More high school graduates entering workforce, 2-year programs

More and more high school graduates are leaving traditional, four-year bachelor’s degree programs and instead opt for a two-year course or immediately after graduating into professional life.

According to the Indiana College Readiness Report 2021, the number of high school graduates attending any type of college declined nationwide from 65% in 2015 to 61% in 2018.

Indian Creek High School, which is part of a rural Johnson County district, and Whiteland Community High School, which is suburban, both saw decreases in the percentage of students getting a four-year degree despite student selection in What was different in these schools in due course came up with alternatives.

At Whiteland High School, 50% of students reported going to four-year college after graduating in 2016. For this year’s graduates, this number fell to 47%. However, the percentage of Whiteland graduates who went to college actually rose, with 19% of seniors saying they were going to two-year college, compared to 12% of the 2016 class, said Benji Betts, the school’s director.

Increased student interest in craft trades could be attributed to part of enrollment in two-year college programs, he said.

“For ourselves, we’re really trying to find out what the students are interested in,” said Betts. “I think part of where professions and training find their way are paths. Children are better prepared for the future. We try to help them find what interests them and what they will do when they finish school. “

Graduated from graduation paths that are required for every Indiana high school student in grade 2023 and beyond, students must not only meet credit requirements in core subjects such as math, science, and social studies, but also have one Complete project-based, service-based, or work-based experience that serves as evidence of employability. Pathways are likely to drive more students interested in jobs or two-year degrees with an emphasis on crafts after high school, Betts said.

At Indian Creek High School, the decline in students attending four-year colleges correlated with an increase in students entering professional life after high school. In 2016, 61% of seniors attended four-year college and 15% entered professional life. This year it was 54% and 22% respectively. The percentage of students opting for a two-year program stayed about the same, rising to 14% this year from 15% in 2016, school principal Luke Skobel said.

However, with 144 graduating students, the percentage change is about 10 students transitioning from four-year college to professional life. Indian Creek High School has added teachers in computer science, agriculture, and business to meet educational pathway demands.

Because of the cost of attending a four-year program, more students could enter working life after high school than college, Skobel said.

“I know students are given more emphasis or more information to ensure they make the right decision for them after high school,” she said. “For four-year universities and all post-secondary institutions, these costs go up quite a bit. We counsel our children to make sure they have a plan for what comes after high school. Parents are very wary of the costs associated with college. “

source https://collegeeducationnewsllc.com/more-high-school-graduates-entering-workforce-2-year-programs/