(Yicai) Sept. 19 -- More than 60 percent of Chinese middle school graduates advanced to academic high schools last year, as growing numbers of students chose the university track over vocational education amid expanded programs and improved infrastructure.

China's academic high school enrollment rate -- the proportion of middle school graduates entering academic high schools -- has steadily risen since the early 2000s, Yicai learned.

The country’s high school system comprises three categories: academic high schools, secondary vocational schools, and adult high schools. Academic high schools prepare students for university, focusing on cultural knowledge and academic skills. Meanwhile, secondary vocational schools emphasize technical training to develop skilled workers for industry, while adult high schools serve those who did not complete formal education earlier.

There were 15,800 academic high schools in China last year, enrolling nearly 10.4 million new students, according to the latest Education Statistical Bulletin. That year, almost 17 million students graduated from middle school, so the academic high school enrollment rate reached 61 percent.

By comparison, in 2001, China had about 14,910 academic high schools with 5.6 million new enrollees, while 17.3 million students graduated from middle school. The academic high school enrollment rate then was just 32.2 percent.

The rising enrollment has been driven in part by expanded infrastructure. Many regions have built new schools and increased available seats, with some areas already exceeding 70 percent enrollment. In Shenzhen, for example, the academic high school admission rate surpassed 73 percent this year.

Ding Changfa, associate professor of economics at Xiamen University, told Yicai that local governments have recently taken multiple measures to boost investment and expand academic high school capacity.

Meanwhile, many secondary vocational schools have begun offering comprehensive high school programs, providing more flexible paths for students. This shift has helped reduce parental anxiety and narrow the divide between academic and technical education, Ding added.

Editor: Emmi Laine