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DENVER -- 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 today 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 reimagining the education-to-career pipeline, serving as a critical bridge between learning and work, the report says. 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 Colorado Governor 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, 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.
“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.”
This spring, XQ will embark on the first leg of its Future Is High School bus tour, a national effort designed to elevate the voices of those closest to the work of transforming high school. The tour will be stopping in Colorado as part of a multi-phase effort to activate local expertise and showcase what is possible when communities lead.
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The Colorado Department of Education’s vision is to create equitable educational environments where all students and staff in Colorado thrive. Our role is to improve student outcomes and ensure students and families across Colorado have access to high-quality schools by serving, guiding, and elevating our state’s 178 school districts and BOCES
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