Noncollege-Bound Students: A Closer Look. Issue Brief

ACT, Inc. 500 ACT Drive, P.O. Box 168, Iowa City, IA 52243-0168. Tel: 319-337-1270; Web site: http://www.act.org

N

12

Noncollege Bound Students; College Readiness; Enrollment; College Entrance Examinations; Longitudinal Studies; Outcomes of Education; Comparative Analysis; College Bound Students; Student Characteristics; Educational Attainment; College Graduates; Graduation Rate; College Preparation

Colorado; Illinois

It was estimated that 92% of 2004 high school graduates in the United States planned to continue their education after high school. Why might students not plan to go to college? Common concerns include inadequate academic preparation, a lack of understanding of the enrollment process, and the perceived economic benefit of college attendance. This brief examines the academic preparation of high school students who do not plan to go to college, hereafter referred to as noncollege-bound students. Despite the overwhelming majority of high school graduates who plan on going to college, only 68% of the 2010 graduating cohort actually enrolled in a higher education institution after high school (United States Department of Education, 2011, Table 210). Of those that do enroll, many are underprepared for first-year college courses in English Composition, College Algebra, Biology, and social sciences. For example, among high school graduates meeting no College Readiness Benchmarks, about 50% still enrolled in college the fall after high school (ACT, 2012). Noncollege-bound students are less likely to take the practical steps needed for college admissions and enrollment, and thus are potentially closing the door on future opportunities including the possibility of a higher education. For example, while almost 82% of all 2004 graduates took or planned to take a college entrance exam, only about 33% of noncollege-bound students took either the ACT or SAT. The information gleaned from noncollege-bound students presents an opportunity to identify issues related to enrollment and success in college. This brief reports on a longitudinal study of noncollege-bound students who nevertheless enrolled in college and documents their outcomes. Students who participated in ACT statewide adoption programs in Colorado and Illinois where all public high school students took the ACT regardless of their post-high school plans were examined. Technical notes are appended.

ERIC

15

2015

ED560252