How Johnston County Public Schools built a model college and career readiness program
Prioritizing college and career readiness in North Carolina
When North Carolina lawmakers codified a mandatory Career Development Plan (CDP) requirement for eighth and tenth graders, districts across the state rushed to build compliant programs. In Johnston County Public Schools, however, the infrastructure was already alive and thriving.
Years before state legislation took effect, district leaders had established a K–12 career continuum built around a single, decisive outcome: ensuring every student steps across the graduation stage prepared to be enlisted, employed, or enrolled.
By embedding career exploration into early elementary grades and partnering with Xello, Johnston County turned a state requirement into a district-wide catalyst. Today, the district is comprised of 50 schools—including nine traditional high schools, two early colleges, alternative academies, and a virtual school—while running one of the most comprehensive college and career readiness models in the state. Last year, middle school completion rates for career development tasks hit a record 90%, while overall district completion surged to 84%.
“Johnston County Public Schools was an early adopter of career development work,” said Reno Palombit, Director of Career and Technical Education for Johnston County Public Schools.
“In North Carolina, we have a state requirement for career development plans, but our work really predated that requirement. When 10th grade comes, there is a solid foundation there of a CDP.”
District
Location
The Challenge
The Solution
Starting early and making an impact
Staying ahead of mandates through early engagement
North Carolina law conditions an eighth grader’s promotion to high school on completing a CDP, with a mandatory revision required in tenth grade. Johnston County avoids the high-stakes scramble by expanding career learning across a student’s entire academic timeline.
The groundwork begins in elementary school. Using federal Title IV funds, the district introduces Xello to K–5 students, helping them build foundational career vocabulary, identify personal strengths, and recognize the direct link between classroom learning and future opportunities.
By sixth grade, students enter a structured scope and sequence inside Xello that guides them through to graduation. Each year, students complete self-assessments, explore career profiles, set personal goals, and refine their postsecondary plans. To keep career reflection accurate, as students mature, the district automatically resets Xello’s Matchmaker assessment before tenth grade, allowing students to re-evaluate their interests with fresh eyes.
Connecting course registration directly to career goals
Several of Johnston County’s traditional high schools use Xello’s Course Planner to manage high school course registration directly. Palombit says bringing registration into Xello creates an immediate visual connection between a student’s daily schedule and their long-term aspirations.
“Using Course Planner for registration in the same platform where students sign up for classes and research careers, colleges, military enlistment, and apprenticeship opportunities creates a psychological link that should result in more intentional course selection,” Palombit said.
For school counselors and district administrators, the operational advantages are significant:
- Tighter control over course codes: North Carolina strictly monitors statewide course codes. Registering students through Xello prevents outdated codes from entering student schedules, eliminating administrative errors that previously required mid-semester corrections and disrupted teacher grade books.
- Direct communication and visibility: Counselors review student course requests right alongside their saved career profiles and goals. When a course cannot run, counselors can pull targeted lists in Xello and message affected students directly within the platform to select an alternative.
- Adaptable course catalogs: The district replaced static PDF curriculum guides with Xello’s interactive course catalog, giving families up-to-date course descriptions and requirements.
The Results
Data-driven accountability drives district success
To maintain momentum across 50 campuses, Johnston County established explicit completion standards tied to each grade level. Standardized tracking in Xello transformed district reporting from informal check-ins into actionable data.
“Tying those standards to specific grade levels has made looking at the data, interpreting the data, and having educators at the school look at that data much easier,” Palombit said.
“Data can drive action. When we provide this data to principals, they can see where their school falls. Principals by nature are competitive… that in itself provides a source of motivation for schools to follow through.”
Schools adapt implementation to fit their unique schedules, using homeroom advisory periods, dedicated remediation windows, or embedding Xello activities into core classes like social studies. When completion numbers flag, principals and district coordinators use Xello’s reports to diagnose barriers and adjust strategies.
Expanding horizons for lasting impact
As Johnston County continues to refine its career readiness model, the district is rolling out Xello’s Work-Based Learning and Financial Literacy modules to support the superintendent’s keystone college, career, and life readiness initiative.
The Work-Based Learning feature brings regional employers directly onto student screens, showcasing local companies, guest speakers, job shadowing, and internship opportunities. For many students, this direct exposure opens doors to high-wage local careers they had never considered.
“A lot of times students only know the careers and the jobs within their immediate social circle,” Palombit noted.
“Expanding their horizons and helping them see the breadth of careers that are available to them—that they can access with different degrees of education and training after high school—is life-changing.”
Johnston County’s results reflect an active, sustained commitment, supported by monthly strategic alignment meetings with Xello, dedicated career development coordinators, and ongoing educator training.
“There is never a silver bullet in education, particularly with EdTech,” Palombit said.
“What you put into it is what you get out of it. Part of our success has been the time, effort, and attention that we poured into Xello and supporting the initiatives of career development planning. It’s been a very worthwhile investment.”
About the district
