Colorado leads the way in preparing students for life after high school graduation, according to a study of high school policies in every state released recently by the XQ Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization focused on rethinking high school.
Colorado’s high schools have adopted five of 10 policy actions — and have two more underway — that make U.S. high schools more rigorous, engaging and career-focused, according to the report, “The Future Is High School: A Strategy for State Leaders to Accelerate Learning, Work, and American Renewal.”
The state’s schools are re-imagining the education-to-career pipeline, serving as a critical bridge between learning and work, the report states. Additionally, state leaders have expanded high-quality work-based learning and youth apprenticeship opportunities, supported local innovation, and taken steps to modernize how student learning is measured — helping ensure students graduate with the durable skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
“Colorado’s economy is growing and evolving, and our high schools are evolving with it,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “By strengthening career-connected learning, modernizing how we measure success and investing in pathways that link students directly to opportunity, we’re helping young people graduate with real-world experience and durable skills. When students can see a clear path from the classroom to a career, they’re more engaged, more prepared, and better positioned to build their Colorado future.”
Colorado also is highlighted for its strong commitment to data transparency and postsecondary outcomes.
Through the ‘Pathways to Prosperity’ report — available at cdhe.colorado.gov/pathways-to-prosperity — policymakers, educators and the public can see whether high school graduates are enrolling in postsecondary education, entering the workforce or both — providing a clearer picture of how well high schools are preparing students for life after graduation. The ‘Pathways to Prosperity’ report shows in part that Archuleta School District (ASD) had higher postsecondary enrollment in 2021 — the most recent year available — than the state average, with 49.9 percent enrollment for the state and 51.5 percent for ASD.
It also shows ASD had better persistence in the continuing higher education, with 77.1 percent of Colorado graduates enrolling in a second year of higher education, compared to 92.6 percent of ASD graduates.
The report further shows ASD had more students attempting dual and concurrent enrollment than the state averages in 2021, as well as more participation in career and technical education programs.
“Colorado’s strength is not just in the policies we pass, but in how those policies show up in classrooms, schools and communities,” said Commissioner of Education Dr. Susana Córdova. “Across the state, educators and local leaders are translating state priorities into real opportunities for students — whether through work-based learning, apprenticeships, or clearer pathways after graduation. That on-the-ground implementation is what ultimately changes students’ lives, and this report affirms the importance of staying focused on both vision and execution.”
The report, which will be released every two years, underscores the need for strong implementation to ensure that educators, schools, and communities have the support needed to turn innovative policy into real impact.
“States have more opportunity, responsibility and authority over public education than at any time in recent memory, and Colorado is showing the entire country what’s possible when leaders focus on high school,” said Russlynn Ali, CEO of XQ Institute and managing director of the Education Fund at Emerson Collective. “With 355,000 job openings to fill each year, Colorado isn’t waiting around to unlock new opportunities for students — because they’ve realized that high school is the future of everything.”
The XQ Institute report is available at policyactions.xqinstitute.org.