CTE by the Numbers

The economy is changing—and education must change along with it in order to prepare students for success in the workforce. Career Technical Education (CTE) is one of the biggest and most promising trends in education for just that reason. In today’s tech-focused economy, specific skills training is becoming a necessity, along with broader problem-solving skills. CTE courses and programs are changing the face of education at both the secondary and post-secondary level because they provide this dual skills training. CTE keeps students engaged by connecting their education to the real-world experiences that will come after it, and it prepares them for in-demand careers.

But what do CTE courses actually encompass? And why all the hype about them? Let’s look at the numbers to understand:

Why it’s important

75% – Percentage of manufacturing companies who report a shortage in skilled workers with CTE-related training¹

293,000 – Number of job openings in skilled manufacturing¹

806,000 – Number of job openings in the trade, transportation, and utilities sector which require CTE-trained candidates¹

12 – Number of healthcare occupations addressed by CTE that are included in the list of 20 fastest-growing occupations¹

What it is

16 – Number of Career Clusters® that CTE courses prepare students for, including Architecture & Construction, Business Management & Administration, Health Science, Information Technology, and Manufacturing¹

79+ – Number of individual career pathways within the National Career Clusters® framework, including Accounting, Health Informatics, Programming & Software Development, Logistics & Inventory Control, and Engineering & Technology¹

46 – Number of states that have state-approved secondary CTE standards²

23 – Number of states with policies in place to foster CTE-employer partnership programs²

94% – Percentage of high school students currently enrolled in some type of CTE course or program¹

How it’s making a difference

90.18% –Average high school graduation rate for students concentrating in CTE programs, compared to the national average freshman graduation rate of 74.9%¹

80% – Percentage of students enrolled in CTE-focused college preparatory programs who met college and career readiness goals, compared to only 63% of students taking the same academic core without a rigorous CTE component¹ 

75% – Percentage of high school students concentrating in a CTE discipline who pursue post-secondary education²

43% – Percentage of young workers holding a CTE-related license or certificate who earn more than those holding an associate degree¹

$9,000 – Average amount more per year that students with a CTE-related associate’s degree or certificate earn, compared to those with a humanities or social science credential²

$16.40 – The return on each public dollar invested in Connecticut community colleges and their CTE programs over the course of students’ careers¹

As these statistics show, the results so far have been impressive, and these programs will only continue to grow. Edmentum is dedicated to staying at the forefront of the CTE movement, and we will expand our CTE offerings to over 70 courses by the 2015–2016 school year. Interested in learning more about how Edmentum can partner with your school or district to implement a successful CTE program? Check out this resource on our current course offerings.

¹ According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)

²According to the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc)