A central goal of K-12 schooling is helping high school students develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies to succeed after graduation. Although individual students can demonstrate their potential in different ways, there is also a widely-adopted set of measures or signals that are commonly used to indicate their likelihood of success. Colleges, employers, and education leaders often look to such measures, such as enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, SAT completion, participation in dual enrollment, or earning an industry-recognized credential, as an indicator that a high school student is likely to have positive outcomes later in life.

In a report funded by the National Governors Association, researcher  Kristin Blagg of DC Education Research Collaborative member Urban Institute analyzed over 100 studies to identify which college and career readiness measures are actually linked to positive student outcomes after high school.

The analysis identified seven measures strongly associated with college enrollment, degree attainment, and future earnings:

• Enrollment in AP or IB classes
• Mandatory SAT/ACT testing
• Mandatory Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion
• Participation in academic early college or dual enrollment programs
• Military enlistment
• Completion of an industry-recognized credential or dual-enrolled CTE credential
• Participation in CTE or dual enrollment 

The research emphasized that these indicators provide critical information for students, higher education institutions, and employers, facilitating more informed choices and stronger alignment between education systems and labor market demands.

The Urban Institute also noted that the relationships between readiness measures and postsecondary outcomes are not uniform across student populations. For example, CTE-related programs and credentials offer especially significant benefits for historically marginalized students, including Black and Hispanic youth, low-income students, and students with disabilities. Mandatory FAFSA and SAT/ACT testing are particularly impactful in schools with historically low rates of college-going and financial aid application.

Policymakers can leverage these findings to enhance their education accountability frameworks, ensuring equity-focused approaches that yield measurable economic and educational benefits.

To learn more about these measures and their implications for policy and practice, access the full research report here:

Which College and Career Readiness Standards Best Align with Positive Outcomes after High School?