Career and Technical Education Programs in Public School Districts: 2016–17

During the 2016–17 school year, 98 percent of public school districts offered CTE programs to students at the high school level.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a new report today (April 17), Career and Technical Education Programs in Public School Districts: 2016–17. This First Look introduces data from a 2016–17 Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) survey. The report provides nationally representative data on career and technical education (CTE) programs.

Key Findings based on the 98 percent of public school districts that offered CTE programs to students at the high school level in the 2016–17 school year:

• Districts reported that the following entities provided the CTE programs that the district offered: the district individually (77 percent of districts), area/ regional CTE centers or a group/consortium of school districts (54 percent of districts), 2-year community or technical colleges (46 percent of districts), and 4-year colleges or universities (11 percent of districts).
• Seventy-three percent of districts offered CTE courses for which students could earn both high school and postsecondary credit; 61 percent offered CTE courses in which students could earn high school credits in math, science, English/language arts, or social studies; and 30 percent offered online CTE courses, including blended/hybrid courses.
• Districts reported that the following were large or very large barriers to the district in offering CTE programs to high school students: lack of funding or high cost of programs (50 percent of districts), finding or keeping teachers for in-demand industries and occupations (44 percent of districts), and facilities or space limitations (43 percent of districts).