How Connections Academy Prepares Students for Careers in Business

October 13, 2025 byPhil Davidson

5 min to read

Jobs in business are not only growing, they’re growing faster than in most other fields.

So, it’s no surprise that more and more Connections Academy students are interested in pursuing a business career.

To help prepare these students to land jobs and be successful, Connections Academy-supported schools provide a unique set of Career and College Readiness offerings to help them explore employment options, build useful skills, develop confidence, and even make professional connections before graduation day.

What Business Career Pathways Does Connections Academy Offer?

Every Connections Academy school offers students ways to prepare for a career in business. Many schools have combined these options and added others to create a comprehensive College and Career Readiness offering, which gives students the opportunity to take special business-oriented electives, learn practical skills valued by employers, earn and display job-ready credentials, begin building a network of potential employers and mentors, and more.

Partnerships that Help Students Prepare for Business Careers

Connections Academy has relationships with a wide range of best-in-class organizations and companies that offer students numerous ways to prepare for success in the business world.

FBLA Partnership and Benefits

FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) is the largest business career and technical student organization in the country. Connections Academy has partnered with FBLA to help students explore careers in business as well as information technology.

FBLA helps students gain valuable leadership, communication, collaboration, and career-specific skills that are valued by today’s employers. Whether students have a clear idea of what they want to do after high school or are just starting to figure out their goals, taking part in FBLA can give them insight into business careers.

Credly Badges for Skill Recognition

Credly is an online platform that enables many Connections Academy students to earn digital badges for skills, knowledge, and achievements—and highlight them on their resumes and professional sites such as LinkedIn.

These industry-recognized badges make students’ credentials more visible to potential employers, providing concrete evidence of their capabilities and opening new opportunities. Students can earn badges in Leadership, Communication and Collaboration, Time Management, and more

Coursera Professional Certificates

Coursera is a leading online learning platform that works with some of the world’s best employers, businesses, and universities to create educational content. Users can take courses and earn professional certificates from top employers.

With Coursera, many of our students have the chance to earn entry-level professional certificates in a wide variety of subjects, including cybersecurity, data analytics, project management, digital marketing, and more.

Home Depot’s Path to Pro Program

Looking for a hands-on, high-demand career that can lead to starting your own business? Home Depot’s Path to Pro program offers free training and direct connections to employers in the skilled trades, from electrical and carpentry to plumbing and masonry.

This program is a great way to gain essential skills, access apprenticeships, earn while you learn, and explore entrepreneurial opportunities.

Collaborations with Higher Education

For those students who want to attend college and have concerns about the cost, Connections Academy has partnered with colleges and universities such as Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) to help make college more accessible and affordable.

SNHU is an accredited, highly regarded university in Manchester, New Hampshire, that serves more than 200,000 students—80,000 of whom attend classes fully online. Our collaboration with SNHU provides our students and others with a 15% tuition discount for online degree programs, plus waived application fees.

How Partnerships Complement Classroom Learning

In essence, these partnerships bridge the gap between traditional classroom learning and the demands of the modern workforce. They provide students with a wide range of opportunities for career exploration, skill development, and real-world experience.

Many are able to start building a professional network and find mentors even before they graduate high school.

How Our Curriculum Builds Business Career Readiness

Connections Academy schools allow high school students to tailor their education to include a variety of business-oriented electives along with traditional courses needed for graduation.

These specialized electives have real-world business applications and cover topics such as marketing, accounting, entrepreneurship, business technology, sports management, and international business. Keep in mind that not all Connections Academy schools offer the same courses and electives.

In addition, online learning at Connections Academy helps develop many business-ready skills such as digital literacy, problem solving, time management, and the ability to collaborate with others.

Developing Business Skills Through Experience

Internships and apprenticeships for high school students are more popular than ever, and for good reasons. They help students explore careers, gain real-world experience, develop job skills, and strengthen their resume—all while still in school.

Many Connections Academy schools help students get internships and apprenticeships through career programs, trade partnerships, and support from experienced school counselors.

Here to Help Build Your Future

Today’s world is complicated, challenging, and filled with opportunity. At Connections Academy, we help students see this opportunity and gain the skills, experience, and confidence necessary to take advantage of it.

Ready to get to work building your career in business? We’re ready to help. Speak with an enrollment specialist to learn more about making online school a possibility for your family.