Career & College Readiness

Coopersville High School is committed to helping every student plan for life after graduation— whether that means college, trade school, the military, or entering the workforce. Career and college readiness is a four-year process supported by counselors, classroom lessons, and ongoing communication with families.

What is an Educational Development Plan?

Students receive an EDP (Educational Development Plan) every year in their English class. Information and resources shared in EDP units are designed to help students prepare for graduation and plan for their future. Linked above is a master document of all the resources used in the EDP units and is regularly shared as a link for students to use in the high school Daily Bulletin.

EDP units are an integral part of our curriculum, designed to guide students in shaping their goals and formulating action plans for life after high school. It is timed to align with the developmental stage of each student and the school calendar. Classroom presentations and resources are available on Google Classroom, and we encourage parents to review these materials with their student at home.

To support parents in their involvement, we provide information about the EDPs in the weekly parent emails from the principal. Your active participation in your student's education is greatly appreciated. We look forward to supporting both you and your student throughout this journey.

Counselors are available for every student at CHS.

Explore Student EDP Resources

9th Grade EDP (Fall)

The freshman EDP helps students build a strong academic and career foundation at the start of high school.

Goals

Understand graduation requirements.
Review elective classes offered and how they fit together in a 4-year plan.
Explore extracurricular opportunities.
Survey career interests.
Learn what is a GPA, the SAT, credit recovery, prerequisites, direct and articulated credit, dual enrollment and many other new terms that will impact a student's future after high school.

Primary Messages

High school has specific graduation requirements that students need to understand early.
Exploring electives and extracurricular opportunities helps students begin shaping a 4-year plan.
Learning key academic terms now will impact a student's future after high school.

10th Grade EDP (Winter)

The sophomore EDP supports informed decision-making and goal-setting as students prepare to register for junior-year courses.

A sophomore's EDP unit takes place close to the time they will soon be scheduling classes for junior year. Junior year marks a pivotal moment when students have the opportunity to explore a wider range of elective courses. Electives not only prepare students for college if they are interested but also expose them to various career options.

Goals

Acquire facts from reliable sources to improve understanding of educational opportunities during and after high school.
Set and pursue short and long term goals relating to finding careers of interest.
Survey career interests.

Primary Messages

Be curious.
Know where to go for information and make informed decisions.
All paths (military, workforce including apprenticeships, college) are viable.
Focus on asking questions—not knowing all the answers.
Counselors are approachable and are value added.

11th Grade EDP (Winter & Spring)

The junior EDP provides deeper exploration of specific careers and postsecondary options through research, communication practice, and planning activities.

Goals

Explore in-depth a specific career(s) of genuine interest.
Practice professional etiquette, both in written and verbal communication.
Practice networking.
Write a research paper and annotated bibliography.
Participate in peer to peer sharing of research.
Learn how to select, apply and pay for college.
Understand basic information about military options and going directly to the workforce after high school graduation, including apprenticeships.
Learn about and how to track the future job market.

Primary Messages

Students take a deeper look at careers of genuine interest and the education needed for them.
Professional communication and networking are important skills for future opportunities.
There are multiple options after high school, including college, military, and workforce pathways.
Understanding how to track the future job market helps students make informed decisions.

12th Grade EDP (Throughout Senior Year)

The senior EDP prepares students for transition beyond high school through personalized planning, timely guidance, and targeted communication.

Overview & Timing

A senior’s EDP is spread out over the school year so students receive information exactly when they need it most. The first EDP segment occurs early in the first semester and provides a review of “how to” steps for college, military pathways, and entering the workforce, including apprenticeships.

Individual Counselor Meetings

Throughout October, seniors participate in one-on-one meetings with their school counselor. These meetings provide support based on each student’s unique ideas for after graduation.

Communication with Students

Because counselors do not have students in a dedicated classroom, email is the primary way seniors receive updates throughout the year. Subject lines are very specific so a student can quickly see if the message applies to them.

Examples include: “Open if looking for scholarships” and “Open if looking for an apprenticeship.”
Families may find it helpful to establish a routine where students forward relevant counselor emails to parents or guardians.

Communication with Families & Scholarship Workshop

Email is also used to keep parents up to date on the many resources and important deadlines relative to senior year. Weekly principal emails help families stay in the loop.

In the fall, parents are invited to attend a scholarship workshop held in a computer lab to provide a hands-on experience. Due to limited seating, parents will need to RSVP. Details are provided in the principal’s weekly email.

Primary Messages

Support for seniors is provided throughout the year at key transition points.
Regular, targeted communication from counselors helps students stay informed about opportunities.
Families play an important role by staying engaged with counselor and principal emails.
Resources such as the scholarship workshop are designed to provide practical, hands-on support.

Contact Your Counselor

School counselors are available to review EDPs, answer questions, and meet with students and families about college, careers, and course planning.

Jean Arteaga School Counselor, Students A to L 616-997-3518 Send an Email
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Tara Angus School Counselor, Students M to Z 616-997-3508 Send an Email
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Staying Connected

Students and families can stay up to date on college and career information by:

Checking the Daily Bulletin for EDP resources, college visits, scholarships, and job postings.
Reviewing Google Classroom for EDP assignments and tools.
Reading weekly principal emails for updates and important dates.

Military

Recruiters from the various divisions of the military are available to meet with students during scheduled school visits. Students may choose to have their names removed from the class list that is given to military recruiters at the beginning of their senior year. Student Services will send parents a letter at that time that needs to be signed and returned by a given deadline.