Despite calls by policymakers and educators to increase college access, various student subgroups are often ignored by the research community. For example, the process through which rural Latinx students choose to enroll in college and the types of colleges they matriculate to is understudied in the literature. This study addresses the limitations…

Mentors can play an important role supporting youth as they make critical academic and career decisions during the transition to adulthood. For young people and their families, preparing for postsecondary opportunities can be an overwhelming, confusing, and stressful process. Having a mentor to help guide the process is beneficial for both young…

A quantitative, predictive design was used to explore how positive psychology, mental health, and cultural factors influenced Latina/o adolescents' college-going beliefs. By using multiple regression analysis, findings indicated that hope and life satisfaction were significant predictors of college-going beliefs. We provide a discussion regarding…

Applied science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) coursetaking is becoming more commonplace in traditional high school settings to help students reinforce their learning in academic STEM courses. Throughout U.S. educational history, vocational education has been a consistent focus for schools to keep students on the school-to-career…

In summer 2015, Princeton University contracted with Educational Testing Service (ETS) to conduct an evaluation of the Princeton University Preparatory Program (PUPP), the college access program developed by Princeton University faculty and staff. The mixed-method ETS evaluation of PUPP included the collection and analysis of qualitative and…

This evaluation report presents a baseline description of outcomes for the 2017-2018 school year, the first year of GEAR UP Austin implementation in AISD. Specifically, the report describes program implementation, student participation in GEAR UP Austin, and baseline student academic and college preparation outcomes. [For the executive summary,…

This report presents enrollment data for West Virginia Higher Education. The following topics of data are presented: (1) National Enrollment Trends; (2) West Virginia High School Graduate Projections; (3) College-Going Rate; (4) Student Persistence and Completion; (5) Credit Headcount Enrollment; (6) Fall 2020 Headcount Enrollment Shifts; (7)…

National trends show that college academic readiness and subsequent graduation rates continue to decline despite added attention being paid to advanced curriculum while in high school. This study utilized existing data to determine the relationship between completing or taking Advanced Placement® course(s) during high school and subsequent college…

In 2011, under the Florida College and Career Readiness Initiative (FCCRI), Florida made college placement testing mandatory for 11th-grade students who had scored in the midrange of its standardized 10th-grade assessment. Those with placement test scores below college-ready were assigned in 12th grade to college readiness and success…

This report presents enrollment data for West Virginia Higher Education. The following topics of data are presented: (1) National Enrollment Trends; (2) West Virginia High School Graduate Projections; (3) College-Going Rate; (4) Fall-to-Fall Retention Rates; (5) Credit Headcount Enrollment; (6) High School Dual Enrollment Headcount; (7)…

Dual credit courses are legislated course enrollment options available to ninth- to twelfth-grade students in the State of Texas. The dual credit program provides the opportunity for all high school students, regardless of grade level, to earn college credits while working toward a high school diploma (Houston ISD, 2018). There is no limit to the…

This brief benchmarks the postsecondary outcomes of students in College Track, a comprehensive college preparation program for students from underserved communities. College Track and Mathematica have partnered to conduct a rigorous experimental evaluation of the program, but results will not be available for several years. In the meantime,…

For a subset of undocumented immigrant youth who came to the United States (US), the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive action presents opportunities for advancement. In becoming, "DACA"-mented, youth are afforded certain privileges. However differential implementation of DACA on a state-by-state basis has important…

This study explores the influence high-stakes testing has on Latina/o student aspirations and subsequent college enrollment. It quantitatively examines the critical juncture of high school exit and college entry at a school district serving a predominately Latino population. Findings confirm a strong correlation between the math and English…

The challenge and promise of postsecondary education is greater in a large, fast-growing, diverse state like Texas where the fastest-growing segments of the population are economically disadvantaged and come from communities historically underserved by higher education institutions. Recognizing this reality, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating…