Middle schoolers who participate in career-connected learning are more likely to be engaged at school and feel hopeful about their futures.
That’s the case in New Hampshire, according to a new analysis released by the New Hampshire Learning Initiative and Gallup. According to survey data from more than 4,000 fifth- through eighth-graders, more than half (53%) of students would like to participate in more career-connected learning opportunities at their school.
Linking career activities to student outcomes
The research reveals that “all types” of career-connected learning activities result in positive student outcomes. In fact, middle schoolers who participate in at least one activity are more likely to report feeling engaged at school compared to their non-participatory peers (31% vs. 18%). They’re also more likely to feel engaged about their futures (29% vs. 26%).
Career-connected learning also broadens students’ perspectives of future pathways and helps them form post-high school plans. Students involved in job-related activities at school are 26% more likely than their peers to say they learned about a job or career they have not heard of before (53% vs. 27%).
Ellen Hume-Howard, executive director of the New Hampshire Learning Initiative, said the findings reflect what educators have long observed: middle schoolers want to engage in hands-on learning.
“The data doesn’t just validate our experience—it calls us to act,” Hume-Howard said. “We must create the conditions in middle school for authentic projects, mentoring and exploration aligned to clear competencies.”
More data
Mentorship’s effectiveness in supporting student outcomes
- Middle schoolers with a mentor are more likely to learn about new jobs or careers
- Mentorship-led career-connected learning is more likely to lead to informed post-high school plans
The call to expand career-connected learning
- Two-thirds of middle schoolers say they don’t have access to many career-related activities
- Seventy-five percent say existing career-connected learning options don’t align with their interests
- Fifty-five percent of eighth-graders and 42% of fifth-graders want more career-related opportunities
Read the full report here.
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