Study shows students in career-focused high school programs more likely to graduate

Denver, Col. — High school kids who take part in career-focused programs are more likely to graduate and continue their education in college, a new report shows.

A new study from the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Central shows students who take part in career and technical education (CTE) were more likely than those not concentrating in CTE programs to graduate on time and go on to college.

The student looked at 112,764 Nebraska and South Dakota students.

Among the findings:

High school graduation rates for CTE concentrators in Nebraska were 99.2% vs. 85.4% for non-CTE concentrators.

Two years after graduation, postsecondary enrollment rates for CTE concentrators in Nebraska were 75.6% vs. 64.5% for non-CTE concentrators.

Five years after graduation, postsecondary enrollment rates for CTE concentrators in Nebraska were 78.7% vs. 70.1% for non-CTE concentrators.

“There are a lot of positive results for local CTE programs to point to from this study, including CTE concentrators getting a faster start toward postsecondary education compared to their peers,” said the study’s lead author, Marc Brodersen in a news release. “There is a clear value in CTE programs, and state and local education agency leaders can consider the study results when deciding whether to fund, strengthen or expand CTE programming.”

The study takes a broad view of CTE to include high school classes that emphasize high-demand career fields.

The Nebraska Department of Education and the South Dakota Department of Education partnered with REL Central to look at both the short-term and longer-term educational impacts among students in Nebraska and South Dakota who become CTE concentrators, which is about half of students.

“CTE has always been an important part of education in Nebraska and has provided students with necessary academic, technical, and career readiness skills for postsecondary education and employment,” said Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matthew Blomstedt. “It is not surprising to see that CTE students excel both in the classroom and in their careers.”

The study finds many students are in human services and agriculture programs. Some schools offer everything from welding to health care to aviation.