Transition: High School to College

This study uses a national sample of students in sixth and ninth grade to determine how students perceive the utility of schooling for career development. Students demonstrated little awareness of the relationship between work and school, skills and knowledge required of them and learning opportunities at their disposal. In addition, students found extracurricular activities to be more important to their future careers than academic activities.

This study of high school students examines the gender differences in college-ready performance in reading, math and both subjects, and on the American College Test (ACT) and Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT). Less than one-third of all students were said to be college-ready in both math and reading, and statistically significant differences were revealed in the subject areas and SAT average scores.

This longitudinal study uses a nationally representative sample of high school sophomores to explore if first-generation Asian Americans and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students suffer from inequalities in college access. The analysis revealed that first-generation AAPI students face inequalities in terms of college access, which results in lower educational expectations, lower probability of educational expectations, decreased probability of taking college entrance exams, and applying to and attending higher education institutions.

This study examined the effects of information about government support programs for college financial aid. H&R Block provided assistance with completing the federal application for financial aid (FAFSA) and information on eligibility for government aid and local postsecondary options to a randomly selected sample of low to moderate income families. Another randomly selected sample received only personalized aid eligibility information and no assistance with the FAFSA.

This evaluation of Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) showed statistically significant differences between AVID and comparison students on measures of enrollment in eighth grade algebra, language arts grades, school absences, and college attendance, favoring AVID students.

This longitudinal study tracked the college-going behaviors of students that participated in the Migrant Student Leadership Institute, which aims to increase the number of migrant students attending a 4-year college through academic preparation, information about college and critical thinking about sociopolitical conditions. Findings from this study, which included a comparison group, showed that participation in the program had a positive effect on application and enrollment rates for selective California public higher education institutions.

This study evaluates what types of services, programs and providers are needed in Virginia to increase student access to postsecondary education. This report highlights the resources available by examining statistics, maps, figure and case-narratives, areas where progress is being made and college access roadblocks encountered. A detailed illustration which includes technical information is also described.

This study evaluates the EXCEL program, a college access program, which promotes underrepresented youth attending a higher education institution by guaranteeing a scholarship to a sponsoring university and providing various enrichment activities. Eighty-three eighth grade students with a GPA of B and above and standardized test scores at grade level or above were randomly assigned to attend EXCEL or to a control group. Results revealed that students involved in the program were not significantly more likely to attend college than students in the control group.

Analyses reported in this study found a positive relationship between SAT taking rates and college enrollment rates. The study also found that free and reduced price lunch and residing more than 60 miles away from a higher education institute were associated with lower rates of college enrollment.

This brief sponsored by Achieve, Inc., discusses the results from a poll of registered voters to examine: 1) whether they support the goal that students graduating high school should be college and career ready, and 2) whether they support the policies necessary to reach the goal. Voters polled indicated a strong belief in rigorous, well rounded high school academic requirements that are aligned with college and career expectations.