The Ames Community School District is rolling out a new program to prepare students for life after high school by curating job experiences and elevating academic success.
Ames Superintendent Scott Grimes introduced the new education framework to the Ames NAACP at the Ames Public Library on May 28.
Grimes presented his educational plan, called “PK and Beyond.” The framework, which is Grimes’ own creation, is partially implemented at Ames schools and aims to achieve “excellence for every student, ensuring that all learners are prepared not only for academic success but also for lifelong learning and future opportunities,” according to ACSD’s website.
PK and Beyond targets Ames students at all phases of their educational career — from elementary, to middle and finally high school. The program progresses through three learning tiers focused on helping Ames students gain experience and knowledge of career opportunities that will follow them past their time in the Ames school system.
The problem and plan
During the meeting, Grimes acknowledged that, while high school graduation rates have remained high, college graduation rates are dropping, with students leaving after their sophomore and freshman years. This framework plans to expedite this issue by getting students ready not just academically, but also preparing them for what comes after they walk across the stage.
Grimes explained to the NAACP that, following the program, students will be granted two transcripts upon graduation: one that’s academically based and the other that’s experience based. The program hopes to provide students with experience opportunities to fill this transcript. Grimes plans to accomplish this through collaboration with local partners and groups.
These collaborations were started over the course of the 2025-26 school year. The district provided students with exploratory experiences with the help of community collaborators. All Ames fifth-grade students were welcomed to Iowa State University for career learning opportunities ranging from turf management to videography. All eighth graders spent time exploring jobs at DMACC based on a vocational survey. These opportunities, though, do face hurdles, Grimes said.
Hurdles to cross
Funding for PK and Beyond faces challenges. The seventh-grade trip to Iowa State cost $7,000. While much of the support for this trip came from community and non-profit donations, funding is needed to provide PK and Beyond with all available resources, including transportation and staffing, to achieve the goals they’ve set. The issue that is still being workshopped.
Grimes and PK and Beyond will continue their work through the 2026-27 school year, starting with a continuation of career lectures every Monday for high school students during the lunch hour. For more information on PK and Beyond is available on the Ames Community School District website.
