What Do You Learn in High School That Prepares You For the Real World?

High school sometimes feels like non-stop assignments that have nothing to do with real life. You might be wondering how anything you learn in your classes could help you in your time after high school. Does high school matter?

But here’s the thing: high school isn’t just about textbooks, essays, and grades. It’s about getting skills and knowledge that will set you up for success in the real world, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. 

➡️ More on why high school is important.

Let’s take a closer look at what high school actually teaches you and why it matters. 

What Does High School Teach You?

High school covers subjects like math, science, language arts, and social studies, but these subjects don’t only matter during your time in class. They form the building blocks of your education and lay the foundation of your future endeavors. 

Take math, for example. It’s not just about solving equations and learning formulas. Math helps you learn critical thinking and problem solving skills, which are needed in many careers and in your everyday life. It matters in your own life, as you learn to balance your finances, and it matters in your future jobs, as you’ll need math to make the most of resources. 

Beyond math, subjects like language arts, science, and social studies teach you important things about human history and how society functions, not to mention communication skills and deductive reasoning.

But what about the things that you learn in high school that don’t fit neatly into just one subject? 

6 Skills You Learn in High School That Can’t Be Graded: 

How to Find What You’re Passionate About 

High school is a time of exploration, where you can try out different subjects, clubs, and activities to find what you’re really interested in. Finding what you’re passionate about early on in your life can help you look for careers that match your passions, setting you up for a fulfilling professional life. 

Time Management Skills

High school can be a juggling act. Between homework, jobs, and family commitments, you’ve got a lot to make room in your schedule for. Keeping high school on your list of responsibilities will help you learn how to prioritize your learning and professional development. Learning to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and make the most of your time is a skill that will serve you well in any career or life situation. This sets you up for success in balancing work and other responsibilities outside of school. 

How to Interact With People From Different Backgrounds

High school brings a unique group of people together in one space. Having access to so many different perspectives and worldviews can help you develop empathy, make friends you may not have met otherwise, and gain a greater understanding of your community. Investing in learning different perspectives will set you up well for your social and professional life outside of high school as well. 

How to Adapt to Different Situations and Subjects

Within a given day, you might go to three or more different classes with different subject matters and teaching styles, then go to work in a job with its own processes and personalities. Having the experience of “switching gears” in your mind and adapting to different contexts is an invaluable skill you can use for the rest of your life. 

How to Advocate for Yourself 

High school is the perfect place to learn how to stand up for yourself. Whether it’s asking for help, seeking academic or emotional support, or advocating for your needs, learning to speak up and assert yourself is a skill that will empower you throughout your life.

Leadership 

High school offers opportunities to take on leadership roles, whether it’s leading a group project or organizing a club event. These experiences allow you to develop leadership skills, such as communication, teamwork, and decision-making, which are highly valued in the real world. You can take these leadership skills into your job as well and help train new hires or lead shifts. 

Get Real-World Skills: Attend Acceleration Academies 

At Acceleration Academies, we understand the importance of equipping students with not only academic knowledge but also practical skills for success. We offer a different way to do high school, with courses set at your own pace and a hybrid format that gives unmatched schedule flexibility.

Our career coaching program offers 1:1 coaching with a life and career coach to help you find the right career path for you after graduation. 

If you’re looking to further develop your real-world skills and earn your high school diploma, Acceleration Academies could be a fit for you. Our programs provide individualized attention, mentorship, and career preparation opportunities to help you thrive beyond graduation.

There are so many things you can learn in high school that prepare you for the real world. If you’re ready to talk to us directly, request more information here. 

You can start your application at any time. Apply today!