Original Research

A new study released by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) last week asked ninth graders about their anticipated profession at age 30, and how often they thought about pursuing their future career. Almost half (49%) of ninth graders both identified a future profession and reported they spent a lot of time thinking about it.  Only 29% did not identify a profession.  A higher percentage of black students reported thinking a lot about a future job than white students (61% compared to 48%).

To support efforts to increase postsecondary access for all students, the U.S. Department of Education has recently released new resources on Doing What Works, a website that translates research-based practices into practical tools for school improvement.

Today the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released The Condition of Education 2011, a Congressionally-mandated annual report that details all aspects of U.S. education, including early childhood education, student achievement, postsecondary education, teacher effectiveness, and school environment. There were a number of key findings related to high schools, their students, and implications for transitions to college, including: