Murray State Theses and Dissertations
Abstract
The ongoing national emphasis on Career and Technical Education (CTE) underscores the need to identify effective strategies for fostering student engagement and increasing high school CTE pathway completion rates. This quantitative study examined the long-term impact of implementing high school credit-bearing agriculture courses in Georgia middle schools on subsequent high school agriculture pathway completion. Using publicly available data from the Georgia Department of Education between 2015 and 2023, this study analyzed trends across multiple school districts to assess whether early exposure to agricultural education correlates with higher rates of CTE pathway completion at the high school level. Descriptive statistics and comparative analyses revealed that districts implementing agriculture courses in middle school consistently experienced increased enrollment in entry-level high school agriculture courses, growth in FFA participation, and higher overall completion of agriculture pathways. Districts with sustained programming from middle to high school also demonstrated enhanced retention in agricultural pathways, suggesting a potential pipeline effect. While causality cannot be confirmed, the findings support the value of early agricultural education as a mechanism for improving long-term student engagement in CTE and aligning with state and federal goals for workforce development. Recommendations include increased investment in middle school agricultural programs, further longitudinal tracking, and continued evaluation of district-level implementation fidelity.
Year manuscript completed
2025
Year degree awarded
2025
Author's Keywords
agricultural education, Career and Technical Education, middle school feeder programs, student engagement, pathway completion, curriculum alignment, Perkins funding
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Education
Department
Education
College/School
College of Education & Human Services
Dissertation Committee Chair
Alyx Shultz
Document Type
Dissertation - Murray State Access only
Recommended Citation
Floyd, Tiffany, "The Effect of High School Credit Agriculture Classes in Middle School on CTE Pathway Completion and Student Engagement" (2025). Murray State Theses and Dissertations. 397.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/etd/397