Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs not only prepare students for the workplace, but they have also been associated with better academic outcomes, including graduation rates (e.g., Castellano et al., 2012). This study is a longitudinal examination of the 2011-2012 first-time 9th grade cohort in the School District of Philadelphia. Across four years, analyses show that participation in CTE was associated with higher graduation outcomes, controlling for academic, behavioral and demographic factors known to influence graduation. Further, this protective effect extends to students who enter 10th grade with the most powerful predictors of failure. These findings support the position that CTE is a viable strategy to improve graduation rates in large, economically challenged urban school districts.