Statistics show high school students unprepared for college

Brittany Bollinger thought the transition between high school and college would be manageable.

But on Friday she returned her college algebra textbook.

"I dropped the class. If I had known college algebra would be this hard I would have paid more attention in high school," she said.

The 2007 Woodland High School graduate's math ACT sub-score was above a 21, meaning she was not required to take a remedial math class at Southeast Missouri State University.

She had taken three units of math in high school at the level of Algebra I or higher, Southeast's requirement for admission.

Despite this requirement, nearly 32 percent of students enrolled this school year needed to take a "developmental," or remedial, class in math. Placement is based on a student's ACT score or an optional math test. About 4 percent needed to take a remedial writing class.

These numbers mirror local percentages for the most part. Thirty-one percent of Woodland graduates needed to a developmental math class in 2006, according to the Missouri Department of Higher Education. In both Cape Girardeau and Jackson, 20 percent did.

This is a concern for administrators and professors, parents, politicians, business leaders and students alike.

Remedial classes cost the same as traditional classes, but don't count as credit toward a degree. Most worrisome, educators say, is the increased risk for dropping out connected to students required to take a remedial class.

Cost is another concern. According to a spring 2006 brief from the Center for Evaluation & Education Policy, "taxpayers have complained that they are paying twice for students' education in basic skills -- once in high school and then again in college." The report, titled "Examining College Remediation Trends in Indiana" estimates nationally that remedial education in public colleges costs over $1 billion annually.

While numbers of students taking remedial classes has remained relatively stagnant, if not dropped locally, schools are taking action to better prepare students.

This month the Cape Girardeau school board approved a process to implement PAS, or Preparing for Academic Success, classes at the high school. The classes, which will extend the school day by 30 minutes, will be required of all freshman starting next year.

Students will receive intervention in literacy and study skills, academic preparation and tutoring, and the development and monitoring of four-year graduation plans.

Older students who continue to take the class will receive training in formal college and career planning.

Administrators hope this not only keeps students in high school but also prepares them for post-graduation.

"Our challenge is to sustain academic rigor while at the same time helping those that struggle gain from that rigor," said Dr. Mike Cowan, principal of Central High school.

Want to know more? Read Wednesday's Southeast Missourian.