Exploratory programs are available to students at South East Junior High and Northwest Junior High. The goals of the program are to provide students with information about careers and develop employability skills. Students are provided opportunities in business education, driver's education, home economics, industrial technology, auto mechanics, and home construction. Students not only learn skills but they are able to apply those skills at a local worksite or in a lab on campus. The focus of instruction is not only occupationally specific skills but also job seeking and job keeping skills.
Technology plays a key role in the vocational education curriculum.
Students are provided with unique opportunities in vocational education to explore the real world through internships and job shadowing opportunities. Students develop leadership skills and compete at the state and national levels through their participation in vocational student organizations. The Home Construction program builds a house in the Iowa City community each year. Students from home economics and business education also participate in the project. All participating students may compete for scholarships generated from the sale of the house.