Members of the College Access & Success A-Team recently visited a Career & College Readiness (CCR) Lab at JT Moore Middle School to explore how hands-on career exposure can strengthen students’ transition from middle to high school. The lab, part of Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Innovative School Models initiative, gives students the opportunity to rotate through immersive career modules—such as health sciences, construction, and technology—where they complete real-world, hands-on tasks. During the visit, team members observed strong student engagement, independence, and problem-solving as learners navigated multi-step activities designed to build both confidence and career awareness.

The visit also sparked important conversation about how different middle school models—such as STEAM programs, career clubs, and CCR labs—can work together to ensure all students receive meaningful exposure to a wide range of career pathways before entering high school. Participants discussed how experiences like these can strengthen advising conversations, support informed high school decision-making, and help families begin thinking earlier about academic and career goals. The lab visit reinforced the value of experiential learning as a critical bridge between middle school exploration and high school pathways.

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