In January 2024, the Office of Research and Evaluation contacted Senior Exit Survey respondents from the graduating classes of 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 to conduct a Graduate Follow-up Survey. Responses to the Graduate Follow-up Survey were linked to respondents’ Senior Exit Survey responses. Respondents who had previously intended to pursue education were asked education-related questions, and respondents who had previously intended to pursue work were asked work-related questions.

Results from the Graduate Follow-up Survey help SDP understand the education and career pursuits of recent high school graduates, learn about obstacles graduates faced in pursuing post-high school plans, and gain insights about how graduates transition into postsecondary education or the workforce.

Key findings include:

• Among respondents who intended to pursue a 4-year postsecondary education, 90.8% had enrolled in a 4-year college or university after graduating high school.
• Among SDP graduates who intended to pursue a postsecondary education, the most common obstacle reported was that there was not enough money and/or financial aid to pay for college.
• About 26% of respondents changed interest in their intended field of work, while about 35% began working either part-time or full-time in their intended field.
• Among SDP graduates who intended to pursue work, the most common obstacle reported was difficulty finding out about job opportunities in their desired field.