Chronic Absenteeism and Declining Enrollment: The Power of CTE and Career Exploration

Chronic Absenteeism and Declining Enrollment

Across the country, school districts are grappling with two intertwined challenges: chronic absenteeism and declining enrollment.

Many students are disengaging from traditional education models that fail to reflect their interests, learning styles, or life circumstances. They want personalized learning, and they want it to connect to their futures.

In fact, a majority (63%) of teens say they wish they were provided more information about the variety of postsecondary opportunities available.* Even more compelling, 87% of middle schoolers are interested in matching their skills and interests with potential careers, and 85% want to learn about the requirements for the careers they’re interested in.* Yet a recent Gallup/Walton Family Foundation survey shows students give their schools only a B-minus for preparing them for the future, and a C-plus for teaching them about careers.*

When students don’t see the relevance of their education, they are more likely to tune out or drop out altogether.

The Power of CTE and Career Exploration

Career and Technical Education (CTE) is one of the most effective strategies schools can use to re-engage students, especially in the wake of pandemic learning loss.

Students involved in CTE programs are more likely to attend school regularly and graduate from high school.* The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) notes that early career exploration helps students understand how academic concepts apply in the real world—boosting both motivation and performance.

“The provision of CTE coursework in high schools, especially in high-growth fields, promotes student engagement, high school completion, and later employment, especially among disadvantaged student groups.”*

Another powerful strategy is work-based learning. Giving students hands-on, real-world experiences helps them see the value of what they’re learning in class. It connects education to opportunity—igniting passion and purpose.

Enhancing Student Engagement with Digital Tools

With the right digital tools, schools can scale CTE and career exploration in meaningful, accessible ways:

Start or expand CTE pathways in your school or district & provide pathways and certifications for students
eDynamic Learning offers a robust digital curriculum aligned to CTE pathways, helping students explore interests and work toward certifications.
Knowledge Matters provides interactive business and healthcare simulations where students apply their learning in real-world scenarios—boosting engagement and retention.
Learning Blade brings STEM and career awareness to middle school students through 13 missions and 4 modules that integrate career exploration into core subjects.

These tools help districts start or expand CTE offerings while meeting students where they are—online and eager for relevant, future-focused learning.

The Critical Link Between Attendance and Graduation Rates

Chronic absenteeism isn’t just a short-term issue—it has long-lasting effects on students’ futures. Research from the University of Utah found that students who are chronically absent just once between 8th and 12th grade are seven times more likely to drop out.* Similarly, the University of Chicago found that missing just one week per semester in 9th grade can reduce a student’s chance of graduating by more than 20 percentage points.*

These statistics underscore why career-connected learning is essential, not optional. CTE, digital simulations, and work-based learning give students real-world skills, a sense of direction, and a reason to come to class.

How Can Schools Prevent Absenteeism?

✅ Offer Career Exploration – Show students how today’s lessons lead to tomorrow’s careers.
✅ Use Digital Learning Tools – Platforms like Knowledge Matters immerse students in real-world decisions and skill-building.
✅ Promote Work-Based Learning or Virtual Internships – Create partnerships with local industries so students gain hands-on experience and future-ready skills.

By investing in career-connected learning, schools can reverse the trends of absenteeism and enrollment decline while empowering students to discover purpose, passion, and potential.

References

District Administration. “How to Tackle Declining Enrollment and Chronic Absenteeism.”
ECMC Group. “Question The Quo: Teen Perspectives on Education.” May 2022.
Gallup/Walton Family Foundation. “Student Perceptions of Career Readiness.”
ERIC. “CTE and Student Engagement: A Research Brief.”
MIT Press Direct. “Pathways to High School Completion through CTE.”
ACTE (Association for Career and Technical Education).
University of Utah, Utah Education Policy Center. “Chronic Absenteeism Research Brief.” 2012.
University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. “What Matters for Staying on Track.” 2007.
WSJ. “High School Shop Class Makes a Comeback.”
Houston Chronicle. “Spring Branch ISD Improves Academic Performance Despite COVID Struggles.”