|By Gale Staff|
Looking ahead to life after high school can be exhilarating for your students—starting college, entering the workforce, and everything that follows. Yet the pressure to achieve post-high school success in today’s rapidly changing academic and career landscape continues to grow. Many U.S. schools are questioning whether they’re truly preparing students for life beyond graduation.
By exploring the current readiness trends, gaps, and recommendations, you can learn how to help your district equip students with the skills needed for college, career, and life.
A Glimpse at the Data: The Current State of Student Readiness
There’s one significant reason to celebrate: high school graduation rates have reached historic highs. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the U.S. average graduation rate for public high school students climbed to 87% in 2021-22, a seven-point jump from just a decade earlier. However, despite these record achievements, college and career-readiness gaps remain. In a recent survey, 72% of recent high school graduates report “feeling only moderately, slightly, or not at all prepared” for next steps. In fact, only 21% of high school seniors met all four core readiness benchmarks used by the ACT in 2023.
What’s Behind the Readiness Gap?
Real-World and Career Preparation is Lacking
Overall, students and parents agree that general life and career skills education needs to be a higher priority for high schools. In a survey conducted by Cengage Group, 83% of students felt prepared for post-graduation plans, but expressed a desire for more real-world instruction, specifically in practical skills like budgeting, taxes, and job application. Similarly, surveyed parents indicated they would have preferred a stronger emphasis on work study opportunities, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
According to YouScience’s 2025 Post-Graduation Readiness Report, half of graduates say they lacked work-based learning experiences, and 45% wanted better access to career counseling. Essentially, hands-on, career-relevant education in high school isn’t a want—it’s an actual need.
Inequities Across Schools and Communities
Under-resourced schools—often in high-poverty areas or serving large populations of students from marginalized communities—are less likely to offer advanced coursework or strong college-prep support, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. These disparities may contribute to the widening opportunity gap and more limited post-secondary or career prospects for students with disadvantages.
Soft Skills-Development Often Overlooked
Understandably, many high schools choose to focus primarily on helping their students succeed academically, perform well on standardized tests, and obtain degrees. However, the overemphasis on academics alone leaves little room for the encouragement of critical soft skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and emotional intelligence—shown to be essential for success in today’s workforce. Without consistent support for the development of soft skills or real-world exposure, even the most academically capable students may struggle with transitions after high school.
Emerging Trends and What’s Working
The good news is that there are several solutions on the rise—aimed at addressing emerging trends, meeting students’ present needs, and preparing them for future academic and workplace demands.
Integrated, Standards-Aligned Curricula & Supplemental Resources
Cengage School combines core curriculum, supplemental resources, and professional development, and is designed to support K–12 education across subjects including career and technical education.
Growing Demand for Career Pathways & Alternative Post-Secondary Routes
Surveys show many students now want more exposure to career options, hands-on learning, and real-world skill sets—not just traditional college prep.
Emphasis on Non-Cognitive Skills & Personalized Support
Personalized learning approaches, early career/aptitude assessments, and more frequent career counseling conversations are seen as ways to boost readiness.
What Should Schools Do (and What Stakeholders Should Advocate For)
- Adopt holistic approach
- Expand access to career counseling and work-based learning
- Promote non-academic competencies
- Measure success beyond graduation
- Prioritize equity
- Encourage flexibility in post-high school paths
The Big Picture: Thinking Ahead
Even as high school students graduate in record numbers, the college and career readiness gap continues to widen. Bridging this gap will require real, systemic change across U.S school systems, as well as collaboration between educators, parents, students, and policymakers.
By reassessing current course offerings, expanding student guidance, and emphasizing the value of post-secondary pathways, schools can redefine what it means to be “prepared” in today’s evolving academic and career landscape.
Together, we can ensure students are ready for whatever comes next.
Ready to help your district close students’ college and career readiness gaps? Explore Cengage School’s Supplemental Education Solutions for CTE and CCR or connect with your Gale Representative today.
