Idaho’s CTE Success: Preparing Students for the Jobs Our Economy Needs

In education, there’s a long-standing myth that students must choose between going to college or going straight to work. Idaho’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are proving that’s a false choice. In fact, they’re showing that students can graduate with the skills, credentials, and confidence to succeed in both college and career.

Across our state, CTE programs are thriving—in agriculture, health sciences, information technology, welding, business, engineering, and more. These pathways are not the shop classes of the past; they are rigorous, hands-on, industry-aligned programs that open doors to high-paying jobs and further education.

The numbers tell the story. Idaho students who complete CTE pathways have higher graduation rates than the state average—often exceeding 95%.