Effectiveness
Career Academies were found to have potentially positive effects on staying in school, potentially positive effects on progressing in school, and no discernible effects on completing school for those youth most at-risk of dropping out prior to the intervention. The Career Academies served a more heterogeneous population, and the results for the high-risk youth may not be independent of their participation in the intervention with youth less at risk of dropping out.
Program Information
Career Academies are school-within-school programs operating in high schools. They offer career-related curricula based on a career theme, academic coursework, and work experience through partnerships with local employers.
Research
One study of Career Academies met What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) evidence standards. This randomized controlled trial included 474 youth who were predicted to be most at-risk of dropping out of high school prior to the intervention. The Academies were located in eight urban areas in six states.
