Implementation of New Common Core State Standards Exposes How Many Students Are Not Ready for College or a Career

The goal of every high school should be to prepare "all" students for college or a career. But, the reality is that nation wide, 60% of first year college students are finding that they are not qualified to do college level work. 68% of the 50,000 freshmen entering California State University Schools require remediation in English Language Arts, or math, or both. Remediation at Community Colleges is above 80%.

At the same time, Districts across the State of California are finding that large number of students will not have the course credits to graduate under the new Common Core State Standards, and are working to define "credit recovery" paths to ensure students will graduate on time. 

The term "College Going Rates" is used to show the proportion of public high school graduates who elect to enroll each year in a California public college or university immediately following high school graduation. The rates are calculated by dividing the number of entering students from high schools by the total number of graduates from high schools.

Data for Capistrano Unified shows that 40% of graduating seniors enroll in a 4- year college. 50% of graduating seniors enroll in Community College. Of the 40% that are attending a 4-year college, less than 10% are attending selective 4- year private universities or colleges. 

Graduation +Transfer Rates for Community colleges most attended by CUSD students are around 50%- meaning half of the kids that go to community college will not graduate or transfer to a 4-year university.

The latest aggregate data is for 2008-2009 but has been consistent for many years.

Aliso Niguel High School
Total High School Graduates: 731
# Enrolled in College 623 (85.2%)
UC Colleges 96 (15.4%)
CSU Colleges 79 (13%)
Community College 314 (50.4%)
Other Colleges - Private Universities or Out of State (6.4%)
No College (14.8%)

Capistrano Valley High School
Total High School Graduates: 690
# Enrolled in College 564 (81.7%)
UC Colleges 48 (8.5%)
CSU Colleges 82 (14.5%)
Community College 269 (47.7%)
Other Colleges - Private Universities or Out of State (11%)
No College 18.3% 

Dana Hills High School
Total High School Graduates: 674
# Enrolled in College 563 (83.5%)
UC Colleges 74 (13.1%)
CSU Colleges 86 (15.3%)
Community College 240 (42.6%)
Other Colleges - Private Universities or Out of State (12.5%) 
No College 16.5% 

Junipero Serra High School
Total High School Graduates: 91
# Enrolled in College 40 (44%)

San Juan Hills High School - No data 2008-09

San Clemente High School
Total High School Graduates: 724
# Enrolled in College 588 (82%)
UC Colleges 58 (9.8%)
CSU Colleges 75 (12.7%)
Community College 304 (51.7%)
Other Colleges - Private Universities or Out of State (7.8%) 
No College 18% 

Tesoro High School
Total High School Graduates: 696
# Enrolled in College 612 (87.9%)
UC Colleges 77 (12.6%)
CSU Colleges 80 (13.1%)
Community College 238 (38.9%)
Other Colleges - Private Universities or Out of State (23.3%) 
No College 12.1% 

Source: http://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/sfsf/PostsecondaryIndicatorC11.aspx?cSelect=SAN%5eCLEMENTE%5eHIGH--CA...

Source: http://www.cpec.ca.gov/OnLineData/MiningChart.ASP
Saddleback:
Graduation + Transfer Rate: 48% 
First Year Retention Rate: 90.3%
Cost Per Student (FTE): $7,089
Cost per completion: $50,378

Irvine Valley College: 
Graduation + Transfer Rate: 52.7% 
First Year Retention Rate: 90.0%
Cost Per Student (FTE): $7,198
Cost per completion: $51,022
California State University- Fullerton: 
Graduation + Transfer Rate: 50.1% 
Graduation Rate (6 year) 51.4%
Graduation Rate (4 Year) 16.5%
First Year Retention Rate: 85%
Cost Per Student (FTE): $11,281
Cost per completion: $39,106

California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obsipo: 
Graduation + Transfer Rate: 74.6%
Graduation Rate (6 year) 72.9%
Graduation Rate (4 Year) 26.4% 
First Year Retention Rate: 93%
Cost Per Student (FTE): $15,301
Cost per completion: $74,519

San Diego State University: 
Graduation + Transfer Rate: 65.6% 
Graduation Rate (6 year) 66.2%
Graduation Rate (4 Year) 30.4%
First Year Retention Rate: 89%
Cost Per Student (FTE): $13,676
Cost per completion: $40,874
Graduation and Transfer Rates for all 112 California Community Colleges can be found at: http://www.collegemeasures.org/2-year_colleges/state/CA/scorecard/

CUSD Graduates Matriculating to University of California Schools
Source: http://www.cpec.ca.gov/OnLineData/FreshmenTotalsByHSDist.asp?Seg=A

CUSD Graduates Matriculating to California State University Schools
Source: http://www.cpec.ca.gov/OnLineData/FreshmenTotalsByHSDist.asp?Seg=B

CUSD Graduates Matriculating to California Community Colleges
Source: http://www.cpec.ca.gov/OnLineData/FreshmenTotalsByHSDist.asp?Seg=C

"Eighth-Grade Academic Achievement Is the Best Predictor of College and Career Readiness by High School Graduation." 
http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/ForgottenMiddleSummary.pdf

Remember: College Admission does not mean that a student will succeed or graduate from college.

What Parents Can Do To Ensure Success For Their Children:

• Make sure your child completes Algebra I in Middle School and passes with a B or higher.
• Make sure your child takes Algebra II by 10th grade and passes with a B or higher.
  
• Make sure your your child completes at least three years of math in High School (four is recommended).

INEXPENSIVE: ALEKS http://www.aleks.com/ 

A subscription to ALEKS for an individual student is:

• $19.95 per month per child *Discounts for Families are available