Pekin Community High School is a major standout in this report, leading participating high schools in CTE course completions and appearing throughout the program highlights.
The report examines career and technical education data from 11 high schools and seven colleges and universities for academic years 2023–2025. Its main finding is that students are earning more credentials and completing more advanced career coursework, strengthening the region’s workforce preparation.
What it says about Pekin
Largest contributor among participating high schools :
Pekin reported
3,203 CTE course completers in 2025
, compared with 3,889 in 2023. Despite that decline, the report describes Pekin as a critical partner for connecting students with employers.
Pekin and Metamora together accounted for approximately 93%
of high school course completions in the dataset.
Construction credentials nearly tripled:
Pekin’s Architecture & Construction credentials increased from
55 to 161
over two years. The report highlights this as an example of successful preparation for careers.
Pekin also had the largest reported high school program in seven of the eight sectors highlighted:
Pekin pathway | 2025 course completers |
|---|---|
Human Services | 534 |
Hospitality & Tourism | 485 |
Manufacturing | 387 |
Architecture & Construction | 329 |
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics | 177 |
Health Science | 163 |
Arts, AV, Tech & Communication | 153 |
The report notes that Pekin reports at the pathway level, which helps explain its leadership across these categories.
Other major findings
Across participating institutions, high school industry credentials increased 57%, students completing multiple courses in one career pathway increased 33%, and college degrees awarded increased 42% between 2023 and 2025. Healthcare was the largest postsecondary sector.
The report recommends expanding high school opportunities in healthcare, STEM, and skilled trades, and strengthening employer partnerships through internships, job shadowing, equipment support, and hiring commitments.
You can read the full report here: https://greaterpeoriaedc.org/workforce-solutions/cte-report/