In too many American high schools, some students are disengaging. Not all—many thrive—but a meaningful subset drifts through classes without relevance or purpose. Parents see it in flagging motivation and spotty attendance. Teachers feel it in the slow fade of attention and effort.
This isn’t merely a classroom issue; it’s a civic one. When some students lose faith in the value of their education, the thread that ties personal growth to contribution frays. The remedy isn’t more worksheets or a longer school day. It’s making learning real, relevant, and rooted in the world they’re entering.
The CTE Advantage
Career and Technical Education (CTE) is more than vocational training. It’s a proven, hands-on approach to learning that integrates academic knowledge with technical skills, preparing students for both college and careers. Programs range from welding and cosmetology to digital media, medical assisting, and HVAC maintenance. CTE doesn’t lower standards; it raises expectations by making learning visible and meaningful.
Stephanie Lund, principal of Paul Revere Academy in Mesa, Arizona, has seen firsthand how CTE transforms students. One student, chronically absent and unmotivated in traditional classes, found purpose in automotive technology. His attendance improved. So did his grades—across the board. The change wasn’t accidental. It was the product of learning that connected head, heart, and hands.
Relevant Learning in Real Contexts
CTE revitalizes core academics by showing students why they matter. When culinary students measure ingredients, they apply fractions. When aspiring medical assistants take blood pressure, they engage with anatomy and biology. As Lund noted, one math teacher at her school posts examples of how various professions use mathematics, reinforcing the message that school is not separate from life.
This alignment between curriculum and career isn’t just intuitive—it’s effective. Research from the U.S. Department of Education confirms that students who participate in CTE programs graduate at higher rates than their peers. A 2019 report by the American Institutes for Research found that students concentrating in CTE were 7 percentage points more likely to graduate high school on time than non-CTE peers.
Purpose Leads to Perseverance
Disengaged students often ask, “Why am I learning this?” CTE answers that question with clarity. Students see how their classes connect to future jobs, how internships might translate into employment, and how certifications can offer both immediate and long-term economic value. This sense of purpose fosters perseverance.
Lund shared the story of a student pursuing a future in psychology who first earned a cosmetology certificate. Not only did it give her a flexible, income-generating skill, but it also aligned with her deeper goal of helping others. That kind of strategic thinking doesn’t come from sitting passively in a classroom. It comes from active, applied learning that respects students’ agency.
The Role of Industry and Community
CTE thrives when it’s tied to real-world opportunities. Strong partnerships between schools and local industries are not luxuries; they’re necessities. These relationships ensure that students graduate with skills employers need and that employers have access to competent, prepared workers. From apprenticeships to job shadowing, these collaborations help entire communities flourish.
At institutions like the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), where Paul Revere Academy is located, students receive priority interviews and internship placements. This is not charity; it’s strategic investment. As Lund put it, when students work part-time during high school in skilled roles, they learn professional norms, communication skills, and responsibility—foundational elements of good citizenship.
Beyond the Diploma
CTE programs don’t just give students a diploma—they give them direction. And in a system often preoccupied with college admissions statistics, that direction matters. It empowers students to choose paths that fit their strengths and aspirations, whether that means entering the workforce, pursuing higher education, or both.
At Paul Revere Academy, students begin career exploration in ninth grade. By sophomore year, many are already enrolled in certification programs. This early exposure enables some to graduate with not one, but two industry-recognized credentials—tuition free. For families seeking educational experiences that honor individual dignity and practical success, CTE offers a compelling model.
A Conservative Case for CTE
CTE embodies key principles of American conservatism: local control, personal responsibility, and a free-market response to educational need. It relies on strong family-school partnerships, promotes self-reliance, and respects the dignity of all work. Most importantly, it restores a sense of purpose to students too often written off as disengaged or disinterested.
In our recent podcast conversation with Stephanie Lund, we explored how schools like hers are blending rigorous academics with technical education to foster both character and competence. Her stories show what’s possible when we stop separating education from experience and start inviting students into meaningful work.
The Founders believed in education as preparation for responsible citizenship. CTE revives that vision by equipping students not just to know, but to do. In doing so, it lights the way for a generation ready to serve, build, and lead.
Internal link suggestions
- career exploration in high school
- hands-on learning benefits
- student engagement strategies
- soft skills for career readiness
Further reading
- Career and Technical Education: Current Status and Research Needs — U.S. Department of Education (2019): https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED602145.pdf
- Building Better Programs: Linking Career and Technical Education to Student Success — American Institutes for Research (2019): https://www.air.org/sites/default/files/downloads/report/Linking-CTE-to-Student-Success-2019.pdf