High School Issues

To prepare students for success in college, high schools are providing increasingly rigorous course options to help students establish a foundation for continuing education. According to the College Board, colleges today are “looking for a solid foundation of learning that you can build on in college.” As colleges view high school transcripts as a student’s blueprint of their educational experiences, students should immerse themselves in a combination of academic core classes, along with concentrated subjects that focus on a students’ pathway for potential future studies. By engaging in solid high school college prep courses, students are better prepared for the transition into higher education experiences.

The College Prep Overview

To prepare for college, students can plan their schedule by looking at the guidelines for each core subject area. For the best college prep courses, students should focus primarily on core classes, and then choose elective classes as options that will enhance their skills as a collegiate student.

English

Students should take four units of English while in high school, which can focus on literature, writing, and research courses. Most specifically, an emphasis on composition will help build a foundation for collegiate success, as writing is a large component of continuing education. As College Board advisors further support, students should plan to “take English every year. Traditional courses, such as American and English literature, help you improve your writing skills, reading comprehension, and vocabulary.” Considering that the skills learned in English are often used in almost all courses,

Dual enrollment programs allow high school students to receive both high school and college credit for taking a college-level course. A 2007 study from the Community College Research Center (CCRC) concluded that dual enrollment programs have a positive effect on high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, college grades, and progress toward obtaining a college degree. This article examines dual enrollment programs and the benefits they afford.

The number of dual admission programs has increased significantly over the past few years. According to the U.S. Department of Education, about 1.2 million students participated in dual enrollment programs during the 2002-03 academic year. Approximately 71 percent of public high schools offered dual enrollment programs.

More than half of all colleges and universities allowed high school students to take classes for college credit. Community colleges are enthusiastic sponsors of dual enrollment programs. About 98 percent of public community colleges had dual enrollment programs in 2002-03. For public four-year universities, the number is 77 percent. Private community colleges and four-year institutions offer fewer dual enrollment opportunities than their public counterparts.

How Do Dual Enrollment Programs Work?

The requirements of dual admission programs vary considerably nationwide. The following characteristics are common:

? Only certain lower-level college courses are approved for dual credit. Remedial classes, physical education, and music courses are typically excluded from the programs.

? Academic standards are imposed on participants, including minimum grade point averages and standardized test scores.

? Students receive both credit toward high school graduation and college

The high school graduation rate is a "barometer of the health of American society and the skill level of its future workforce," according to Heckman and LaFontaine, the authors of a 2007 study. From a different perspective, graduation from high school can mean the difference between an individual student's future success and a future marred by unemployment, poverty, and even crime. Whether the viewpoint is broad or narrow, the significance of a high school diploma is evident. This article discusses government efforts to improve graduation rates, examines a recent study that attempts to gauge the magnitude of the dropout problem, and suggests steps that parents can take to encourage their children stay in school.

Introduction

In an age of information technology and a global economy, high school graduation is a minimum requirement for higher education and gainful employment. It is surprising, therefore, that there is no national average graduation rate on which all experts can agree. That is because there are numerous methods for calculating graduation rates. Estimates have ranged from 66 to 88 percent as a national average graduation rate, with 70 percent accepted by many authorities as the best estimate. Moreover, an average graduation rate does not tell the whole story. Black and Hispanic students drop out at higher rates than Non-Hispanic white students and Asian/Pacific Islander students. Students in urban environments are much less likely to finish high school than students in suburban areas. In some years, boys drop out at a higher rate than