Portrait of A Graduate

In Kearney School District, the Portrait of a Graduate initiative serves as our “North Star,” articulating the essential competencies every student should graduate with. Through an inclusive development process led by the Department of Academic Services, stakeholders across the districts, including students, educators, families, business partners and board members, collaborated to create a unified vision for student success.

From this collaboration, the committee identified nine core characteristics that define a KSD graduate: growth mindset, goal-mindedness, adaptability, perseverance, visionary thinking, lifelong learning, engagement, creative thinking, and solution-focus. 

These competencies guide curriculum design, instructional strategies, and real-world learning experiences, ensuring every learner develops the skills, literacies, and mindsets needed for college, career, and community.

By embedding the Portrait of A Graduate framework across classrooms and programs, KSD fosters coherent, student-centered learning pathways that prepare all students for an ever-changing world. Explore the different elements of the portrait to see how these competencies come to life and drive our collective commitment to educational excellence.