For districts
Middle school career exploration for your whole district
Last reviewed: October 2026
The short answer. Betabox helps districts give every student in a middle school grade a hands-on STEM career experience without leaving campus. A 35-foot mobile lab comes to each school, Betabox Guides run every session, and CareerStack™ software carries the experience forward with reflection surveys, digital badges, and Career Opportunities. CareerStack™ is included for the whole district when the district budget funds at least one Onsite Field Trip day.
Reach a full grade in a few days
Each school day serves up to 125 students in sessions of up to 25 students, about 55 minutes each. Most schools book 2 to 3 days to reach a full grade. Students code robots, fly drones, and build circuits, with no bus required. Each topic has a version for elementary, middle, and high school, and every experience connects to curriculum standards. See what an Onsite Field Trip day looks like.
Plan it across schools with a Blueprint
A Betabox Blueprint is your plan for Betabox: the schools, the number of days, and the dates you want. District leaders use the Blueprint to schedule every middle school in one plan and to share it with the board, grant makers, and partners. Start from the districts page.
Carry it past the day with CareerStack™
CareerStack™ is career exploration software with reflection surveys, digital badges, and Career Opportunities. It is included with district-funded Onsite Field Trips.
- Reflection surveys ask students what they did and what interested them.
- Digital badges can go into the career portfolios students already use, such as NC Careers and Xello.
- Career Opportunities connect students with local employers and colleges, including job shadows, internships, and apprenticeships. More than 125 Career Opportunities are listed.
Fund it with the sources you already have
Perkins V allows career exploration in the middle grades, which federal law defines as grades 5 through 8. Title funds can also pay for visits. A Betabox funding strategist helps you combine your budget, federal funds, grants, and local industry partners. See how schools pay and the Perkins V and Title funds guide.
Proof you can share
The Vela Institute, an independent evaluator, studied our field trips. Student content knowledge rose from 41% to 53% after one visit, and 96% of educators were satisfied. Since 2015, Betabox has served more than 125,000 students in more than 1,000 schools. Read the evaluation.
Best fit
- Districts in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee, or Alabama that want every student in a grade to get the same hands-on career experience, with data and follow-up for the district.
Another option may fit better when
- You only need one classroom for one day. A single school booking through /book/educator may be simpler.
- You want a lab your own staff run every day. See mobile lab service or district-owned trailer.
- You are outside the Southeast. Onsite Field Trips are not available in your area yet.
Questions about middle school career exploration
- Which grades does Betabox serve?
- Grades 4 through 12. Each topic has a version for elementary, middle, and high school.
- How many days does it take to reach a whole grade?
- Up to 125 students take part each day. To reach a full grade, most schools book 2 to 3 days.
- Do students leave campus?
- No. The lab comes to your school and parks in your lot. There are no buses to book and no permission slips for an off-campus trip.
- What do teachers need to prepare?
- Nothing for the day itself. Betabox Guides run every session and bring all equipment and materials. Teachers get resources to extend the learning in class.
- Can we use Perkins V funds for middle school?
- Often, yes. Perkins V allows career exploration activities in the middle grades, which federal law defines as grades 5 through 8. Your local needs assessment and state rules decide what is allowed.
- Who gets CareerStack™?
- When a district budget funds at least one Onsite Field Trip day from its Blueprint, the whole district gets full access to CareerStack™ for students in grades 4 through 12.