This analysis examines wages six years after expected high school graduation in three industries — Educational Services, Health Care & Social Assistance, and Public Administration — which offer evidence that educational attainment translates into higher wages for former DC public high school students.

These industries offer substantially stronger earnings and clearer wage progression at each level of educational attainment — a clear, consistent return on additional education that shows how postsecondary education can open doors to higher-paying work and long-term economic mobility.