“After one semester those who can’t hack English and math flunk out and leave.”
Most community colleges also use a placement test to check student skills in those areas. Failure to make the grade on that test will result in enrollment in non-credit remedial courses to get the student ready for the work in a regular course. IOW, they are afforded the opportunity to succeed at a lower cost than in a comprehensive state university. This is exactly as it should be. Wish I had been blessed with the foresight and fortitude to do this for my own 2 children.
I think you stated the case correctly about the entrance tests