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Climb High!

Middle school is a time of big questions and even bigger discoveries.

  • What do I want to be when I grow up? 
  • How do my interests connect to real jobs? 
  • What classes should I take in high school?

Without the right guidance to confidently chart their paths, students risk narrowing their options, and potential, even before high school. 

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Make career exploration a bold adventure!

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Hats & Ladders for Middle School is an interactive, game-like program that lets middle schoolers embark on a career adventure—exploring clusters, pathways, and real-world roles.

With playful visuals, hands-on lessons, and personalized profiles, students are guided to discover, try on hats, and climb toward their future—making career exploration approachable, motivating, and fun.

🚀 Is your district ready to make career exploration count?
For schools and districts, strategically investing in career exploration gives students the clarity they need to succeed. It ensures they are prepared for informed high school enrollment and set up to pursue and complete high-value CTE pathways with confidence.
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“I was able to learn new skills and have a clear idea for the future. This app really helped me. I can see the difference in my knowledge from before using the app to now.”

~ 13-year-old learner

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Hats & Ladders for Middle School 

Give learners the foundation to climb toward their future.

Students explore 14 clusters, 65 pathways, and over 225 promising careers, while building self-awareness and essential skills along the way.

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Career Parkour

Middle schoolers don’t just browse career options; they actively move through them, trying on “Hats,” exploring pathways, and seeing how their choices shape what's ahead.

  • Self-discovery, exploration, and planning are woven into one connected journey.
  • Hands-on activities that make career learning active, not passive.
  • Pathways that connect interests to real options while building skills and confidence for any path they choose.

 

🍎 Give Counselors and Teachers a New Superpower: Custom Pathway Mapping

For school counselors juggling large caseloads and diverse student needs, Hats & Ladders for Middle School is the robust, scalable tool that delivers personalized, high-impact career guidance.

Our system integrates your district's specific data—including pathways, programs of study, courses, and extracurriculars—to instantly show counselors, teachers and students the exact high school steps and credentials needed. This equips your team with the precision guidance necessary to ensure students make informed high school choices and progress toward their academic and career goals.

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Made for Middle School

Hats & Ladders for Middle School is designed specifically for middle schoolers. It makes career exploration engaging, inspiring, and low-pressure. 

  • Exploratory: Students discover a wide range of professions, industries, and life paths to dream bigger about their future.
  • Interactive & Real-World: Game-like challenges and simulations build teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills through active learning.
  • Learner-Centered: At this age, students are forming their identities and exploring their place in the world, so our tools make that journey fun, inspiring, and never a chore. 

 

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District-Connected Data & Insights

Hats & Ladders for Middle School bridges the gap between student exploration and district priorities.

  • Students discover how their interests align to district pathways and identify actionable next steps for high school and beyond.
  • Coaches gain insight into individual career plans and discover what students are exploring, helping them guide next steps and keep momentum going.
  • Administrators discover aggregate data on students' interests, pathways, and readiness needs, aligned with local job markets and district pathways.

🎯

Equip your leadership team with real time insights to proactively manage pathway enrollment and target support for career exploration where it's needed most.

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The numbers speak for themselves

94%
Learners were satisfied with their Hats & Ladders experience (Youth Survey 2025).
82%
Learners discovered a new career through Hats & Ladders (Youth Survey 2024).
90%
Found career profiles useful for learning about careers (Youth Survey 2025).

Help middle schoolers chart their own course before high school choices set the path.

Deep Self-Discovery

Reveals student strengths, values, and career confidence to build a strong foundation.

Career World Discovery

Problem-based interactives and "Day in the Life" media to prevent premature narrowing of options.

Work-Based Challenges

Activities built alongside industry to activate and foster workplace readiness and critical thinking

Durable Skill Building

Targeted learning to build foundational skills like communication and resilience.

Career Path Clarity

Connects personal insights to the career world, helping students visualize a clear path forward.

Smart Recommendations

Personalized careers moves and related activities, keeping the journey relevant.

Evolving Career Plans

Automatically generates a living, adapting plan that tracks progress and sets goals for next steps.

High School Preparation

A clear roadmap with guidance on courses and early credentials to prepare for high school.

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Ready to Climb On?

The climb to a meaningful future starts in middle school. Don't wait! Help your students take the first steps today.

Schedule a Demo