Counseling

Opportunities for internships and apprenticeships are available for students entering into their second or third year of their selected career pathway.  Please visit our Work-Based Learning webpage for more information.   

CCIC industry partners believe traditional students lack essential workforce skills. While most high school students focus on academic subjects, they miss out on vital knowledge for smooth transitions into work and college. Commonly, graduates lack key workplace habits such as professionalism, reliability, collaboration, respect, communication, and a growth mindset. CCIC counselors collaborate with instructors to implement a grading policy that emphasizes these professional skills across all pathways. Students at CCIC gain technical skills for their careers while also developing the professional skills necessary for success in any work or college setting.

The military offers diverse career opportunities, whether driven by patriotism, adventure, or job stability. CCIC students gain valuable technical and professional skills that are transferable to military careers. Counselors collaborate with military recruiters to provide students with accurate information and support as they explore military enlistment.   For more on the enlistment process and military benefits, visit  www.usa.gov/join-military.

The service academies are federal institutions that provide an undergraduate education and train future commissioned officers for service in the United States Armed Forces. Applying to a Military Service Academy is a rigorous, highly-competitive, and lengthy process only for the most determined and qualified candidates.

If you are considering attending a military academy, we strongly recommend you meet with your home school counselor starting in 9th grade to begin the planning process.  Your CCIC Counselor will partner with your home school counselor to help support your progress along the way. 

Listed below are the five federal United States service academies:

o The United States Military Academy (USMA) located in West Point, NY

o The United States Naval Academy (USNA) located in Annapolis, MD

o The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) located in New London, CT

o The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) located in Kings Point, NY

o The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) located in Colorado Springs, CO

o United States Military Academy West Point Academy (USAWP) located in West Point, NY

Technical colleges are sometimes grouped with community colleges and four year universities; however, they are very different. Rather than receiving a general education that community colleges and four year universities offer, technical colleges provide students specialized training that prepares them for a specific trade or profession.

 At a technical college, you only take classes geared towards one specific career, rather than taking a wide range of general education classes. In addition, most technical college programs can be completed in two years. This means you won’t have extra expenses for books, labs, facilities, and other miscellaneous fees.

Community colleges, or junior colleges, offer two-year associate degrees, with programs that can either transfer to four-year institutions or prepare students for immediate employment. Attending a community college for the first two years allows students to complete basic courses at a lower cost, potentially reducing expenses when transferring to a four-year college. Many community colleges don’t have residential housing, enabling students to save money by living at home. Community colleges provide flexibility for students to explore career paths without the financial risk of committing to an expensive four-year program, where changing majors can lead to lost credits and costs. They also offer more evening and weekend classes, accommodating students who work; about 69% of community college students hold jobs while attending school.

At CCIC, counselors can assist students in deciding if community college is the right choice and help those with concurrent enrollment credits navigate the community college system

Public and private universities that offer bachelor’s degrees are four-year institutions where students usually complete their degree in about four years. To earn a bachelor’s degree, students need to complete around 120 credit hours of coursework. This includes general education classes, electives, and courses related to their major. 

For those seeking a traditional college experience, four-year universities provide a well-rounded education, helping students explore various fields of study. Research indicates that many entry level positions require a bachelor’s degree. By completing a degree at a four year college or university, you will have the academic skills needed for the demands of your career choice. Further, research indicates that employees who have graduated from a four year college or university tend to earn more money than students with associate's degrees or high school diplomas.

CCIC counselors are available to assist you with the college application process if a four-year college or university is the right fit for you.

At the CCIC, we often hear about career-specific scholarships that are different from the scholarships listed at our district high schools.  We post all scholarship information for current seniors to access in a senior group in Schoology. 

Nicholas LeClaire Memorial Scholarship: For CCIC seniors only, this $5000.00 scholarship can be used at any university, college, community college, trade school, or training program that our students intend to access after graduation. This scholarship application opens to current seniors each year in the spring semester.

We encourage all students seeking any kind of financial support for post-grad education to complete the FAFSA and CAFSA (For qualified Colorado ASSET students).

The CCIC offers Concurrent and Dual Enrollment courses, which offer students an opportunity to earn high school credit, while at the same time earn college credits in a variety of Career & Technical Education courses. Concurrent Enrollment courses are tuition-free courses that offer college credit at a local community college. Dual Enrollment courses offer students college credit at a local university, with a minimal fee for the student. All Concurrent and Dual Enrollment courses are taught by CCSD teachers who have been approved as adjunct professors by an accredited community college or university. MORE INFO

An industry certification is a credential recognized by business and industry at the local, state or national level. Industry certificates measure competency in an occupation and they validate the knowledge base and skills needed to demonstrate mastery in a particular industry.

Industry certifications allow prospective employees to showcase their mastery of the knowledge and skills that employers actively seek. Including industry certifications in an application portfolio can significantly enhance job prospects, marketability, and access to further education opportunities. For employers, these certifications provide tangible proof of a candidate's proficiency and capabilities. At the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus, we align our innovative curriculum with current industry standards. By aligning our curriculum to what industry and business partners are seeking, we are confident that our students will develop the professional standards needed to compete and succeed as they enter the workforce, college, and/or military.

Please visit the CCIC Course Guide to learn more about the Industry Certifications we offer in each career pathway. 

School counselors are essential in addressing students' social and emotional needs at the CCIC. They are specially trained to help students overcome issues that may hinder academic success, working alongside the school social worker to provide individualized support.

Due to the unique design of the CCIC, counselors also work in tandem with home high school counselors to ensure all social/emotional needs are being met while students are at the innovation campus.

How can you know your path without first identifying your destination? To achieve a goal, you must be clear about what you want and the targets you aim for. Specific questions yield specific answers, leading to behaviors that can help you reach meaningful goals.  At the CCIC, counselors recognize that students need structure and support when identifying and pursuing their individual goals.

Research shows that setting and achieving goals can enhance happiness and self-esteem. Satisfactory progress toward your goals contributes to positive emotions. Additionally, goal setting helps clarify strategies for achievement and can improve overall academic performance.

Counselors at the CCIC collaborate with teachers to assist students in developing realistic and meaningful goals.