More than 200 Houston-region educators, counselors and workforce development professionals gathered January 29 at The KBC Houston for the Postsecondary Pathways Conference, a collaborative summit focused on building stronger pathways from high school to living-wage careers.
Presented by ConocoPhillips and co-hosted by BridgeYear, Good Reason Houston and Greater Houston Partnership, the conference brought together K-12 and higher education leaders, nonprofit partners and industry experts—all committed to expanding opportunities for Houston students to achieve long-term economic success.
The Urgency: The Class of 2034 Is in Fourth Grade Today
Patrick Gill, Director of Research & Data Strategy at Good Reason Houston, opened the conference by connecting Houston’s 2040 goal to students in classrooms today.
“When we talk about doubling the rate of graduates earning a living wage by 2040, we’re really talking about the high school graduating class of 2034,” Gill said. “Those graduates? They’re in fourth grade right now. There are 50,000 fourth graders in Houston-region public schools today, as we speak, relying on all of us in this room to create systems that promote their long-term opportunity and success right now.”
At last year’s conference, Good Reason Houston revealed that only one in five Houston-area high school graduates currently earn enough to meet their basic needs by their mid-20s. This year’s conference focused on solutions: What does Houston’s workforce need over the next 10-20 years, and what strategies can schools implement today to prepare students for those opportunities?
Introducing: High Schools for Postsecondary Success
Gill announced the launch of Good Reason Houston’s High Schools for Postsecondary Success initiative, which identified more than a dozen Houston-region high schools serving high-need student populations while significantly outperforming regional averages in postsecondary enrollment, credential attainment and graduates’ early-career earnings.
“These schools outperform the region on postsecondary enrollment and completion, and most importantly, their graduates’ likelihood of earning a living wage,” Gill explained. “Put simply, these are the schools we should all be looking to when we want to find what works and how those best practices can be scaled.”
The initiative will involve in-depth partnerships with standout schools to document the innovative strategies, programs and campus cultures that drive student success—then share those findings across the region.
Learning from Schools Beating the Odds
Two of the schools identified through the initiative, Pasadena Memorial High School and Victory Early College High School in Aldine ISD, were featured at the conference. Representatives from both campuses shared their approaches during a breakout session, offering practical insights for districts across the region.
Good Reason Houston announced research partnerships with both schools. The Research & Data team will work directly with school leadership to identify the specific strategies, systems and supports that help their students achieve exceptional postsecondary outcomes.
“These schools think deeply about how to build systems that provide their students with opportunity and individualized support,” Gill said. “They cultivate campus environments that allow their students to thrive. And most importantly, their efforts are translating into concrete outcomes.”
Exploring Houston’s Workforce Future
A panel of industry experts discussed Houston’s evolving workforce needs over the next decade, helping educators understand the skills and credentials that will be most valuable for students entering the job market in 2035 and beyond.
Additional breakout sessions covered:
- Financial aid navigation tools for helping students and families access postsecondary funding
- Career exploration resources that connect students to high-growth industries
- Building partnerships between high schools and postsecondary institutions to create seamless pathways
- CenterPoint Energy facility tour providing firsthand exposure to career opportunities in Houston’s energy sector
Research-Backed Strategies for Student Success
Good Reason Houston’s postsecondary research has identified three key levers that significantly impact students’ long-term success:
- Expanding access to advanced math pathways in middle school — particularly Algebra I in eighth grade, which opens doors to advanced coursework in high school
- Increasing participation in rigorous coursework — such as AP classes, dual credit and career technical education programs
- Ensuring students read on grade level before entering ninth grade — a critical foundation for success in all subject areas
“This work requires all of us—districts, colleges, nonprofits and employers—working together,” Gill said. “We’re here to partner with educators who know their students best, share what the data shows works, and learn from schools already getting results.”
Building Momentum Toward 2040
Good Reason Houston’s North Star goal is to double the rate of Houston-region graduates earning a living wage by 2040. Achieving this goal would mean lifting tens of thousands of young adults out of economic instability and creating lasting opportunity for Houston families.
The Postsecondary Pathways Conference reinforced the collaborative approach needed to reach this goal. Educators left with new partnerships, actionable resources and a clearer understanding of how their work today connects to students’ economic futures.
The conference also underscored the urgency of this work. The fourth graders in Houston classrooms today—the class of 2034—are counting on educators, policymakers, higher education institutions and employers to build systems now that set them up for long-term success.
“We don’t have time to wait,” Gill emphasized. “These students are in our schools right now, and the decisions we make today will shape their opportunities for decades to come.”
What’s Next
Good Reason Houston will continue its High Schools for Postsecondary Success research partnerships throughout 2026, with findings and best practices shared publicly to support districts across the region.
The organization will also convene district superintendents and higher education leaders in late February for a summit focused on strengthening partnerships and improving postsecondary outcomes.
Conference attendees interested in learning more about Good Reason Houston’s research, district partnerships or advocacy work can contact the team at info@goodreasonhouston.org.
