Developing a Graduate Profile and a Graduate Profile Learning Continuum

The Howard-Suamico School District (HSSD) near Green Bay, Wisconsin, has eight schools and serves over 6,000 students in grades PK-12. The district developed a Graduate Profile to prepare students for a constantly evolving world. The Graduate Profile characteristics include self-starter, critical thinker, collaborator, communicator, adaptable, responsible, and solutionist. Students learn foundational academic skills alongside the graduate profile characteristics to accentuate a whole-student experience in HSSD. Throughout the year, the Board of Education monitors student performance in the seven characteristics of the Graduate Profile.

To help ensure students build these skills at developmentally appropriate levels throughout their PK12 career, the district also developed a Graduate Profile Learning Continuum that explains the progression of learning throughout the Graduate Profile. This continuum guides student learning experiences from PK-12. Edtech is used as needed to help students develop these skills. The goal is to prepare students for success in whatever post-graduation path they choose.