Numbering about 2,500 in total, Career Academies still represent a relatively small percentage of public secondary school options. However, a new report from James J. Kemple (photo below) and Cynthia J. Willner reveals these lesser-known institutions are having a powerful impact on students, particularly one of the highest at-risk groups, minority males.

The study, a long-term and in-depth examination of nine career academies, has been an ongoing focus of MDRC, an organization known for its rigorous analysis. Created in 1974 by the Ford Foundation and a group of federal agencies, MDRC utilizes the “same highly reliable methodology that is used to test new medicines” to evaluate policies and programs that target low-income people. The work of MDRC seeks to remove the emotion and ideology that often dominate public debates and replace it with objective, unbiased evidence.

Career Academies
Career Academies, established about thirty years ago, have been steadily growing in number. Focused on creating greater student engagement, career academies seek to help students transition successfully to postsecondary education and employment.

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