By Corey Haugen

Director of Information Services Corey Haugen

Austin Public Schools introduced a new college and career readiness platform for the 2024-25 school year. SchooLinks, a comprehensive digital platform, offers students in grades 9-12 a range of tools designed to support career exploration, college planning, and skills development for future success. The district’s adoption of SchooLinks aligns with its mission to inspire, empower and accelerate students with skills needed for college and career readiness while personalizing the educational experience.

Starting this fall, SchooLinks will be available to all Austin high school students, providing tools for students to research colleges, explore career options and even access scholarship opportunities . This new platform is part of Austin Public Schools’ broader strategy to improve student engagement and success by giving them more control over their educational journey. SchooLinks, a crucial part of the Packer Profile, hosts all college and career readiness programs for 9-12 students. The platform includes many additional tools, such as resume builders, scholarship searches and applications, in addition to allowing students to create their Packer portfolio directly within the program.

With the flexibility and personalized tools offered by SchooLinks, students can achieve their unique goals based on their interests and aspirations. SchooLinks includes features such as career interest assessment, resume building tools, and college application tracking, which allow students to navigate the often complex journey from high school to higher education or enter directly into the labor market.

“Adoption of SchooLinks reflects our commitment to providing students with the best possible resources to prepare them for life after high school,” said Jane Carlson, Austin High School Career Pathways Coordinator. “This platform goes beyond traditional college and career advising by helping students connect their education to real-world goals.”

As job markets and college admissions become increasingly competitive, tools like SchooLinks give Austin High School students the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their futures. This proactive approach to college and career preparation positions Austin High School as a forward-thinking institution, prioritizing student success in a changing world.

Since the launch of SchooLinks, initial feedback from students and staff has been very positive. Many report that the platform makes planning more manageable and less overwhelming. “Working with SchooLinks, I thought it was a way to send college applications and school transcripts. It took me maybe five minutes to send my transcript to a college,” said Austin High School senior Aubrey Newell. “SchooLinks has been really helpful, especially when you’re trying to stay on track for school. »

Austin High School’s adoption of SchooLinks is an important step in providing students with meaningful resources for college and career planning. As the school year progresses, Austin Public Schools will continue to evaluate the impact of the platform and work to ensure every student has the means to pursue their dreams.

For more information about SchooLinks and its impact at Austin High School, visit or contact the AHS Counseling Department.