Establishing Career Academies

This research brief explores how to effectively establish Career Academies. The Career Academy model—which aligns high school curricula with career themes and creates a more personalized educational environment through small learning communities—prepares students for postsecondary pathways in college and careers. The brief examines districts’ motivations for implementing Career Academies and discusses Academy design components, such as industry partnerships, work-based learning experiences, and general career education.