Helping Red Wing Students Explore Their Futures

Ask a group of eighth graders what they want to do after high school, and you will hear all kinds of answers. Some students have a plan. Some have three plans. Some shrug because high school already feels big enough, thank you very much.

That is normal.

Most students do not know exactly where they are headed yet. They may know they like helping people. They may like animals, music, sports, building things, being outside, solving puzzles, drawing, fixing problems, or working with younger kids. They may know what they enjoy without knowing which job title could someday be connected to it.

A student who likes helping people might start to see how data is used in health care. A student who likes working with their hands might learn how digital tools are changing the trades. A student who loves agriculture might discover how technology helps farmers make decisions about soil, weather, equipment, and crops. A student who enjoys art or music might explore how new tools are changing design, production, and creative work.

That kind of exploration can help students make better choices before the decisions get bigger.

Flight Path 2030 is helping Red Wing students make more of these connections before they graduate.

Through the district’s five-year plan, students will see more learning opportunities connected to data, computing, artificial intelligence, and real-world problem-solving. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, those opportunities will include new course options for students in grades 7-12, along with additional learning experiences beyond regular classes.

Through Flight Path 2030, Red Wing students have already been connected to Milwaukee School of Engineering summer STEM and post-secondary scholarships and the National Aspirations in Computing community. This fall, the Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamp is also coming to Red Wing.

These opportunities are just the beginning.

The goal is for all students to have more chances to explore new interests, build useful skills, and learn more about possible career fields before they make plans for life after high school.