^{The Bottom Line} Giving Students an On-Ramp to Post-High School Success

College is not providing the on-ramp that most students in our country need to a high-growth, high-demand career field. Many students graduate from college saddled with debt and with a degree that is misaligned with the job market.

Continuing the status quo can no longer be acceptable. Therefore, it’s essential that we not only ask but also answer the following question.

How are we giving kids an education that will prepare them so that when they exit high school without going on to college, they are ready to be contributors to society through something they are excited about, and they can use a passion to do something meaningful with their life?

It’s past due time to reinvent high school. It must more adequately prepare students for their future. Too many students exit high school without a plan and an on-ramp to post-high school success. Gone must be the days of maintaining the one-size-fits-none education factory model. Today’s high schools must modernize and be intentionally designed to prepare students for the future world they will enter after graduation.

There are far more career fields than most people realize that do not require a college degree. Consider the field of aviation as one example. It’s a high-demand career field as evidenced by the pilot shortage in North America. It’s also a high-growth industry, whether for passenger travel or the transport of food and goods.

The average pilot’s salary is over $188,000 per year, while the average American’s salary is under $60,000. Yet, a college degree is not necessary to become a licensed pilot. Yet, a college degree is not necessary to become a licensed pilot.

And aviation, as well as the traditional trades, are far from alone in not requiring a bachelor’s degree to enter the profession. Over the past few years, a growing number of employers have eliminated the requirement of a bachelor’s degree for employment eligibility. Rather, they value candidates with specific industry knowledge and skills, hard work, and quality character.

There is a timely opportunity during the high school years to expose students to specific industries and help them unlock a passion, while strategically creating a pipeline of talent for high-demand and high-growth career fields. Industry-specific high schools — across fields — are the path forward.

Click HERE to read the full report, “The Case for Industry-Specific High Schools.”