The TriDistrict Career and College Readiness Initiative is a unique collaboration between South St. Paul Public Schools, Inver Grove Heights Community Schools and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools.

Over the past few years, TriDistrict leaders have been meeting with employers and community organizations, studying workforce needs and projections, and speaking with students, parents and teachers. All of these efforts have led to one key understanding–the workforce is changing. In a variety of industries, from manufacturing to information-based jobs, the skills and abilities needed by employers today are different than what was needed in the past.

In order for our students, our communities and our entire state to be successful in the future, schools need to make sure all of our graduates are prepared for post-high school education, careers and the rapidly changing labor market.

The TriDistrict’s vision is for students in all three districts to have a wide range of opportunities to learn about their interests and personal assets and engage in authentic, real-world career exploration activities.

This includes helping them discover a career path and make wise choices about their post-secondary education so they can enter the workforce or military with job-ready skills upon graduation from high school or to successfully enroll in and complete a degree from the post-secondary institution of their choice.

To do this, the TriDistrict is reimagining the high school experience by developing new curriculum, offering new classes, forming community partnerships, and redesigning the career exploration and college search process.

TriDistrict Partnership

The TriDistrict Partnership is a collaboration of three southeast metro-area school districts, which includes South St. Paul Public Schools, Inver Grove Heights Community Schools, and West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools. These three districts have a long history of working together in the areas of community education, special education services, transportation and Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE). The districts share resources to help manage costs while still providing high-quality programming for students and families. Within the TriDistrict Partnership there is a combined enrollment of more than 12,000 students in grades K-12, with approximately 3,500 students in grades 9-12.

For more information about the TriDistrict Partnership and/or the TriDistrict Career and College Readiness Initiative, please contact:

Ben Kusch, Lead Designer
bkusch@tridistrictce.org
612.267.2760