A growing number of Hawai'i's public high school students are taking college-level courses and earning dual credits – for both high school and college – before they graduate from the 12th grade, according to the College and Career Readiness Report (CCRI), released today by Hawai'i P-20 Partnerships for Education. Up to 10 percent of the Class of 2015 statewide earned college credits from the University of Hawai'i (UH) while attending high school, up four percentage points from the Class of 2013.
The increase in dual-credit participation and college-level preparation is a boost toward achieving Hawai'i's "55 by '25" education goal of 55 percent of working age adults holding a 2- or 4-year college degree by 2025.
"This shows us that efforts towards preparing students for both college and the workforce is getting results."
- Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi
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Research shows that participation in college-level coursework during high school can increase students' exposure and aspirations for postsecondary success. High school students who graduate with college credits are more likely to enroll, persist, and succeed in higher education.
The top five high schools with the highest percentage of students completing dual-credit for the Class of 2015 are:
- Waipahu High School: 32% (from 13% in the Class of 2013)
- Kailua High School: 18% (from 5% in the Class of 2013)
- Kaimuki High School: 16% (from 6% in the Class of 2013)
- Farrington High School: 15% (from 3% in the Class of 2013)
- Waianae High School: 15% (from 4% in the Class of 2013)
Waipahu High School led the rest of Hawaii's high schools with an impressive 32 percent of its class of 2015 earning dual credits and 48 percent of those students earning six or more college credits.
"This shows us that efforts towards preparing students for both college and the workforce is getting results. The pride and excitement of having these educational opportunities is evident when I speak with students who are earning college credit," stated Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. "The college-going rate increase also coincides with more high school students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP)."
The number of students who completed at least one AP exam, a rigorous assessment that measures student academic readiness for college, has increased steadily. One-third of the Class of 2015 completed the exam, up from 28 percent in the Class of 2013, and 42 percent of these students scored a 3 or higher – up from 38 percent of the class of 2013. Generally, colleges require scores of 3 or higher to award college credit for the exam.
Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) schools with the highest percentage of AP students who completed at least one exam:
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Roosevelt High School: 53%
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King Kekaulike High School: 49%
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Waialua High School: 48%
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Kalani High School: 45%
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Leilehua High School: 42%
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Radford High School: 42%
College enrollment in the first fall after high school graduation held steady from the previous year – 56 percent – while the percentage of students prepared for college-level, credit-bearing mathematics and English increased, two-percentage points for math and six-percentage points for English. Concurrently, enrollments in remedial/developmental courses decreased from 32 to 28 percent in Math and from 31 to 25 percent in English.
"The increase in dual-credit participation and college-level preparation supports our state's 55 by '25 education goal," said Karen Lee, Executive Director of Hawai'i P-20 Partnerships for Education, an organization that works on programs and policy to strengthen the pipeline from early childhood through postsecondary education. "It is a testament to HIDOE's adoption of more rigorous standards as well as the strong partnership with UH through dual credit courses that more students are prepared for college."
Spotlight schools with highest gains in the CCRI for the Class of 2015 include:
1.
Waipahu High School
a. Increased dual credit participation and credits earned
i. Class of 2015: 32% participated (up from 13%, Class of 2013)
ii. Class of 2015: 48% of participants earned at least six college credits (up from 43% among Class of 2013 participants)
b. Increased college access, moving closer to the statewide average
i. Class of 2009: 36%
ii. Class of 2015: 52%
2. Waiākea High School
a. Increased on-time graduation rate
i. Class of 2013: 80%
ii. Class of 2015 (preliminary rate): 86%
b. Increased dual credit participation and credits earned
i. Class of 2015: 14% participated (up from 8%, Class of 2013)
ii. Class of 2015: 69% of participants earned at least six college credits (up from 32% among Class of 2013 participants)
c. Increased college-level enrollment
i. Class of 2015: 39% enrolled in college-level math at UH (up from 34%, Class of 2013)
ii. Class of 2015: 56% enrolled in college-level English at UH (up from 47%, Class of 2013)
d. Decreased remedial and developmental enrollment
i. Class of 2015: 23% enrolled in remedial or developmental math at UH (down from 27%, Class of 2013)
ii. Class of 2015: 17% enrolled in remedial or developmental math at UH (down from 25%, Class of 2013)
3. Kailua High School
a. Increased dual credit participation
i. Class of 2015: 18% participated (up from 5%, Class of 2013)
b. Increased college access
i. Class of 2009: 50% enrolled in college in the first fall
ii. Class of 2015: 58% enrolled in college in the first fall
CCRI reports are an annual collaboration between the HIDOE and the UH, coordinated by Hawai'i P-20 Partnerships for Education, to present information on how well Hawai'i public school graduates are prepared for college.
Hawai'i's CCRI reports are continuously recognized by national organizations, including the Data Quality Campaign, Achieve, and the National Governors Association, as a leading example of collaboration between K-12 and higher education and for providing useful information on college readiness. The full reports can be found at:
http://www.p20hawaii.org/resources/college-and-career-readiness-indicators-reports/2015-ccri-data
