As workforce needs evolve and educational priorities shift, Career and Technical Education (CTE) is moving to the center of conversations about preparing students for success in both postsecondary pathways and careers. CTE programs provide students with practical, hands-on training in specific career fields. Far from the outdated misconception of ‘vocational education’ as a lesser path for struggling students, modern CTE combines rigorous academic content with technical skills development and encompasses everything from information technology and healthcare to agriculture and advanced manufacturing.
Rural communities have embraced CTE at remarkable rates. According to the most recent NCES data available, 92% of students from rural areas and towns participate in CTE courses, compared to 80% in suburban areas and cities (National Center for Education Statistics [NCES], 2023). In the most remote rural areas, this figure climbs to an impressive 97%—the highest participation rate nationwide (NCES, 2023).
This shouldn’t be surprising. Rural schools have long understood the value of practical education that connects classroom learning to real-world applications. These programs not only prepare students for immediate employment opportunities but also create pathways to further education. In fact, data show that students who concentrated on CTE in high school were more likely to earn associate’s degrees: 14% compared to 9% of non-CTE students (NCES, 2024).
Research confirms that CTE has meaningful positive effects on students’ academic performance, job-ready skills, and college preparation (Association for Career & Technical Education [ACTE], 2025). And after graduation, CTE concentrators are more likely to secure full-time employment and earn more than their peers eight years after finishing high school (ACTE, 2025). CTE programs directly address America’s critical skills gap by equipping students with the specific technical training and workplace competencies that 74% of employers struggle to find, helping to reduce the projected shortage of 6 million skilled workers needed in essential industries like healthcare, construction, utilities, and manufacturing by 2032 (ACTE, 2025).
Despite their popularity, CTE programs face significant challenges, particularly in staffing. In the 2020–21 school year, NCES data show 31% of public schools reported difficulties filling CTE teaching positions—a substantial increase from 20% a decade earlier (NCES, 2024). Adding to this challenge is the fact that CTE teachers are more likely to be new to the profession; the percentage of CTE teachers who have less than three years of teaching experience is higher than for teachers in other subjects (NCES, 2024). For rural districts, these staffing challenges may be compounded by geographic isolation, smaller applicant pools, and competition with private industry for qualified professionals who could teach specialized subjects.
What are the secrets to successful rural CTE? There’s probably not just one special ingredient. Just as rural places have varied strengths and challenge, they will need varied elements to maximize CTE. Ask yourself and your colleagues the questions below to get started on building or expanding CTE in the rural place you love.
10 Questions to Help Leaders and Teams Strategize on Rural CTE
Adapted from CTE on the Frontier: Rural Strategy Guide (Advance CTE, 2023).
Secure Buy-In
- How do you evaluate the quality and labor market alignment of your CTE pathways? What metrics are you using, and would local businesses and industry partners agree with your assessment?
- Who are your CTE champions within your school and community? What communications and outreach strategies have been most effective in engaging educators, students, parents, and local employers?
Use Data
- What local and regional labor market information do you have about high-demand, high-wage sectors? How are you using this data to make decisions about which CTE pathways to offer or expand?
- Are there specific students in your district who would benefit from better access to your CTE programs? What strategies are you using to increase their participation and success?
Leverage Partnerships
- What partnerships do you currently have with local businesses, community colleges, or other school districts that help you maximize resources for CTE programs? Which partnerships have been most valuable and why?
- How have you structured your CTE program schedule and transportation systems to facilitate student participation in work-based learning opportunities with community partners?
Use Technology to Expand Access
- What creative solutions have you implemented to address broadband or technology limitations in your rural setting?
- How are you balancing online learning with hands-on experiences in your CTE programs? What has worked best for your students?
Invest Resources
- Beyond traditional funding sources, what innovative approaches have you used to acquire equipment, facilities, or expertise for your CTE programs? What additional opportunities could you pursue?
- What strategies have been most effective in recruiting, preparing, or retaining qualified CTE instructors in hard-to-staff program areas?
Then, ask other key players. At Marzano Research, we’re here to help you discover the recipe to CTE success—get in touch here. And in the meantime, stay tuned for the upcoming blogs in this series in which rural leaders will be addressing these same questions.
Special thanks to October Scott for providing research and writing support.
Sources
Advance CTE. (2023). CTE on the frontier: Rural strategy guide. https://careertech.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CTE_RuralStrategyGuideFINAL.pdf
Association for Career & Technical Education. (2025). CTE Works! https://www.acteonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ACTE_CTEWorks_January2025_Final.pdf
National Center for Education Statistics. (2023). Career and technical education programs in rural high schools. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/lce
National Center for Education Statistics. (2024). Career and technical education in the United States. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved February 28, 2025, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/tob
