What is a WV Ready Graduate?

The world is changing quickly, economically and socially, and West Virginia students must be Ready to meet these changes. The knowledge and skills required to succeed twenty years ago are drastically different from those required today. This fact requires all of us -educators, families, community members, and business leaders- to work together to ensure that West Virginia students are Ready and prepared for the world after graduation.

The Education Alliance partnered with Leadership West Virginia to convene a Working Group of educators, business leaders, families and students to examine today’s job environment and create a snapshot or “portrait” of a well-prepared, future-ready high school graduate. The Portrait of a WV Ready Graduate is not a strategic plan. It is a "north star" that provides a unified vision for ensuring that all West Virginia students are ready.

This group determined that WV Ready Graduates should posses the following characteristics: 

World Class Knowledge
Reading and math
Essential knowledge of the arts, social studies, STEM, and world languages
Career awareness
Financial literacy

College & Career Skills
Verbal and non-verbal communication
Teamwork and collaboration
Innovative problem solving and creativity
Organization and self-direction
Career appropriate technical & computer skills

Life Characteristics
Ready to learn, fail, and improve
Flexible and adaptable
Self-aware and confident
Inclusive and open-minded
Strong work ethic, perseverance, and grit
Civic engagement
Habits of wellness

The WV Ready Educator Playbook is a set of easy to understand, step-by-step instructions for Educators on how to get the West Virginia Ready Graduate started in your district and ideas for implementing it within the classroom. 

Businesses can positively impact West Virginia Students by hosting interns for our WV Ready Summer Internship program or by partnering with their local school district to provide expertise and support. 

The road to becoming a well-rounded and Ready Graduate starts here. If you’re interested in the WV Ready Graduate and want to take steps towards readiness on your own, click here for a step-by-step guide to becoming West Virginia Ready.