Post-Secondary Ready:Does the STEM curriculum Matter?

Abstract

A high quality STEM preparatory curriculum can help students develop foundational skills and knowledge they require to successfully pursue a variety of college majors and future careers. In particular, use of STEM-related curricula, such as the curriculum found in STEM schools and PLTW schools, has been recommended as a strategy for increasing students’ college readiness and reducing barriers to college entrance and success. The purpose of this study was to analyze students’ postsecondary Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) preparedness for entering academic and career pathways. The authors examined college and career readiness of students in grades 11-12 who attended: (a) schools implementing Project Lead the Way curriculum (PLTW schools), (b) Texas inclusive STEM high schools that do not implement PLTW curriculum (T-STEM schools), and (c) schools that do not implement any STEM curriculum or PLTW curriculum (non-STEM/non-PLTW schools). The results of this study indicated that T-STEM schools had the highest rate of student career readiness when compared to PLTW and non-PLTW/non-STEM schools. However, non-PLTW/non-STEM schools had the highest rate of student college readiness when compared to the other two school types. In addition, there was a statistically significant correlation between college readiness and career readiness. These findings lay the groundwork for educators to continue modifying educational curricula to support students’ academic readiness for their future careers.