Peter D
HART
RESEARCH A S S OC I A T ES
&
PUBLIC OPINION STRATEGIES
Rising to the Challenge Are High School Graduates Prepared For College & Work? Key findings from surveys among public high school graduates, college instructors, and employers Conducted December 2004–January 2005 for
Research Methods
Telephone surveys among the following populations:
1,487 public high school graduates from Classes of 2002, 2003, 2004, conducted December 4–21, 2004, including: 861
current students at two- and four-year colleges and universities (353 of whom have taken a remedial course) 626 graduates who are not currently enrolled in college, including 267 who attended college in the past but withdrew 303 African Americans and 287 Hispanic Americans
400 employers who make personnel decisions (owners, CEOs, presidents, human resources professionals), conducted December 10–16, 2004
300 instructors who teach first-year students at two-year and four-year colleges and universities
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Key Points
As many as four in ten graduates are not prepared: 39% of college students and high school graduates with no further education say they have gaps in the skills and abilities expected today. 35% of college students and 39% of non-students say they have large gaps in preparation in at least one crucial skill; 86% of both college students and non-students say they have some gaps. College instructors estimate that 42% of their students are not adequately prepared. Employers estimate that 39% of high school graduates who have no further education are not prepared for their current job and that 45% are unprepared for advancement.
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Key Points
All groups call for higher standards: Only 24% of high school graduates say they faced high expectations and were challenged in high school. Those who faced high expectations in high school are much more likely to feel prepared for the expectations they now face. Knowing what they know today, 65% of college students and 77% of non-students say they would have worked harder in high school. 62% of college students and 72% of non-students would have taken at least one more difficult course. High school graduates, college instructors, and employers strongly embrace reforms that raise standards and requirements for graduation.
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Many Grads Cite Gaps In Preparation How well did your high school education prepare you for college-level work/jobs you hope to get in the future? Extremely well: prepared for everything Not well: large gaps/struggling
Very well: generally able to do what's expected Somewhat well: some gaps
61% 53% 46% 39% College instructors estimate that 42% of recent high school graduates are not prepared for collegelevel classes.
15% 7%
College students
Employers estimate that 45% of recent high school graduates are not prepared with skills to advance beyond entry level jobs. 11%
12%
Non-students
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Most Grads Cite Gaps In At Least One Skill
(In each area, % saying there are at least some gaps in their preparation) 35% of college students report large gaps in at least one area, 86% report some gaps in at least one area. College students Non-students
Oral communication/ public speaking Science
11% 14%
Mathematics
13% 16%
Doing research
10% 13%
Quality of writing that is expected
9% 10%
Reading/understanding complicated materials
45% 46%
12% large gaps/struggling 15% large gaps/struggling
5% 9%
44% 51% 42% 41% 40% 45% 35% 38% 29% 33%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Employers/College Instructors Say Many Not Prepared In Math/Writing (Employers’/instructors’ average estimates of percentages of public HS graduates NOT prepared in each subject) Employers 41%
Ability to do math
38%
Quality of writing
Instructors Ability to do math Quality of writing
50% 50%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Few Employers Feel High School Graduates Prepared For Advancement Extremely/very well prepared for typical job in my company Extremely/very well prepared for advancement in my company
Applicants with no high school degree Recent public high school grads who have no further education/training Recent grads of two-year college or training program Recent graduates of fouryear colleges
10% 10% 25% 18% 74% 75% 75% 78%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
College Instructors Are Harshest Critics Of High School Do public high schools adequately prepare graduates to meet the expectations they face in college
In first-year classes, how much class time do you spend reviewing material and skills that should have been taught in high school? 70%
65%
Some class time
Do not adequately prepare graduates 28%
Adequately prepare graduates
28% Significant amount of class time (24%)
Very little class time NoEmployers class time
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Employers/Instructors Dissatisfied With High Schools’ Skills Prep (In each area, % saying they are somewhat/very dissatisfied with the job public high schools are doing preparing graduates) College instructors
Employers
Reading/understanding complicated materials
25% very dissatisfied
Quality of writing that is expected
22% very dissatisfied
Doing research
24% very dissatisfied
Mathematics
20% very dissatisfied
41% 62% 40% 59% 29% 52% 32% 40%
Oral communication/ public speaking Science
70%
34% 36% 24%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Employers/Instructors Dissatisfied With High Schools’ Skills Prep (In each area, % saying they are somewhat/very dissatisfied with the job public high schools are doing preparing graduates) College instructors
Employers
Thinking analytically
29% very dissatisfied
Work and study habits
22% very dissatisfied 16% very dissatisfied
Applying what is learned in school to solving problems
17% very dissatisfied
Computer skills
66% 42%
65% 50%
55% 39%
20% 17%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Few Say Expectations Were High Academic expectations of me in high school were: High/I was significantly challenged Moderate/I was somewhat challenged Low/pretty easy to slide by 57%
56%
24%
53%
26% 20%
Expectations were high
26% 17%
20%
All HS graduates
24%
Below average income Average income Above average income
23% 23% 24%
City Suburbs Small town/rural
23% 31% 20%
General studies in HS College prep in HS
17% 30%
All high school College students Non-students graduates How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Grads Who Faced High Expectations Twice As Likely To Feel Prepared (% saying they were extremely/very well prepared for college/future job) College students whose high schools held them to: High expectations
80%
Moderate expectations Low expectations
58% 37%
Non-students whose high schools held them to: High expectations
72% 53%
Moderate expectations Low expectations
36%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Challenging Courses = Better Prepared (% saying they were extremely/very well prepared for college)
College students who took the following number of high school level math and science courses: Nine or ten
73% 67%
Eight 58%
Seven
54%
Five or six Four or fewer
33%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Algebra II Critical For Work World And College When it comes to mathematics, how well were you prepared in high school for the expectations you face in college/working world? Extremely/very well prepared
Somewhat/not too/not at all well prepared
Non-students
College students 72%
68%
60%
54% 46%
37%
31% 26%
Completed less than Algebra 2
Completed Algebra 2/more
Completed less than Algebra 2
Completed Algebra 2/more
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Lower Expectations For Writing Lead To Lower Confidence Writing expected of you in high school
Graduates Graduates who wrote who fair wrote amount/ great deal not much
53% 46%
Great deal high expectations, term papers, research reports, senior thesis
Fair amount English classes some emphasis on writing skills, papers for other classes
Students Feel somewhat/not prepared for college writing
21%
49%
Non-students Feel somewhat/not prepared for writing at work
24%
51%
Not much
All public HS graduates How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Knowing What They Know Today, Grads Would Have Worked Harder Would have applied myself more
Knowing what you do today about the expectations of college/the work world, if you were able to do high school over again, would you have worked harder and applied yourself more to your coursework even if it meant less time for other activities?
Would have applied myself the same/less
77% 65%
34% 22%
College students
Non-students
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Had High School Demanded More, Grads Would Have Worked Harder Strongly feel I would have worked harder Wouldn't have worked harder
Would have worked harder
82% If your high school had demanded more of students, set higher academic standards, and raised the expectations of how much course work and studying would be necessary to earn a diploma, would you have worked harder to meet these expectations?
80%
64%
63%
15%
College students
18%
Non-students
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Majorities of Graduates Would Have Taken Harder Courses Knowing what you know today about the expectations of college/the work world, if you were able to do high school over again, when it comes to math/sciences/English would you have taken higher-level and more challenging courses if they were available?
College students Non-students
Would have taken more challenging courses in at least one area Would have taken more challenging courses in: Math Science English
62%
72%
34% 48% 32% 41% 29% 38%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Large Majorities Support All Reforms (% public high school graduates saying each would improve things in encouraging HS students to work harder/be better prepared) Would improve things a great deal
Real-world learning opportunities (internships) Early guidance on courses for career/college prep More honors, AP, IB courses available for free More tutoring, summer school, extra help Give juniors college placement tests to see if ready Require exams in math and English to graduate Smaller high schools, more contact with teachers Require four years’ math, biology, chemistry, physics
Would improve things somewhat
96%
73% 71%
93%
70%
93%
58%
88%
57%
87%
50%
81%
50%
80%
45%
74%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Overview Of Support For Reforms
Early guidance on the courses to take to prepare for career/college enjoys universal support, with 90% or more of public high school graduates, employers, and college instructors saying this would improve things a great deal or somewhat.
Opportunities for real-world learning receives high support from recent graduates (96% improve things a great deal/somewhat), employers (95%), and college instructors (76%).
More honors, AP, IB courses garners near universal support from recent graduates (93%), and nearly as much from employers (86%) and college instructors (85%).
Non-students are more likely than college students to strongly endorse proposals giving high school students more help/attention, including early placement tests to determine readiness for college (67% of non-students say this would improve things a great deal, 49% of college students say the same), tutoring, summer school, extra help (63% non-students, 55% students), and smaller high schools (58% non-students, 45% students).
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Support For Math/Science Requirement (% who say requiring four years’ math, biology, chemistry, and physics to graduate would encourage HS students to work harder/be better prepared) Would improve things a great deal
All public high school graduates College students
Non-students
Employers
College instructors
45%
49%
39%
41%
43%
Would improve things somewhat
74% 77%
70%
83%
81%
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for
Conclusions
Public high schools are failing to prepare a substantial minority of graduates for skills expected of them today.
Employers and instructors are the harshest critics and say many graduates come to them inadequately prepared.
More rigorous courses and higher expectations lead to better prepared graduates.
Graduates themselves say they would welcome more challenging requirements and raised expectations for high school graduation.
How Prepared Are Public High School Graduates?/Hart Research & Public Opinion Strategies for