What Is Career & Technical Education (CTE) ?
Today’s cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant Career and Technical Education (CTE) prepares youth and adults for a wide range of high-wage, high-skill, high-demand careers. Nationwide, Career Technical Education (CTE) programs are changing, evolving and innovating to better serve the country’s needs. CTE is preparing students of all ages to help drive America’s success and vitality. Further, it is creating an educational environment that integrates core academics with real-world relevance. CTE is leading this change, transforming expectations and making a difference for students, for secondary and post-secondary schools, for businesses and industry—for America.
Why should my student enroll in CTE?
High school students involved in CTE are more engaged, perform better and graduate at higher rates.
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Nearly 81% of dropouts say relevant, real-world learning opportunities would have kept them in high school.
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The average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs is 90.18%, compared to an average national freshman graduation rate of 74.9%.
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More than 70% of secondary CTE concentrators pursued post-secondary education shortly after high school.
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CTE serves 94% of all high school students, including male and female students, students from many races and ethnicity, and students from higher and lower income backgrounds. However, at the start of the 21st century, male students; students from smaller, lower income or rural schools; students who have disabilities; and students who enter high school with lower academic achievement were more likely to participate in secondary CTE at higher levels.
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Check out fast facts below, or learn more with our Fact Sheets, Issue Briefs, Career Readiness Series, Other Publications and State CTE Profiles.