Are Texas students ready for life after high school? Are
Texas students ready for

Too many Texas graduates are leaving high school unprepared for college and career. Here's why.

A H.S. diploma isn’t always a ticket to success Every year, Texas graduates over 300,000 students. But only 36% earn a postsecondary degree or credential. And 1 in 3 “college-ready” students still needs remedial classes. Others leave high school without the skills to land a good job.

Quantitative
Outcomes Grads with associate degrees % of Grads earned an IBC Grads with Level 1 & 2 certificates Use the < > to view our data charts breaking down how Texas is equipping today’s students with real skills, real jobs and real hope for the future. # of
specialized
high schools # of specialized H.S. H.S. postsecondary access Grads with CCMR outcomes bonus H.S. students earning associates H.S. students earning non-degrees % of
Grads earned
an IBC H.S.
post
secondary
access Grads
with
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degrees Grads
with
Level 1 & 2
certificates Grads
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outcomes
bonus H.S.
students
earning
associates H.S.
students
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non-degrees View the data on how Texas is equipping today’s students with real skills, real jobs and real hope for the future. Specialized high schools Texas high schools are innovating to deliver better career-aligned programming to their students. Currently, Texas has more than 500 College and Career Readiness models that emphasize postsecondary programming. Source: Texas Education Agency, Annual Report 2023 Specialized high schools Growth of College and Career Readiness School Models High school access to postsecondary credentials The share of Texas high schools offering students access to a postsecondary credential has grown from 55.5% in 2018 to nearly 90% in 2023. This steady growth highlights how Texas is expanding opportunities for students to earn valuable credentials while still in high school. Source: Analysis of TEA TAPR Campus Reports. Access defined as at least one student earning an IBC, Level I/II cert, or associates degree at a campus. % of high schools where students have access to a postsecondary credential between 2018-2023 High school graduates that completed associates degrees The percentage of Texas high school graduates completing an associate degree has inched upward from 1.4% in 2018 to 2.5% in 2023. While still a small share overall, this steady growth shows more students are leaving high school with college credentials already in hand — giving them a head start on higher education and the workforce. Source: TEA TAPR State Reports % of high schools graduates that completed associates degrees between 2018-2023 High school graduates that earned an industry-based certification (IBC) The share of Texas high school graduates earning an Industry-Based Certification (IBC) has grown sharply — from 4.8% in 2018 to 33.4% in 2023. This rapid increase shows how more students are leaving high school with credentials that directly connect to workforce needs, giving them a competitive edge in today’s job market. By scaling access to IBCs, Texas is ensuring students graduate with real-world skills that lead to real jobs and stronger career pathways. Source: TEA TAPR State Reports % of High school graduates that earned an IBC between 2018-2023 High school graduates that earned Level 1 and 2 certificates Between 2018 and 2023, just 0.6% to 0.8% of Texas graduates earned a Level 1 or Level 2 certificate. This small but important start points to big opportunities for expanding job-ready credentials. Source: TEA TAPR State Reports % of High school graduates that earned a Level 1 or Level 2 certificate between 2018-2023 A strong baseline for graduate readiness From 2019 to 2022, roughly 3 in 10 Texas graduates earned the Career, College, or Military Readiness (CCMR) outcomes bonus, establishing a strong baseline of readiness and highlighting opportunities to expand success even further. Source: CCMR Annual Graduates OB Outcomes Report % of annual graduates earning CCMR outcomes bonus between 2018-2023 More students earning associate degrees in high school The number of Texas students earning an associate degree while still in high school has steadily increased, rising from 5,035 in 2018 to 9,532 in 2023. This growth reflects expanding opportunities for students to graduate with a college credential already in hand, giving them a valuable head start on higher education and the workforce. Source: NEED DATA SOURCE # of students earning associates degree while in high school between 2018-2023 More high school students earning postsecondary credentials The number of Texas students earning a non-degree postsecondary credential while in high school has climbed significantly, increasing from 19,963 in 2018 to 58,531 in 2023. This rapid growth highlights how more students are graduating with industry-recognized certifications and other credentials that provide immediate value in the workforce and strengthen pathways to future education. Source: NEED DATA SOURCE # of students earning a non-degree postsecondary credential while in high school between 2018-2023

Every Texas student should leave high school prepared for their next step — whether that’s college, a career or both. We call this Dual Readiness and it should be the standard, not the exception.

Because we believe every child should be able to decide their own future. College or Career-Ready Why not both?

The data shows where students have access to high-value courses and where they don’t. It also shows which courses lead to real outcomes.

That’s where Texas 2036 comes in. We created tools that gather this data and make it easy for you to use. With it, you can explore your districts and see what helps students thrive. Where are students getting the right support?

See the Simulator in Action
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