This study examines factors in rural high school students' decision to participate in vocational education. The study compares characteristics of rural high school graduates who completed higher proportions of their course work in vocational education with those who completed lower proportions. It also compares characteristics of rural high school…

Largely qualitative data were examined in the second year of a 5-year longitudinal study of the effectiveness of career and technical education (CTE)-based reforms in helping disadvantaged youth in grades 7, 9, and 11 succeed in school. Students were enrolled at three school sites with these differing program foci: (1) career pathways; (2)…