Career Planning

Career Development Plans (CDPs) and Xello for New Hanover County Schools

New Hanover County Schools has partnered with Xello, an engaging college and career readiness platform, to support students in building electronic Career Development Plans (CDPs). Xello helps students explore future pathways by providing interactive career readiness lessons, personalized interest and skills assessments, academic and career planning tools, research on careers and postsecondary options, financial aid information, local labor market data, and planning for high school and beyond. It also includes features that help students:

• Build and refine a professional resume
• Document meaningful experiences
• Reflect on personal growth and goals
• Create a digital portfolio
• Store and organized artifacts and work samples

Xello's platform places students at the center of the planning process, allowing them to chart a unique academic and career path that aligns with their strengths, interests, and post-graduation goals. 

What is a Career Development Plan (CDP)?

A Career Development Plan (CDP) is a personalized, evolving plan that helps students connect what they learn in school with their future goals. In North Carolina, state law requires all students to develop and update a CDP that includes career exploration, academic planning, and preparation for life after high school. Students must complete a CDP in 8th grade to be promoted to 9th grade, and they must review and update it again in 10th grade as part of the promotion process to 11th grade.

CDPs begin in 6th grade and grow each year as students discover their interests, strengths, and future possibilities. With the support of School Counselors, Career Development Coordinators, Student Support Specialists, and Teachers, students use tools such as career assessments, employability skills lessons, and college and career research to shape their plan.

Each year, students revise their CDP to reflect new interests, chosen pathways, and updated post-graduation goals. This helps them make thoughtful choices about which courses, programs, and opportunities to pursue throughout middle and high school, making the transition to both high school and postsecondary life smoother and less stressful.

Our ultimate goal is for every student to graduate enrolled in further education or training, employed in the workforce, or enlisted in the military - whichever path best fits their plan for the future.

Xello Resources for Students and Families

Xello offers age-appropriate activities and tools that focus on self-awareness, career exploration, academic planning, and life skills development for K-12 learners. The platform's built-in curriculum and reflective tools help students develop the competencies needed to make informed decisions about their future.

Parents and guardians must be invited via email to create a Xello Family Account. To ensure you receive the invite, please make sure you have a correct email address to Infinite Campus. The Xell Family account gives parents and guardians visibility into their student's planning work and supports conversations about future goals. Those who have not received email instructions for creating an account should reach out to their child's Career Development Coordinator for assistance. Students also have the option to generate a shareable link to their Xello career profile to share with their parents.

• Xello student experience video (4:00)
• Meet Xello Slideshow
• Switching your CDP to Spanish
• Say Hello to Xello! (English)
• ¡Conozcan a Xello! (Spanish)
• Navigating your Xello Family Account
• CDP Creation Notification Letter (English) (Spanish)

Questions?

Contact Shannon Mitchell, CTE Work Based Learning Coordinator at shannon.mitchell@nhcs.net