College-Readiness Low Among [New York] State Graduates, Data Show

New York Times ^ | June 14, 2011 | SHARON OTTERMAN

[reaganaut1]

Heightening concerns about the value of many of its high school diplomas, the New York State Education Department released new data on Tuesday showing that only 37 percent of students who entered high school in 2006 left four years later adequately prepared for college, with even smaller percentages of minority graduates and those in the largest cities meeting that standard.

In New York City, 21 percent of the students who started high school in 2006 graduated last year with high enough scores on state math and English tests to be deemed ready for higher education or well-paying careers. In Rochester, it was 6 percent; in Yonkers, 14.5 percent.

The new calculations, part of a statewide push to realign standards with college readiness, also underscored a racial achievement gap: 13 percent of black students and 15 percent of Hispanic students statewide were deemed college-ready after four years of high school, compared with 51 percent of white graduates and 56 percent of Asian-Americans.

There were also wide variations among individual schools within districts. In New York, more than half the college-ready graduates came from 20 of the 360 high schools for which information was provided.

For many years, officials at the City University of New York and at community colleges across the state have raised questions about why so many students from public high schools seem to lack basic skills when they arrive on campuses, requiring extensive remediation. But Tuesday was the first time the state attempted to say how many seniors at each school were prepared to move on.

“This is talking about useful truths,” said Merryl H. Tisch, the chancellor of the Board of Regents. “We are all aware that this is very challenging, and that the tenacity of the achievement gap is undeniable.

[reaganaut1]

Stop pretending that everyone should go to college or that equal fractions of all races are college material.

[Don Corleone]

If reading and critical thinking skills are required none of them are ready for college. Hell, few of them are ready for high school.

[KoRn]

Most programs in college are worthless right now. Someone going into $75,000+ of debt to get some worthless degree, only to graduate and land a $25,000 per year job(if they can even find one) isn’t worth it, IMO.

Best thing for kids to do right now is go to a community college or trade school, and get some actual JOB SKILLS.

[ransomnote]

Worked with a graduate of a 4 year university recently. She was not capable of writing a coherent memo asking Facilities to set up 100 folding chairs in the company dining hall. I didn’t understand what she wrote and coached her to rewrite it a few times. I had to explain everything to her as if she had never written any sort of communication before. She did not have a concept of of what ‘re:’ meant, what information to include, explicit setup details of the request (face 100 chairs toward the windows), and the need to be clear about when and where the event would take place. All of it was brand spankin’ new to her. 23 year old college graduate.

[wku man]

Go on the Yahoo blogs and you'll see legions of brain stems who can't spell, punctuate, capitalize or string together a coherent thought. Hell, even some FReepers are just as guilty. Maybe we should start calling Generation.com, "Generation Duh".

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[John Locke]

For many years, officials at the City University of New York and at community colleges across the state have raised questions about why so many students from public high schools seem to lack basic skills when they arrive on campuses, requiring extensive remediation.

Answer (and it took 30 seconds): because the schools do a lousy job of educating. And why is that so? Because the schools, like all state run enterprises, exist to serve their employees first, the politicos second, and their hapless customers dead last.