Career Academies were found to have potentially positive effects on completing school

Career Academies were developed more than 30 years ago as a dropout prevention strategy for youth considered most at risk of dropping out of high school. Students in Career Academies take both career-related and academic courses and acquire work experience through partnerships with local employers. Since their inception, Career Academies have broadened the kinds of students they serve, integrated rigorous academic curricula with career themes, and now attract students who are preparing for postsecondary education.

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) identified one study of Career Academies that falls within the scope of the Dropout Prevention topic area and meets WWC group design standards. This study meets WWC group design standards without reservations. The study included between 1,379 and 1,454 students (depending on outcome) who applied to an academy before their ninth- or tenth-grade years. Academies were located in eight urban areas in six states.

The WWC considers the extent of evidence for Career Academies on the educational attainment of high-school aged youth to be small for three outcome domains—completing school, staying in school, and progressing in school. Career Academies were found to have potentially positive effects on completing school.