In a follow-up report to two recently released fact sheets detailing college access and readiness throughout the state, the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) homed in on pathways to college completion in the Inland Empire.
While the region has a higher share of children and young adults than the rest of the state, few earn baccalaureate degrees. PPIC researchers examined how TK-12 and institutions of higher education are addressing low rates of college completion and highlighted strategies that could encourage more students to go to and complete college.
“The good news is that students at some Inland Empire high schools are faring well; strategies at these schools could be leveraged by others in the region. To create a college-going culture, students may need early and ongoing exposure to college- and career-readiness opportunities,” according to the report. “Curriculum changes may involve aligning high school graduation requirements with those for admission to [University of California] and [California State University] and expanding access to dual enrollment courses. Furthermore, community colleges are a primary point of access to higher education — streamlining transfers can help students continue their journey to four-year institutions. Lastly, addressing non-academic needs — including college knowledge and financial support — may be necessary to make college accessible and affordable.”
Key findings
Researchers identified trends in student progress toward completing a bachelor’s degree across four critical junctures: high school graduation, college access and enrollment (among first-time and returning students), transfer to four-year colleges among community college students, and persistence to completion among all college students.
Among the findings focused on the TK-12 system, the report shows:
- High school students from the Inland Empire are much less likely to go to and graduate from college than their peers in the rest of the state. Only 26 percent of Inland Empire ninth graders are on track to earn a bachelor’s degree, compared to 35 percent in the rest of the state. Even with high school graduation rates that are above the state average, only 57 percent of Inland Empire graduates attend a college anywhere in the U.S., compared to 65 percent of graduates in the rest of the state, and only 25 percent of the region’s high school graduates attend a four-year college after high school.
- Inland Empire students are underrepresented at the state’s public four-year universities. Low representation is due in part to low completion of the high school courses required for admission UC and CSU, though other factors such as campus proximity, access to A-G coursework and financial constraints also play a role. “Compounding the issue of affordability is the complexity of financial aid programs and the application process; interviewees noted that students often felt discouraged from completing the process to access financial aid,” the report states.
- Most districts are moving towards providing information on the college application process, the A-G course sequence and career exploration in middle and elementary school. One district surveyed said they hold career fairs for their elementary school students every year. Researchers noted that K-12 district interviewees mentioned high school pathways that focused more on sub-baccalaureate education. “For example, one K-12 district mentioned their robust firefighter pathway program where students visit work sites to see live projects and simulations,” according to the report. “They aim for their pathways to be as close as possible to industry-level standards. In this district, all students must complete a senior project, which requires job shadowing and certain hours a week to be involved in internships.”
- Dual enrollment was identified across many districts as a key effort toward supporting college readiness and access. Community college leaders and several high school districts told researchers they have prioritized expanding dual enrollment for high school students and identified several strategies to make programs more accessible. These include designating physical space on the high school campus, offering transportation to the local community college campus or offering courses online, which can help meet student demand for more flexible schedules.
Among the many recommendations detailed in the report, one key factor identified for TK-12 schools was increased cooperation with nonprofits and outreach programs to fill gaps where students need support.
“A multitude of nonprofits and outreach programs exist for students in the Inland Empire, many of which target their services to a certain microregion or population due to the region’s vastness and diversity. These organizations provide college tours, internships, job shadowing, networking, application support, financial aid workshops, scholarships, and mentorship,” according to the report. “While these programs are designed to promote positive outcomes, there is opportunity for improvement in reaching a broader range of students. Currently, many require students to opt in or self-select, which can limit their overall impact. Outreach efforts often offer essential one-on-one support, especially where schools may face capacity constraints — highlighting the value of expanding and strengthening such supports. With better coordination and alignment across organizations, and by working to bring these efforts to scale, there is real potential to extend their reach and effectiveness for more students across the region.”
