Parents and students alike will benefit from this year’s College and Career Readiness Fair, hosted by Suffolk Public Schools.

Set for 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at King’s Fork Middle School, the fair will feature nearly two dozen institutions of higher education, as well as military recruiters, along with 18 workshops and exhibits by Pruden Center students.

“We want students and parents to better understand the possibilities in high school and after graduation,” said division spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw. “Families will then be better equipped to consider the options.”

Options for students may include taking academically challenging classes in high school; earning an associate’s degree while in high school through the Dual Enrollment program; or applying to a program such as International Baccalaureate, Project Lead the Way for engineering or biomedical sciences or the Governor’s School for the Arts.

This is the fourth year of the college and career readiness fair, Bradshaw said. Registration is approaching 600, including both students and parents.

“The earlier that students see the big picture, the more likely they are to be motivated to succeed in school,” Bradshaw said. “When they have the information about what it will take to get into their dream college or to be ready for their dream career, they can ask for guidance on what steps they need to take along the way to reach that goal.”

Parents also are encouraged to attend, as they have a lot to gain as well, Bradshaw said.

“Despite the tendency of most teenagers to discount parental advice, parents are still one of the biggest influences in a student’s education and career planning choices during middle and high school,” Bradshaw said. “Parents need to be armed with the right information to guide their children.”

Each visitor will have the chance to attend four workshops. High school topics include Suffolk Public Schools’ various advanced programs, as well as Dual Enrollment, Advanced Placement and honors classes and advice from current high school students.

Workshops on college and career topics include finding your college fit, taking standardized tests, paying for college, playing college sports, perspectives from college students, pathways to careers, choosing a high-demand career, tips on resume writing and more.

The event is being supported by the Suffolk Education Foundation.

Call 925-6752 for more information on the fair. Advance online registration is strongly recommended at www.eventbrite.com.

Colleges and organizations on site will include Art Institute of Virginia Beach, Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Bennett College, Christopher Newport University, Chowan University, East Carolina University, Elizabeth City State University, George Mason University, Hampton University, Liberty University, Longwood University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Paul D. Camp Community College, Randolph College, Regent University, Riverside School of Health Services, Suffolk Education Foundation, Tidewater Community College, Towson University and the U.S. Armed Forces.