Physical education can be a subject that students find challenging when they are given little autonomy. This article explores two high school case studies, in the UK and Australia respectively, where students were given a great deal of choice over their learning and assessment journeys. In the UK case study, a Sport England survey was used with…

This memorandum provides information on Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) course enrollment, exam participation, and exam performance during the 2023-2024 school year. During the 2023-2024 school year, 136 AP or IB courses were offered across high schools. Among the 25 comprehensive high schools, all offered AP courses,…

Despite the increasing demand for professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), only a small portion of young people in the USA pursue a postsecondary degree in STEM. To identify the major predictors of STEM participation, this study uses a machine learning approach, a Classification and Regression Tree (CART), to…

This study explored the math course taking patterns of Nebraska's secondary students from 2014-2020 using statewide data. Three course taking patterns were identified and examined. There are nuanced differences through these pathways based and race and gender. Student success through the pathways is dependent on course placement in the first year…

LGB individuals--those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual--are underrepresented in many careers. Our study explores differences in the CTE participation of LGB students compared to heterosexual peers during high school. Using nationally representative longitudinal data, we examine differences in high school CTE coursetaking by LGB…

This study aims to examine whether recent educational attempts to prepare students for the future can open up the future, using South Korea's 'high school credit system' as an example. To provide differentiated instruction that recognizes differences and maximizes students' potential, the Korean government recently launched a 'high school credit…

This study addressed teachers' perceptions of barriers faced by inner-city African American high school female students in STEM courses. This qualitative descriptive study examined STEM teachers' perceptions of barriers inner-city African American female students encounter when enrolled in STEM courses. The research questions addressed STEM…

Pundits, politicians, and academics have long worried about potentially low rates of civic participation among STEM-oriented students. Does studying STEM actually decrease the odds that young people will be actively involved in democracy? To answer this question, we created a dataset of over 23 million students in the United States, matched to…

Previous research has linked student participation in Career and Technical Education (CTE) to a variety of factors, including student and family demographic characteristics. Less attention has been paid to how students' attitudes -- including their perceptions of the value of CTE courses -- impact interest in CTE course-taking. Results of the…

This research explores the effect of orientation advice (OA), which is an instrument aimed at supporting pupils during their first transition from middle to high school. We investigate whether being 'ambitious' (i.e. rejecting OA and choosing a more challenging track) influences grade 9 retention probability. Data from 28 schools from Piacenza…

Background: The landscape of education is increasingly recognizing the impactful role of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs in preparing students for the workforce. In Delaware, the implementation of CTE programs has been substantial, offering students opportunities to earn college credits, attain industry certifications, and gain…

This memorandum provides information on Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) course enrollment, exam participation, and exam performance during the 2022-2023 school year. During the 2022-2023 school year, 129 AP or IB courses were offered across high schools. Among the 25 comprehensive high schools, all offered AP courses,…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentration on academic and behavioral success among high school students. The research design involved a quantitative approach, analyzing data from 931 students in a single high school collected through convenience sampling. The students were…

Research shows that the intensity of high school course-taking is related to postsecondary outcomes. However, there are various approaches to measuring the intensity of students' course-taking. This study presents new measures of coursework intensity that rely on differing levels of quantity and quality of coursework. We used these new indices to…

Research shows that the intensity of high school course-taking is related to postsecondary outcomes. However, there are various approaches to measuring the intensity of students' course-taking. This study presents new measures of coursework intensity that rely on differing levels of quantity and quality of coursework. We used these new indices to…