ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Out of high school, Russell Davis attended Monroe Community College and SUNY Brockport.

“College was not my idea. It was my parents' idea, it was their money and ‘you’re going to college,'” said Davis, a tool maker apprentice. 

What You Need To Know

  • According to the Nation’s Report Card, 33 percent of fourth grade students performed at or above proficiency levels in 2022, which was two percent less compared to 2019

  • The learning loss that came from the pandemic factored into the decline in proficiency levels nationwide

  • NYS was above the Nation’s average for 4th grade proficiency levels in 2022 with 42 percent of 4th graders statewide passing the ELA exam

Now at 34 years old and two years into the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program, he’s found that trade school was the better option. 

“Suffice it to say I didn't end up using the degree,” Davis said. 

Hands-on experience is now his major learning tool.

“In fact, anyone who spent time keeping me enrolled in college didn’t have a degree, so I took that as kind of a ‘maybe there’s something else to this workforce,'” he said. 

And choosing a trade over a degree isn’t something in which he's alone.

“What we’re seeing a lot of now is unless you’re going for a specific field, you know, you may be graduating college with a lot of debt or not even a job,” said Rich Turner, director of workforce development for the Rochester Technology Manufacturing Association. 

It's one of the main reasons trade schools and apprentice programs are booming. BOCES has seen a nearly 10% increase in enrollment at the high school level for New York's Career and Technical Education programs over the last five years. 

“No college debt, a journey work or paper, which is basically the equivalent of a degree in manufacturing for that specific trade and really a lot of other career advancement opportunities,” Turner said. 

It's allowing Davis to earn as he learns.

“Pressure helps. I mean do I love pressure, no. But it helps,” said Davis. 

Making trade school a path that has given him immediate returns in more ways than one. 

“Being able to quote Shakespeare is okay, it’s sort of impressive; I can answer some jeopardy questions, but like I can go out and work on my car now,” Davis said.