Although the number of high school graduates in New York State have risen, the quality of degrees earned has recently been called into question. Using standardized testing scores, approximately 37% of high school graduates in New York state have been deemed “college-ready”.
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College readiness is evaluated by looking at English and Math Regents exams (state-wide tests). A score of at least 75 in English and 80 in Math is judged sufficient for C grades at community colleges or well-paying careers. However, students are not reaching these levels despite qualifying for graduation. Data is taken from scores of students who entered public high school in 2006 and were on track to graduate in 2010.
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In New York City, the college-readiness of students is deemed around 21%. Only 20 of the 360 public schools there account for about half of the students who are college-ready. Six high schools—LaGuardia, Brooklyn Technical High School, Stuyvesant High School, Bronx High School of Science, Francis Lewis High School and Midwood High School—have graduated one-third of the college-ready students in the Class of 2010. Even schools like Food and Finance High School, with high graduation rates (89%) have much lower college-ready rates (14%). In the suburban Pelham school district in Westchester, the graduation rate is 97% but the college-readiness rate is at 52%.
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There is also a racial element that shouldn’t be overlooked: only 13% and 15% of black and Hispanic students are college ready (respectively) after four years of high school, but 51% of white students and 56% of Asian students pass tests sufficiently.
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Clearly, there are issues with the education students are receiving that need to be addressed. If students are to reach higher education levels and excel, their schools need to be committed to adequately teaching them the skills they need to do so. College-readiness should be tested and addressed in all states, not just New York.
Source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/nyregion/37-of-new-york-graduates-meet…