Cybersecurity Education: Availability & Access in Public High Schools

The Need

The United States has over 769,000 unfilled cybersecurity ​jobs*. The ​cybersecurity workforce deficit provides an ​opportunity for high-wage jobs ​for Americans, which if filled ​will bolster efforts to protect America’s ​national and ​economic security. Securing the cybersecurity workforce ​​starts with ensuring that cybersecurity education and ​career pathways are ​available and accessible to students.

The Data

Findings are based on a sample of 42.5% of Public High ​Schools in the United ​States, resulting in a 99.99% ​confidence level. Using purposive sampling, ​data were ​collected from: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, ​Illinois, ​Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and ​Virginia. Findings are also ​reported by state.

The Research

  • Availability of cybersecurity courses and pathways in U.S. Public High ​Schools.
  • Number of students who have access to ​cybersecurity in U.S. Public High ​Schools.
  • Detailed background information on the states and ​schools in the study.

The Findings

*Cyberseek.org November, 2022


Detailed Findings

Summary Report

Recommendations

An in-depth look into the state of cybersecurity ​education in U.S. Public High Schools.

Arrow in Circle Icon, Flat Style

Click on the arrow to the left to advance slides.

Note: The charts are interactive.

Invest in Cyber ​Ranges and ​Virtualizations

Invest in ​Teacher ​Professional ​Development

Invest in ​Gateway-to-​Cybersecurity ​Courses

Invest in ​Cybersecurity ​Courses and ​Pathways

Catalyze ​Around a ​National Set of ​K-12 ​Cybersecurity ​Educational ​Guidelines/

Standards

Continue ​Studying the ​Landscape and ​Include ​Measurements ​of Student ​Demographics ​at the Course/

Program Level

Click on chart to ​explore the data by ​state.

State Summary Reports

Click on a state to download ​a detailed state specific ​infographic

(Requires registration/login ​to Teach Cyber Website )

About Us:

DARK Enterprises, Inc. is a small, women-led non-profit dedicated to developing, supporting, and ​stewarding excellent cybersecurity education at the secondary level. Our mission is to nurture a ​sustainable cybersecurity education ecosystem by providing resources, training, and support to ​secondary school educators teaching cybersecurity.


Other Initiatives by DARK Enterprises, Inc.

Research made possible by:

Collaboration with the National Cryptologic ​Foundation CAE-C: H98230-20-1-0292 ​Subaward: SA20137; the University of Alabama - ​Huntsville, and Moraine Valley Community College, ​Illinois.

Updated: 12/22