EXPLORE AT MOORE

Here at Marion C. Moore, middle school students will be completing 9-week rotations through the three pathways that are offered: Healthcare Science, Engineering & Design, and Consumer Science. Towards the end of the school year, 6th & 7th graders will choose one pathway to continue in to finish out their middle school years, while 8th graders will choose a pathway to start as Freshman in high school.

Through each of the pathways, students are guaranteed a variety of experiences – with the focus being vibrant, hands-on, and authentic learning. This is achieved through hosting guest speakers, participating in industry field trips, as well as events with our high school counterparts through the Academies of Louisville.

Within each pathway, students will cover a variety of topics.

VISION STATEMENT

JCPS Explore aligns with the Academies of Louisville to become a national model for engagement and empowerment through student choice!

 FIVE CORE BELIEFS

• Equitable access to opportunities and resources

• Increased student engagement and sense of belonging

• Student empowerment through Design Thinking (Project-Based Learning)

• Promotion of 21st-Century Learning and JCPS Success Skills

• A clear connection to the Academies of Louisville to create a middle to high school bridge

 ABOUT EXPLORE

Explore provides a clear focus for learning and engagement through inquiry-based classroom experiences focused on exploration of career and technical fields. The model provides purpose and vision for students and creates a sixth- through twelfth-grade pathway of learning by serving as a bridge between middle and high school. Engagement, exposure, and equity are the heart of Explore. The goal is to give our students access and opportunity to get them excited about their futures.

Explore was designed with the social and emotional needs of middle school students in mind. We know that students thrive when they have a choice in their learning and feel a sense of belonging. In Explore students will rotate through pathway offerings in sixth grade. At the end of sixth grade, they will choose their seventh- and eighth-grade pathway in a special selection ceremony.

Over the next two years, students will experience project-based learning, guest speakers, field trips to local high schools, and the creation of capstone artifacts that connect to their passions.

 It’s important to understand that Explore is not about students choosing a career; it’s about hands-on learning and student choice during a time when many students can easily become disengaged. Prior to Explore, students had to choose between taking an art- and music-based elective or pursuing career and technical education electives, such as robotics or healthcare. Now, due to funding and staffing, students get to have both. It’s a win-win for all.