The graduation rate for Georgia students involved in Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) has risen to 98.24%.

This rate – which applies to students who complete a Career Pathway – exceeds the overall state graduation rate by 12.84 percentage points, underscoring the relevance and effectiveness of CTAE opportunities. The 2023 CTAE graduation rate was 97.75%.

“Communities all across Georgia are continuing to see record-breaking job growth, and preparing Georgians to seize those opportunities is critical to our continued success,” Governor Brian Kemp said. “These numbers underscore the importance of our work to streamline the state’s high-demand career pipeline and let Georgia’s students know there is an option for a successful career available to them right here in the Peach State.”

CTAE in Georgia delivers a high-school experience that prepares students for their lives after high school. Students can learn skills for real-world careers in 145 Career Pathways within 17 Georgia Career Clusters – from construction to information technology – while earning recognized industry credentials and participating in work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities.

“Georgia’s all-time high CTAE graduation rate is a testament to the hard work of our students, educators, and industry partners,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education equips students with real-world skills and prepares them for lifelong success. We will continue investing in these opportunities to ensure every graduate is ready for their next step—whether that’s college, career, or the military."

Career Pathways are for all students, no matter which path they plan to take. Pathway completers are prepared to pursue higher education, enter the military, accept an apprenticeship opportunity or immediately begin their career.

"Georgia’s CTAE programs provide students with real-world skills and hands-on experiences that prepare them for success in college, careers, and life," State CTAE Director Dr. Barbara Wall said. "Our commitment to high-quality career pathways has contributed to Georgia’s strong graduation rate, proving that when students are engaged in meaningful, relevant learning, they thrive. The CTAE graduation rate is an indicator both of students’ future workplace success, and of the future economic health of our state.”

CTAE Advantage Dashboard

The Georgia Department of Education created the CTAE Advantage Dashboard to allow easy, transparent access to Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) academic and workforce data at the state and district levels.

CTAE Advantage shows the positive academic and workforce impact of Georgia’s CTAE programs in communities across the state. Georgia CTAE continues to show a strong, positive impact on literacy, graduation, and postsecondary placement rates across the state. It also indicates that CTAE students participating in work-based learning experiences earn over $121 million annually for the local and state economy.