/K-12Step 2
Worcester Public Schools

Curriculum-to-Market Snapshot

Students who complete all 3 MyCAP domains are 2.4x more likely to have a postsecondary plan by graduation.

MyCAP Domain & Program Metrics
MyCAP Domain 1 (Personal/Social/Emotional)
78%
+6%completion across Gr. 9-12
MyCAP Domain 2 (Career Development)
65%
Burncoat leads at 74%
MyCAP Domain 3 (Academic/Technical)
71%
+4%University Park highest at 89%
Work-Based Learning Participation
42%
of juniors and seniors
Top Career Interest Cluster
Healthcare (31%)
of students district-wide
Postsecondary Intent
58% 4-yr
22% CC | 12% workforce | 8% military/other
School Performance Analysis

Schools Leading

Above district average

University Park Campus School89%

Courses: MyCAP Domain 3: 89% | WBL: 67% | Postsecondary plans: 94%

Highest performing school across all three MyCAP domains. Strong counselor-to-student ratio drives outcomes.

Burncoat Senior High School74%

Courses: MyCAP Domain 2: 74% (district leader) | WBL: 48% | Career exploration: high

Leads district in Career Development domain. Active employer partnerships with UMass Memorial.

Schools Developing

Approaching district average

North High School66%

Coverage: MyCAP Domain 1: 80% | Domain 2: 62% | Domain 3: 68%. WBL hours below target.

Strengthen WBL partnerships and add career pathway counseling sessions for 10th graders.

South High School63%

Coverage: MyCAP Domain 1: 76% | Domain 2: 60% | Domain 3: 65%. Strong STEM interest but limited placements.

Expand STEM/Biotech WBL pipeline with WPI and AbbVie partnerships.

Schools Needing Support

Below district average

Worcester Technical High School71%

Strong CTE completion (85%) but MyCAP documentation lags. Domain 2: 68% | WBL: 62% (highest).

Align existing CTE tracking with MyCAP documentation requirements to capture credit already earned.

Doherty Memorial High School58%

MyCAP Domain 1: 72% | Domain 2: 55% | Domain 3: 61%. Lowest WBL participation at 28%.

Prioritize MyCAP Domain 2 with dedicated career counseling block and employer site visits.

Program Recommendations

Immediate Actions

Launch 9th-grade MyCAP onboarding at all 5 schools (82% early completion drives retention)

Impact: 82%Effort: MediumTimeline: Fall 2026

FAFSA completion campaign for seniors (currently 61%, state avg 68%)

Impact: 74%Effort: LowTimeline: Spring 2026

Expand WBL partnerships with UMass Memorial and Fallon Health (31% student healthcare interest)

Impact: 68%Effort: MediumTimeline: Fall 2026

Next Semester

Cross-school career pathway alignment to reduce duplication across 5 schools

Impact: 52%Effort: MediumTimeline: 2026-27 school year

MyCAP Domain 2 support resources for Doherty and South High (55-60% completion)

Impact: 48%Effort: LowTimeline: Spring 2026

Strengthen CTE-to-postsecondary pipeline with Quinsigamond CC and Worcester State

Impact: 44%Effort: MediumTimeline: Fall 2026

Monitor

Evaluate cybersecurity pathway expansion (11% student interest, +167% growth)

Impact: 28%Effort: HighTimeline: 2027-28

Pilot financial literacy course aligned to 2026 graduation framework changes

Impact: 24%Effort: MediumTimeline: 2027-28

Plan capstone project requirement rollout per proposed DESE framework

Impact: 20%Effort: HighTimeline: 2027-28 planning
Career Interest Trends

Growing Career Interests

IT & Cybersecurity

+167%

Current prevalence: 11%

Fastest-growing interest. Partner with Allegro MicroSystems for tech pathway placements.

Healthcare & Social Assistance

+47%

Current prevalence: 31%

Strongest cluster — align WBL placements with UMass Memorial, Fallon Health, and local clinics.

STEM / Biotech

+38%

Current prevalence: 18%

Leverage WPI and AbbVie proximity. Add biotech-readiness modules to science courses.

Education Careers

+22%

Current prevalence: 14%

Connect students to Worcester State’s education programs and local tutoring WBL.

Declining Career Interests

General Office / Clerical

-31%

Current prevalence: 4%

Replace with data analytics and digital business tools training.

General Retail / Hospitality

-24%

Current prevalence: 6%

Redirect to business management and entrepreneurship pathways.

Traditional Manufacturing

-18%

Current prevalence: 8%

Shift emphasis to advanced manufacturing and automation at Worcester Tech.

School-by-School Breakdown

North High School

4,850 students enrolled

Alignment Score: 66%
Top Job Titles
Healthcare (28% of students)
STEM / Biotech (19%)
IT & Cybersecurity (14%)
Education (12%)
Business & Finance (11%)
Top Skills Status
MyCAP Domain 1taught
MyCAP Domain 2partial
MyCAP Domain 3partial
WBL Placementpartial
Postsecondary Plantaught

4,850 students. Strengthen WBL partnerships and add career pathway counseling for 10th graders. MyCAP Domain 2 at 62% needs targeted support.

South High School

4,620 students enrolled

Alignment Score: 63%
Top Job Titles
STEM / Biotech (24% of students)
Healthcare (22%)
Education (16%)
IT & Cybersecurity (13%)
Arts & Communications (9%)
Top Skills Status
MyCAP Domain 1taught
MyCAP Domain 2partial
MyCAP Domain 3partial
WBL Placementmissing
STEM Pipelinepartial

4,620 students. Strong STEM interest but limited local placements. Expand biotech pipeline with WPI and AbbVie. WBL participation at 34% needs employer outreach.

Burncoat Senior High School

5,100 students enrolled

Alignment Score: 74%
Top Job Titles
Healthcare (34% of students)
Business & Finance (15%)
Education (13%)
STEM / Biotech (12%)
Manufacturing & Trades (10%)
Top Skills Status
MyCAP Domain 1taught
MyCAP Domain 2taught
MyCAP Domain 3partial
WBL Placementtaught
Postsecondary Plantaught

5,100 students. District leader in MyCAP Domain 2 (74%) and WBL. Model for other schools. Focus on Domain 3 academic alignment to reach 80%+ target.

Doherty Memorial High School

4,400 students enrolled

Alignment Score: 58%
Top Job Titles
Healthcare (29% of students)
IT & Cybersecurity (16%)
Business & Finance (14%)
STEM / Biotech (13%)
Education (11%)
Top Skills Status
MyCAP Domain 1partial
MyCAP Domain 2missing
MyCAP Domain 3partial
WBL Placementmissing
Postsecondary Planpartial

4,400 students. Lowest WBL participation (28%) and MyCAP Domain 2 (55%). Prioritize dedicated career counseling block, employer site visits, and peer mentoring from Burncoat.

University Park Campus School

2,350 students enrolled

Alignment Score: 89%
Top Job Titles
STEM / Biotech (26% of students)
Healthcare (24%)
Education (18%)
Business & Finance (15%)
IT & Cybersecurity (8%)
Top Skills Status
MyCAP Domain 1taught
MyCAP Domain 2taught
MyCAP Domain 3taught
WBL Placementtaught
Postsecondary Plantaught

2,350 students. Highest performer across all MyCAP domains (89% Domain 3). 94% postsecondary plan rate. Strong WPI partnership. Model school for district-wide best practices.

Worcester Technical High School

3,357 students enrolled

Alignment Score: 71%
Top Job Titles
Manufacturing & Trades (22% of students)
Healthcare (20%)
IT & Cybersecurity (18%)
STEM / Biotech (16%)
Business & Finance (10%)
Top Skills Status
CTE Completiontaught
MyCAP Domain 2partial
WBL Placementtaught
Industry Credentialstaught
MyCAP Documentationpartial

3,357 students. Strong CTE completion (85%) and WBL (62%, highest in district). MyCAP documentation lags — align existing CTE tracking with MyCAP requirements to capture credit already earned.