Bow High School, located in the scenic town of Bow, New Hampshire, serves approximately 640 students and is known for its commitment to student success and innovation. When the district sought to modernize its college and career readiness (CCR) initiatives, they made the strategic decision to transition from Naviance to SchooLinks. This case study explores how the transition has improved student engagement, streamlined processes, and empowered both students and staff with a more intuitive and comprehensive platform.

The Need for Change

Bow High School had been using Naviance for many years to support students' post-secondary planning. However, over time, the platform’s limitations became increasingly evident. The counseling team found themselves using additional tools to fill gaps, leading to inefficiencies and fragmented student support.

When SchooLinks was introduced to the district, it became clear that it could offer a more modern and adaptable solution that aligned with Bow High School's evolving needs. The platform provided an all-in-one solution to track career readiness, streamline college applications, and introduce new functionalities, such as work-based learning (WBL) tracking and community service hours management.

"We were using Naviance less and less because technology evolves so quickly," said Kate Kulacz, Director of School Counseling. "When we saw SchooLinks, it offered everything we needed and more in one intuitive platform."

The Transition to SchooLinks

Switching from Naviance to SchooLinks was a significant move for Bow High School. The transition process was carefully planned to ensure a smooth implementation for both staff and students.

Key steps in the transition included:

• Customization of the Platform: The SchooLinks team worked closely with Bow High School to configure features that aligned with their curriculum and CCR goals.
• Onboarding & Training: Counselors and educators received hands-on training and resources to maximize the platform’s capabilities.
• Event Management: SchooLinks was used right away to manage a large college fair, providing a seamless way to invite colleges and communicate logistics in real time.

"The implementation was smooth, and the support from SchooLinks was outstanding. We were able to jump in and immediately start using the platform for critical events," Kate shared.

Impact of SchooLinks at Bow High School

Since implementing SchooLinks, Bow High School has experienced several benefits:

1. Simplified College Planning
   • Students now have a user-friendly, step-by-step planner that helps them track applications, manage deadlines, and easily request letters of recommendation from teachers.
   • Counselors can monitor application progress with real-time insights, reducing administrative workload.
2. Enhanced Work-Based Learning (WBL)
   • SchooLinks enables students to log their community service and career exploration hours digitally, eliminating paper forms and improving tracking accuracy.
   • The district can now efficiently manage internships and partnerships with local employers.
3. Increased Student Engagement
   • With SchooLinks’ intuitive design, students find it easier to navigate their CCR journey and stay on top of to-do lists.
   • Freshmen and sophomores were introduced to the platform early in the school year, and adoption has been seamless.
4. Improved Collaboration
   • Teachers, counselors, and administrators can work together more effectively with centralized access to student progress and CCR data.
   • The platform’s event management capabilities have enabled smoother coordination for college and career fairs.

Advice for Other Districts Considering SchooLinks

Kate Kulacz emphasizes the importance of taking the time to customize the platform to fit the district’s needs.

"One of the key pieces of advice I would give is to focus on setting up the Scope and Sequence feature. It allows you to plan student engagement step by step, ensuring they get the right information at the right time."

She also recommends implementing SchooLinks gradually by integrating it with existing processes before expanding to new features.

Looking Ahead

Bow High School continues to explore the full potential of SchooLinks, including expanding its use in career exploration and personalized learning initiatives. The district is confident that with SchooLinks, they have a future-proof solution that will grow alongside their needs.

"We’re excited to continue discovering more ways to use SchooLinks to better support our students and prepare them for success after high school."

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