By Marc L. Stein, Jay Plasman, Rachel E. Durham, and Zyrashae Smith-Onyewu

Given the general push to promote college and career readiness, more and more researchers and policymakers have turned to career and technical education (CTE) as a potential means to promote these desired schooling outcomes.

This research, which was offered in December 2023 as part of the Research Series at the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center, used a unique selection process into CTE Centers within Baltimore City Public Schools. Students who were offered enrollment in a selective admissions CTE center were compared to students who were offered enrollment in non-selective high schools. The results offer causal evidence on the benefits and mechanisms of CTE participation on secondary education, postsecondary enrollment/persistence, and labor market outcomes.