Xello

Hillsboro School District serves 19,000 students across 37 schools, with a clear goal: help students explore pathways and create a plan for their future. Their previous CCR program got in the way. Students struggled to navigate the platform, couldn’t complete activities in class, and didn’t always understand what they were working toward. Staff spent time explaining the system instead of working directly with students.

After moving to Xello, the shift showed up quickly:
→ Students complete activities in class and go beyond what’s required
→ Staff can easily access progress, interests, and trends across classrooms
→ Exploration, planning, and work-based learning now happen in one connected system

When students can move through CCR programming without getting stuck and understand what they are working toward, they keep going. At Hillsboro, Xello is helping students take ownership of their futures.

Full story: https://xello.world/en/resources/customer-stories/hillsboro-school-district/

How Hillsboro School District transformed CCR programming into an engaging experience with Xello | Xello Hillsboro School District shared their challenges with their former platform, and the success they found after switching to Xello.

Every generation does things a little differently, and Gen Alpha is no exception. As Gen Z students graduate and Gen Alpha students move on to high school, educators are seeing a shift in how students plan for their futures. Gen Z leaned into structured plans, while Gen Alpha is growing up with more variables and responding with more exploration, trying new things, adjusting faster, and keeping options open.

That creates a real tension for districts. How do you support clear planning without closing off exploration too early? Future readiness depends on getting that balance right, giving students structure when they need direction and space when they need to figure things out.

:bar_chart: Learn more in the latest State of CCR report: https://na3.hubs.ly/y0qLl30

The future of CCR isn’t just improving, it’s shifting in unexpected ways.

Today, we’re excited to launch our 2026/27 State of CCR Report, created in partnership with Hanover Research, based on insights from nearly 300 educators and administrators across the U.S.

The big takeaway? Progress is real, but so are the pressures to evolve.

Here’s a snapshot of what we found:
📊 Rising confidence: 94% of educators say their CCR efforts are good or excellent.
⏳ CCR starts too late: Educators point to Grade 6 as the ideal starting point, yet focus still peaks in Grades 11–12
⚠️ Capacity is stretched: Time, funding, and staffing continue to limit what schools can achieve
🤖 AI is here: 82% of districts are already comfortable using AI in CCR planning
🌍 Students are changing: 47% say Gen Z is strongly focused on detailed future plans, while 38% say Gen Alpha is more tech-driven and wants flexible pathways

Two years ago, the average rating for CCR programs was a “C.” Now, CCR programs have moved from something schools were still figuring out to something they are building around with intention. Investment is up, engagement is stronger, and CCR is now a central priority in how districts prepare students for what comes next.

:point_right: Dive into the full report to explore the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the year ahead: https://na3.hubs.ly/y0qCNP0

College and Career Readiness Report: Insights for 2026-27 New insights from 281 school leaders and educators on what’s working, what’s changing, and what’s next for preparing students for life after graduation.

"I can't afford college." Educators hear this all the time.
And a lot of the time, it’s not true. It’s a reaction to the sticker price.

Most students don’t know what comes next: how financial aid works, where to look, what to fill out, when it’s due.

And when something gets missed, a form, a deadline, an application it can feel like the door closed.
That’s when plans change. Or stop altogether.

What students think they can afford, and what they actually can, aren’t always the same.

We put together a guide to help make that easier to navigate: https://na3.hubs.ly/y0pzWC0

Student-athletes are planning more than a season, they’re planning a future.

Supporting that journey means connecting academics, athletics, and postsecondary planning.

Join us tomorrow, March 11 at 12:30 pm ET, with our partners at Honest Game for a for a live session on how schools can better support student-athletes through both College & Career Readiness (CCLR) and the college athletic pathway.

We’d love to see you there: https://na3.hubs.ly/y0n1FD0

Our partners at Collegewise surveyed 160+ students and educators about AI in admissions prep.

Here’s what’s interesting:
- 24% of students reported daily use.
- 75% of students say they’re unsure when AI use is appropriate.
- 60% of counselors report noticing a drop in originality.

This isn’t a story about students cutting corners.
It’s a story about a generation learning how to use powerful tools, without clear guardrails.

That’s a very different challenge.
And it’s one schools, counselors, colleges and education partners are navigating together.

For those who want to explore the full research, Collegewise’s “Generation GPT?” guide is worth the read: https://na3.hubs.ly/y0m0Cy0

College and career readiness doesn’t start in high school.

At Spotsylvania County Public Schools, it’s built over time, through shared responsibility and everyday guidance.

That’s work Shannon Wingert, M.Ed, Supervisor of Elementary School Counseling, champions across the district, helping ensure counseling is part of the student experience from the very beginning.

When guidance starts early and everyone is aligned,
students don’t just think about the future.
They feel ready for it.

This National School Counseling Week ( ), we’re grateful for leaders like Shannon, and for districts that treat counseling as a shared commitment.

Learn more about how Spotsylvania is building a K–12 approach to CCR: https://xello.world/en-ca/resources/customer-stories/spotsylvania-county-public-schools/