ORPA DATASET ON ACADEMIC PREFERENCES IN WESTERN ANTIOQUIA, COLOMBIA (2019–2024): A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF UPPER SECONDARY (HIGH SCHOOL) STUDENTS

This dataset contains longitudinal educational information collected between 2019 and 2024 from public and private schools across the 19 municipalities of Western Antioquia (Colombia). It integrates sociodemographic variables, academic preferences, educational motivations, expected study modalities, and post-graduation projections. Data were gathered through standardized instruments applied in four phases—2019, 2020, 2021, and 2024—and form the empirical foundation of the Regional Observatory of Academic Preferences (ORPA). The dataset includes analytical Power BI visualizations, technical metadata, and full methodological documentation. All data underwent validation processes including consistency checks, cleaning, normalization, and institutional traceability (SENA–CEIPA), ensuring high longitudinal comparability. This resource enables the analysis of educational trends, rural–urban gaps, gender-based differences, emerging career preferences, and shifts in motivational factors during the 2019–2024 period. This dataset is considered one of the most robust empirical repositories available in Colombia concerning youth academic preferences and serves as a strategic input for academic research, curriculum design, evidence-based vocational guidance, and regional public policy planning.