Jobs for noncollege graduates

Here are some employment options for young adults who don’t pursue a four-year college degree:

High school diploma plus up to one year of job
experience

* Home care aides
* Retail sales persons
* Amusement attendants
* Truck drivers
* Cashiers
* Teachers aides and educational assistants
* Medical assistants
* Dental assistants

Educational level open but long-term work or training required

* Desktop publishing specialists
* Musicians
* Flight attendants
* Police patrol officers
* Food service and lodging managers
* Carpenters
* Clerical supervisors
* Cooks, restaurant

Career school or other vocational training

* Data processing equipment repairers
* Manicurists
* Licensed practical nurses
* Surgical technologists
* Cosmetologists or barbers
* Medical secretaries
* Emergency medical technicians
* Automotive mechanics

Associate (two-year college) degree

* Dental hygienists
* Registered nurses
* Paralegals
* Radiologic technologists
* Respiratory therapists
* Health information technicians

Source: Michigan Center for Career and Technical Education at Michigan State University

Resources

Here is where parents and others can get more information that may be helpful in evaluating a school district:

* The Michigan Department of Education’s Web site has a lot of financial information, test scores and other information about both individual schools and districts. The department also posts press releases and other documents. Check out the Web site at: www.mde.state.mi.us

* www.ecs.org/ecs/ecsweb.nsf/ (Education Commission of the States)

* www.ccsso.org/
(Council of Chief State School Officers)

* www.apluscommunications.com
(A-Plus Communications, education consultants)

* www.dpi.state.wi.us/
(Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction)

* www.kde.state.ky.us/
(Kentucky Department of Education)

Comments

If you’d like to comment on this school report card, or obtain more details on the methodology used to develop it, send an e-mail to jupton@detnews.com. You also can write to reporter Jodi Upton at The Detroit News, 615 W. Lafayette, Detroit, Mich., 48226.