ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Albemarle County public school students can start planning for the futures as early as middle school.

ACPS and UVA’s Equity Center received $650,000 to support their Starr Hill Pathways program.

Starr Hill Pathways began last year with 100 students. It helps them explore different interests and careers.

Daphne Keiser, who works in the school and community engagement department for ACPS, said starting in middle school gives kids time.

"It's important to start early so students can have diverse experiences and be able to go really go deeper and pursue something at the high school level," she said.

This summer, the enrollment for Starr Hill Pathways will double to almost 200 kids.

Any ACPS middle school student is eligible to join.