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We surveyed 782 community college and university students in education and nursing programs to describe their intentions for participating and their participation rates in high school co-operative (co-op) education. The intention reported by most students was trying out an already chosen career (48 per cent), and the average participation rate in co-op education of all students was 38 per cent (with a range from 33 per cent to 69 per cent within the specific programs that were surveyed). Attention to self-perceptions of career development and the role of co-op education provides us with insights into students' goal-directed actions. These data suggest that secondary students are choosing co-op education for strategic, career-oriented reasons. Knowing more about students' intentions for participating in (or not participating in) co-op education can support both policy and instructional development in the growing area of secondary programming in co-op.