College or Career Ready, But Not Both? Heterogeneity of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs and Income-Based Inequality in Access and Participation

Career and technical education (CTE) programs aim to prepare students for college and careers in a wide range of occupations and industries. However, it is necessary to examine how existing inequalities in the K-12 education system structure access to and participation in different types of CTE. Using a non-parametric clustering approach to categorize CTE programs, I demonstrate that CTE can be reduced to two types - career-focused or college-focused. These two types of CTE offer participants divergent postsecondary opportunities. I then use regression analyses to show that there is a positive association between school district income level and access to college-focused CTE, but inequality in access shapes inequality in participation. However, school districts are similarly likely to offer career-focused CTE, but students in higher-income districts are less likely to participate. These findings highlight how income inequality between school districts influences CTE access and participation.