Perspective | Reading today, leading tomorrow: Guilford County’s literacy-to-career pipeline

Walk into a second grade classroom in Guilford County Schools (GCS) today and you’ll witness something remarkable: a student who once hesitated over simple words now confidently sounding out “pilot” and “dentist,” excitedly reading about careers she once never knew existed. This transformation isn’t a fluke. It’s the result of a districtwide investment in literacy that begins in pre-K and extends through high school and beyond.

Guilford County Schools is seeing positive results from our commitment in the early grades, but that success is only the beginning. Building on literacy achievement through middle and high school is essential to prepare students for college and career readiness in an increasingly competitive economy.

Our approach to literacy progresses systematically, grounded in high-quality instructional materials. 

Starting early

Pre-K students are introduced to a print-rich world where they build a deep understanding of the alphabet and how letters, sounds, and words come together. In K-2 classrooms, teachers use a Science of Reading-aligned curriculum to provide students with foundational skills in decoding, fluency, and early comprehension. 

As students advance from third through eighth grades, they deepen stamina, knowledge, and engagement with rich texts that develop their ability to connect ideas and persist through more complex reading. By high school, they practice critical reading and writing for analysis, synthesis, and real-world contexts. 

This investment has resulted in measurable gains. We saw reading improvement across all K-3 student groups in 2023-24 and 2024-25, along with increases in reading proficiency in fourth, fifth, and seventh grades in both years. 

At the end of the day, this work is about kids’ futures. Our approach is a strategic response to what both research and North Carolina industry leaders say students need to access opportunities after graduation. While building strong readers and writers is important, the true measure of success lies in how students apply these skills beyond the classroom.

National data shows only 35% of 12th graders were academically prepared for college in 2024. As students advance through middle and high school, their ability to use those skills becomes increasingly critical, not just scholastically, but also professionally. 

Following through

Literacy foundations in early grades enable important transitions: from learning to read to writing original content, from basic comprehension to complex analysis, and from classroom texts to workplace reports. Middle school is a crucial bridge in this progression.

GCS middle school programs include elements designed to connect literacy with career exploration. Students explore diverse career options that help them envision their futures. In seventh and 10th grade they complete the YouScience assessment to inform their career pathways by identifying their aptitudes, strengths, and interests. This also informs the creation of a career development plan followed by high-quality academic advising.  

In high school, instruction encourages students to read thoughtfully, make connections across texts, and write clearly and persuasively — using evidence to support ideas and show different points of view. We emphasize technical reading proficiency for career preparation while prioritizing academics, since ninth grade grade point average (GPA) is the strongest predictor of postsecondary success. 

These skills aren’t merely academic — they’re essential tools demanded by Guilford County’s fastest-growing industries. As local businesses expand and new companies arrive, the connection between literacy and career opportunity in North Carolina’s technology corridor is clear.

Paving career pathways

Guilford County’s industries require advanced reading and writing ability and qualified workers. Aviation sector companies — including Jet Zero, Boom Supersonic, and Marshall Air — seek employees with technical reading proficiency. Advanced manufacturing positions are looking for sophisticated comprehension skills to master their complex training manuals. 

These businesses are actively engaging with GCS to provide early career exposure and emphasize the skills needed to be hired into high-wage, high-growth jobs in Guilford County. Toyota’s new electric battery plant is creating a sixth to 12th grade pipeline program at one of our middle schools and two of our high schools to grow talent. Health care industry partners are also requesting expanded career pathway programs in our high schools due to workforce demands.

To meet this moment, GCS developed the Guilford Guarantee — a districtwide commitment to ensure every student is prepared for their chosen path, whether that leads to college, career, or both. Research shows only one-third of the class of 2024 was expected to pursue four-year degrees. We need diverse pathways that honor different aspirations and talents.

The Guilford Guarantee is our promise that every GCS graduate will leave high school already armed with something that has real value in the workforce. While still in high school, Guilford students can earn at least a semester’s worth of college credits up to an associate degree, obtain an industry-recognized credential aligned with a high-demand field, or gain meaningful workplace experience through an internship, apprenticeship, or job shadowing. 

The Guilford Guarantee embodies our understanding that student success and community prosperity are closely linked. We are collaborating with community college partners to remove access barriers and address skill gaps. Based on parent feedback, we are also better engaging families and caregivers in students’ course selection and career planning.

By weaving together comprehensive literacy instruction, industry partnership, and clear pathways for success, Guilford County Schools isn’t just preparing students to walk across a stage at graduation; we’re building the foundation for generational economic mobility. Every student who masters the ability to read complex texts, communicate effectively, and apply knowledge in real-world contexts becomes not just a graduate, but a catalyst for community prosperity.