Using Job Data to Guide Student Career Choices
College & Workforce Readiness Photos

Using Job Data to Guide Student Career Choices

By Education Week Photo Staff — April 25, 2018 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

iLEAD Academy opened three years ago to help prepare Northern Kentucky students for careers in high-paying, high-demand fields. It uses a wonky weapon – labor-market data – to design course offerings that won’t leave students in dead-end jobs, and to give them solid advice that’s grounded in the needs of regional employers.

Read the story on edweek.org.

The iLEAD Academy is located a few doors down from a grocery store in a Carrollton, Ky., shopping center, and in front of the local Walmart.
The iLEAD Academy is located a few doors down from a grocery store in a Carrollton, Ky., shopping center, and in front of the local Walmart.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
As a future high school science teacher, Michaela Stethen, an iLEAD junior, knows that she can get an annual salary of $37,358. But she must earn a bachelor’s degree first.
As a future high school science teacher, Michaela Stethen, an iLEAD junior, knows that she can get an annual salary of $37,358. But she must earn a bachelor’s degree first.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
03 28Labor Market Otilio Flores
Otilio Flores, another iLEAD student, earned his industrial-maintenance-technician certification at the end of his sophomore year. With a high school diploma in addition, he could be an industrial maintenance tech and earn nearly $37,000 a year. But Otilio is pursuing an associate degree so he can earn thousands more as an electro-mechanical technician.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
Student Storm Mitchell wants to work in robotics and travel internationally. She could earn more than $81,000 as a robotics technician if she goes on to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Student Storm Mitchell wants to work in robotics and travel internationally. She could earn more than $81,000 as a robotics technician if she goes on to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
Johnny Rivera discusses an algebra problem with classmates at iLEAD Academy.
Johnny Rivera discusses an algebra problem with classmates at iLEAD Academy.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
Math instructor Jenna Gray works with sophomore Isaac Logsdon on an Algebra 2 problem.
Math instructor Jenna Gray works with sophomore Isaac Logsdon on an Algebra 2 problem.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
Junior Josiah Miracle stares intently at a problem on his computer screen during an Algebra 2 class.
Junior Josiah Miracle stares intently at a problem on his computer screen during an Algebra 2 class.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
08 28Labor Market Maker Space iLead
Sophomore Johnny Rivera photographs a bench that he is in the midst of 3D modeling.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week
Dawson Allen, a junior at iLEAD Academy, works on his laptop in the lobby of his school. The school doesn’t have typical classrooms; students are free to lounge and work throughout the building.
Dawson Allen, a junior at iLEAD Academy, works on his laptop in the lobby of his school. The school doesn’t have typical classrooms; students are free to lounge and work throughout the building.
Pat McDonogh for Education Week

Education Week Photo Staff
Work published under this byline was created, curated, or edited by Education Week’s Visual and Immersive Experiences team.
Related Tags:
Career Readiness Career & Technical Education Kentucky Specialized Schools

A version of this article first appeared in the Full Frame blog.

Events

Tue., August 11, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar Grow Leaders, Keep Teachers: Leadership Development as a Staffing Strategy
Find out how to turn leadership development into a staffing strategy and grow your next generation of school leaders from within.
Content provided by Frontline Education
Register
Tue., August 18, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Teaching Webinar Closing the Practice Gap: Essential Insights for Leaders
Three instructional experts will share strategies for making students’ reading and math practice more engaging and impactful this year.
Content provided by Renaissance
Register
See More Events

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs
Create Your Own Job Search

Read Next

College & Workforce Readiness Opinion There's a Lot of Talk About 'Career Readiness.' Have We Thought It Through?
Just because you promote opportunities for career pathways doesn’t mean students are learning.
Rick Hess
•
5 min read
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
College & Workforce Readiness How States Are Streamlining College Admissions—and Who Benefits
Direct-admissions programs aim to streamline the college admissions process.
Evie Blad
•
3 min read
Georgia State University students Kavita Javalagi, left, and Gana Natarajan, second from left, speak with Shetundra Pinkston, during the Startup Student Connection job fair, March 29, 2023, in Atlanta. Georgia officials launched a program that year to match high school students to college opportunities and has seen enrollment increases at both technical and four-year colleges since.
Georgia State University students Kavita Javalagi, left, and Gana Natarajan, second from left, speak with Shetundra Pinkston, during the Startup Student Connection job fair, March 29, 2023, in Atlanta. Georgia officials launched a program that year to match high school students to college opportunities and has seen enrollment increases at both technical and four-year colleges since.
Alex Slitz/AP
College & Workforce Readiness New York City Is Giving $1,000 to Kindergartners for College. Will It Work?
Backers of the program say it will raise families' awareness of the need to save for postsecondary study.
Jennifer Vilcarino
•
5 min read
Mamdani Obama 26108823606862
Mayor Zohran Mamdani visits the Learning Through Play Pre-K in the Bronx in New York, Saturday, April 18, 2026. Mamdani, who was accompanied by former President Barack Obama on the visit, joined the New York City Council is backing a new college savings plan for families of young children.
Angelina Katsanis/AP Photo
College & Workforce Readiness What’s Missing in Career Education? A Case for ‘Career Identity’
The "aha!" moment for students doesn't come just from career interest inventories, one teacher says.
Lauraine Langreo
•
3 min read
Diana Barrios gave a session on how artificial intelligence plays a role in career exploration and hHundreds attend ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual Conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida on June 29, 2026.
Diana Barrios, a career exploration coordinator for the Houston school district, discusses career exploration at the ISTELive 26 + ASCD annual conference at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., on June 29, 2026. Barrios argued that schools need to do more than match students' interests with potential careers. Career exploration is a social act, she said.
Marvin Joseph/Education Week