The Effects of Alternative School Programs on High School Completion and Labor Market Outcomes

Abstract

This research probes two questions regarding participation in alternative high school programs: Does participation reduce the likelihood of students dropping out? Does participation lead to enhanced experiences in the labor market after students leave school? Using the California subsample of the 1980 and 1982 High School and Beyond surveys (involving nearly 3,000 sophomores and 3,000 seniors), vocational education and participation in other alternatives are scrutinized. Our findings regarding the dropout-preventing effects of these programs are mixed: The assessment varies across different procedures used to control for prior propensity to dropout. Our findings for labor market effects are more definite. Participants in vocational and other alternative programs have generally higher employment rates and, for some, higher wages. Suggested extensions of this work are offered.