Raising The Bar- More High School Grads Need to Complete A-G Requirements to Be College Ready

April 3, 2014 Correction to Article- The % for White - Non Hispanic and Hispanic were interchanged. The correct amount for White- Non-hispanic is 53% and Hispanic is 53%. Thank you Dan for the correction.

To be considered for admission to a University of California campus, or a Cal State University campus, a student must complete 15 year long high school courses with a grade of C or better. At least 11 of these classes must be completed prior to a students senior year.

1. HISTORY AND SOCIAL SCIENCE
   2 years (1 year of U.S. History and 1 year of Social Science)
2. ENGLISH
   4 years required
3. MATH
   3 years (4 years recommended)
4. LABORATORY SCIENCE
   2 years with a lab class
5. LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH
   (Foreign Language) 2 years of the same language
6. VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
   1 year
7. COLLEGE PREPARATORY ELECTIVES
   1 year of any college preparatory subject

The intent of the “A - G” subject requirements is to ensure that students graduating from High School have attained a body of general knowledge that will provide breadth and perspective to new, more advanced study at the college level.

Source: http://www.ucop.edu/agguide/a-g-requirements/

The latest data shows that only 54% of students graduating from the Capistrano Unified School District complete their A- G requirements by the end of high school. 

Total: 54%

Asian: 72%

Black or African American: 46%

Hispanic: 38%

White Not Hispanic: 53%

English Learner: <1%

Redesignated: 41%

Special Education: 11%

Socioeconomically Disadvantaged: 30%

Source: March 26, 2014 Board Meeting Agenda Item #4 “Data for the Local Control Accountability Plan”

http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/file/1229223560406/1218998864154/1463621950735616281.pdf Agenda Item #4 - Exhibit 4 - Slide 20

Source: CUSD Local Control Accountability Plan March 5th, 2014  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1V3uLUFcLqDOUz4dHWo70jMbpHfSamP5ewh-hO5cQiWg/pub at page 12 Slide 25

For a greater understanding of the issues surrounding A - G requirements see the Silicon Valley Education Foundation study: "Raising the Bar- Understanding and assessing A-G College Readiness Requirements as High School Graduation Standards." 

Source: https://svefoundation.org/svefoundation/files/Raising%20the%20Bar_A-G%20Full%20Rpt.pdf