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There is no shortage of data to analyze when it comes to CTE, but which metrics are the most valuable for ensuring your program’s success?
Here are the 20 questions I recommend asking to get a clear view into your CTE program’s strengths and opportunities. Some of this data is also helpful for building engagement within your district and community.
- What is your enrollment?
This should, at minimum, be analyzed by grade, building, program, instructor, and course.
- How many industry credentials have students earned?
Analyze by grade, building, program, instructor, and current course enrollment.
- What is the average attendance of CTE students?
Are CTE students chronically absent from non-CTE courses? Or is CTE participation motivating students to improve their attendance?
- What is the demographic makeup of your CTE population?
This should include students receiving services: Special Education, languages, gifted, etc.
- What percentage of CTE students earn dual credit?
Be sure to analyze this population to include demographics and poverty status.
- What percentage of students enroll in post-secondary education?
Do students enroll while still in high school? And does their post-secondary education align with their CTE concentration?
- What percentage of students are getting professional work experience?
Once you have work-based learning well distributed across the programs of study, then you can evaluate the quality of those experiences.
- What percentage of students are earning credentials valued in your local community?
Are your programs aligned to the local labor market?
- What percentage of students are enrolled in advanced academic courses?
Knowing this can help combat misconceptions about the value of CTE for all students.
- What percentage of programs of study have aligned curriculum that is based on industry-validated technical standards with academic rigor?
Partnerships with area businesses provide critical feedback in this area.
- What percentage of the CTE programs of study have partnerships and experience opportunities?
Professional networking and on-the-job training are powerful draws for your CTE courses.
- What percentage of CTE students have certified professional skills?
Is the CTE program designed to intentionally certify students’ professional skills?
- What percentage of operating funds are invested in each program of study?
Include instructor salaries for a true ROI evaluation in each focus area.
- What percentage of CTE programs are completely free and fully accessible for all students?
Remember to factor in hidden costs like transportation, uniforms, and credentials.
- How many years of industry experience does the CTE staff have?
Analyze this experience by program so you can speak to the expertise within each field.
- How many hours of additional training and professional learning do the CTE staff earn annually?
Is it clear that your district is invested in the ongoing training of staff?
- What percentage of CTE staff understand why and how data is collected and use this data in supporting student success?
Have you visualized and narrated the data so the team understands and uses the data?
- What percentage of CTE planning meetings incorporate data to inform the work of the organization?
Working data into your regular discussions is the perfect way to get your team comfortable reading and using these metrics.
- What is each program of study’s retention rate?
And what are the demographics of those persisting within the program? Some groups may need more support to complete a course of study.
- What percentage of CTE students graduate on time with their selected cohort?
This data might inform how early you begin recruiting efforts, or how you’re measuring student risk.
The CTE application from SchoolData is designed to help you answer all your CTE questions. Contact us for a free demonstration.
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