Jimmy is in the vocational track at his school. This means he is taking Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, which are preparing him to get a job after high school. Jimmy wants to be a mechanic. His favorite class is auto shop, where students fix cars and learn how to work with tools.

Jimmy attends a comprehensive high school, which offers different types of programs. Some students are preparing for a four-year college. Others, like Jimmy, are in CTE programs and are learning skills related to specific fields, such as audio-visual technology, business administration, and health science. They may get jobs in their fields right out of high school, or they may go to a technical school or community college where they can get an advanced certification for jobs such as computer programmer, plumber, electrician, or medical technician. These jobs do not require a four-year college education, but they may require specific skills that exceed those typically taught in high school.

Some people argue that schools that offer various CTE opportunities are inherently better than college preparatory schools. People who support CTE programs point out that not everybody goes to a four-year college and that high school should focus on preparing students for what they want to pursue afterwards. Offering classes related to students’ interests and career goals can motivate students who are otherwise disengaged from school. Some research shows that students who complete vocational programs are likely to earn higher wages right after high school when they enter the workforce than students from college preparatory programs. Supporters argue that CTE programs prepare students for life by giving them the opportunity to learn valuable skills and explore various fields, regardless of whether they decide to go to college.

Other people argue that high schools should prepare all students for college. They believe that students should all have an equivalent education. They worry that students in CTE programs won’t be able to get into a four-year college if their goals change, or that the vocation that they are trained for will disappear in the future. Plus, they remind us that, in past decades, some students were forced into vocational programs because teachers or other adults thought they wouldn’t succeed in college. This created unequal and unfair education opportunities for many students.

“College prep for all” advocates may suggest that students can pursue vocational training after they graduate, instead. They also point to data showing that getting additional money for equipment and staff for CTE programs is a challenge for many districts. They worry these costs will take away from other programs. Furthermore, studies show that students who graduate from a vocational track are more likely to earn less money later in their careers.

Others argue for a middle ground. They think schools should require all students to complete the courses required for college but also offer vocational courses. However, many believe this would put even more demands on high school students with full schedules. And they worry that students would not be well prepared for a vocation or for college.

What do you think? Should students have the option to enroll in a vocational track? Or should high schools focus on preparing everybody for college?