Are There Academic CTE Cluster Pipelines? Linking High School CTE Coursetaking and Postsecondary Credentials.

Abstract

Career and technical education (CTE) has become a key focus of stakeholders across the political spectrum. It has been shown to be an effective means of promoting many desired outcomes, including increased chances of high school graduation, improved opportunities of enrolling in advanced math and science courses, and increased earnings after high school. An overlooked area is the direct connection between high school CTE coursetaking in a given cluster and confirmation of a postsecondary education (PSE) credential in that same CTE cluster. This study explores that connection. Through our analyses, we found significant relationships between specific CTE clusters in high school and eventually receiving a PSE credential in that same cluster. This clustered approach coupled with the observed differences in clustered connections shows the importance of evaluating CTE not solely as a single unit, but as a group of specific clusters as well.