Why Are the Courses You Take in High School Important for Your Health at Midlife?

Using data from the High School and Beyond cohort of high school sophomores, PRC trainee Jamie M. Carroll, PRC faculty research associate Chandra Muller, and colleagues show that taking advanced courses in high school appears to improve health 30 years later. To improve our population's health, policymakers could encourage more access to advanced coursework in high school as well as pedagogical strategies that empower independent thinking.