Expanding Career-Technical Education Across Ohio
Career-technical education (CTE) in Ohio is designed to give students real-world skills and pathways to high-demand careers. While every student has “paper access” by law, meaning they can apply to a CTE program, true
effective access goes beyond enrollment opportunities. It requires robust programming, qualified instructors, and modern facilities that make participation possible. Over the past four years, Ohio has seen a 10% increase in CTE participation—adding more than 13,000 students since 2021—but demand continues to outpace availability, leaving some programs with waitlists.
High School Students Participating in Career-Technical Education
Here, participating students are those in grades 9-12 who generated CTE FTE and either a) completed a CTE course located at a traditional public district or b) were sent to a JVS for CTE coursework. These students have a curriculum code of VT or PS aligned to a WFD program in school year 2025.
State Investments Driving Growth
To close these gaps, Ohio has invested over $300 million through Career Tech Equipment and Construction Grants, enabling 116 schools to expand or build new CTE facilities and purchase cutting-edge equipment. These efforts have allowed an additional 20,000 students to enroll, reducing waitlists and strengthening workforce readiness. In the 2023–2024 school year alone, 91,015 students participated in workforce development pathways, contributing to a total of 141,503 students engaged in at least one CTE course statewide.
Middle School Students Participating in Career-Technical Education
Here, participating students are those in grades 7-8 who generated CTE FTE and completed a CTE course located at a traditional public district (inclusive of JVSD satellite courses) with a curriculum code of VM in school year 2025.
Why Effective Access Matters
CTE programs prepare learners for careers in fields like healthcare, IT, advanced manufacturing, and more—industries critical to Ohio’s economy. Students who complete CTE pathways graduate at higher rates, earn industry-recognized credentials, and gain valuable work-based learning experiences. Expanding effective access ensures that every student, regardless of geography, has the opportunity to pursue these programs and build a future-ready skill set. Ohio’s commitment to collaboration among educators, industry partners, and workforce boards is key to making this vision a reality.
Addtional Maps and Resources
View the spreadsheet used to to populate the following maps.
High School Participation maps
Middle School Participation maps
Last Modified: 2/13/2026 9:25:47 AM