As of 2015, 62% of high school students receiving special education services had a learning disability. 57% of students with a learning disability reported the goal of obtaining competitive employment, which is a greater percentage than any other disability group.

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Students with learning disabilities have been shown to lag behind other students with different disabilities in college attendance, employment success, and grade point average, alongside a higher dropout rate.

Learning Disabilities and Educational and Employment Outcomes

Wagner, M., Newman, L., Javitz, H. (2015). The Benefits of High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Youth With Learning Disabilities. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0022219415574774?casa_token=FpMulmUIt4oAAAAA%3A-Tb-yPFmVTCTX7dZPo52JEZjqAYkHOrRjYASjNwrpGOtYfMNFJRmAU41cmsgrIyG6nMmW7o2RIq-


The Benefits of High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Youth With Learning Disabilities

Enrollment in career and technical education courses in this study is defined by at least four credits in coursework that provides skills for future careers and independent living.

Career and Technical Education Courses (CTE)

- Are less likely to be female than students without disabilities
- Are more likely to be an underrepresented minority
- Are more likely to have limited English proficiency
- Are more likely to receive free or reduced price lunches
- Are shown to shown to have a lower baseline of achievement 


Demographic of Students with Learning Disabilities 

Subpopulation of High School Students With Learning Disabilities

The US Department of Education sponsored this study to examines students of diverse backgrounds and experiences, and how they transitioned to life after high school. It consisted of students who used special education services, students who qualified for disability accommodation,, and those with no disability. Information was reported from survey results of the parents and the students. Findings included the fact that students with disabilities were more socioeconomically disadvantaged, and were more likely to struggle to adapt to post graduation life, especially for students with intellectual disabilities and multiple disabilities.

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