPS chose PowerSchool Naviance CCLRto help guide its students' self-discovery from middle school to high school and beyond.

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How PowerSchool Naviance CCLR met NPS's needs

As a rural district serving 900 students across two schools (450 middle schoolers and 450 high schoolers), Newaygo Public Schools faces unique challenges. While most students are English-speaking, the district is seeing a growing Hispanic student population. Additionally, agriculture plays a significant role in the local economy, influencing students' career aspirations.

Why Naviance CCLR stood out

NPS is moving away from their current SIS and integrating PowerSchool SIS for the 2025-26 school year. Opting for Naviance CCLR was a logical choice for seamless integration.The platform offers:

• Comprehensive career exploration toolstailored to students' interests and skills

• Seamless integrationwith other PowerSchool systems, enabling smooth student data management

• Improved student engagement features, such as interactive career assessments and Roadtrip Nation videos, designed to resonate with students

• Robust reporting and tracking tools, allowing counselors and administrators to better support students

Following discussions among district leadership, NPS selected Naviance CCLR, anticipating a more modern, integrated, and engaging CCLR experience.

Favorite features of Naviance CCLR

Seamless integration with other PowerSchool systems

Naviance CCLR lets students plan their academic courses while ensuring alignment with graduation requirements through its Course Planner. Students can make and edit four-year plans as their interests evolve, keeping them on track to meet their goals.

More engaging, user-friendly experience

Counselors at NPS observed that many students disengaged from career exploration due to outdated or non-intuitive platforms. Naviance CCLR addresses this with:

• A modern, intuitive interfacethat makes college and career planning easier.

• Mobile-friendly accessibility, allowing students to engage with the platform outside of school hours.

• Interactive assessments and tools, providing personalized college and career recommendations.

Roadtrip Nation videos: inspiring students through real stories

A standout feature that excites NPS educators is Roadtrip Nation, an embedded tool within Naviance CCLR that offers real-world career stories. The platform exposes students to diverse career journeys, helping them see possibilities beyond their immediate surroundings.

Built-in SAT prep and scholarship management

In Naviance CCLR, targeted SAT prep tools help students begin preparing for standardized assessments as early as middle school. Additionally, a scholarship module connects with local and national opportunities, ensuring more robust financial planning. NPS middle school counselor Tricia Crater states, "With Naviance CCLR, our students will now have the opportunity in 5th and 6th grade to begin their career exploration and have access to prep tools as they prepare for standardized testing."

Naviance CCLR implementation and expectations

NPS has developed a structured plan to introduce Naviance CCLR across both middle and high school:

• Middle school: Career exploration begins in 5th grade, allowing students to identify interests early

• High school: Postgraduate planning is integrated into counseling programs to facilitate transcript requests, college applications, and course planning.

To maximize Naviance CCLR's benefits, all educators-not just counselors-will receive training. For professional development, NPS will:

• Train social studies and core subject teachers to incorporate career readiness lessons into their curriculum

• Use weekly advisory periods to include Naviance CCLR-driven lessons to reinforce postgraduate planning goals

PowerSchool leads in the way in innovation and AI

NPS is also exploring PowerBuddy, PowerSchool's AI-driven assistant. AI tools such as the PowerBuddy chatbot can provide instant responses to student inquiries, reducing counselor workload.

The district is committed to AI literacy initiatives, ensuring students understand how to leverage AI ethically and effectively. Recognizing AI's role in the modern workforce, NPS aims to equip students with skills for AI-driven industries.

Advice for other schools considering a CCLR platform

For schools evaluating college and career readiness platforms, NPS educators offer the following advice:

• Prioritize student engagement: Choose a platform that excites students rather than feeling like another mandatory task

• Look for strong system integration: Platforms that sync with your school's SIS reduce administrative burdens.

• Ensure a user-friendly experience: Consider platforms that are intuitive and accessible for both students and educators.

• Think long-term: Select a solution that grows with students from middle school through postsecondary planning.

"Really excited about the future"

Newaygo Public Schools is eager to launch Naviance as a powerful tool for guiding students toward successful futures. With enhanced career exploration, integrated academic planning, AI-driven innovations, and greater parent-counselor collaboration, the district believes Naviance will transform how students prepare for life beyond high school.

For other districts considering a CCLR platform, Newaygo's journey highlights the importance of choosing a solution that is engaging, integrated, and future-focused. By prioritizing student success, NPS is setting a strong foundation for its students' postsecondary achievements.

"I think students are ready for something fresh and new, something different, something that really meets their demands while exploring various careers and actually finding careers that fit them really well," Piccard says. "We're looking forward to Naviance CCLR being that platform that really connects our students to the careers they are deeply interested in."

For NPS students, the future awaits.

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