The urgent need to build a strong pipeline of career-ready high school graduates is growing rapidly, just as more parents, students, and employers are questioning the value of traditional higher education.
Increasingly, employers in high-demand and high-growth industries are placing greater value on job-ready skills than on traditional college degrees. Yet the education pathways to these career fields are not keeping pace with the demand.
To prepare students for real-world success and meet the evolving demands of today’s economy, high schools must be intentionally designed with industry-specific focuses that reflect national labor trends and the unique needs of their local communities and regions, says this report from the American Enterprise Institute.
Specifically, the study suggests that the industry-specific high school model provides students with more than just a quality education—it gives them the chance to discover their passion, gain valuable hands-on experience, and develop the character and work ethic essential for long-term success in their careers and lives—all while providing prepared workers for high-demand and high-growth industries in America.
The beneficiaries of industry-specific high schools will include students, parents, employers, and communities—and ultimately, the country, the study concludes.