If College-for-All, then College Prep-for-All?
with Kori Stroub, Camila Cigarroa Kennedy, & Bethany Lewis
In this study, we describe the distribution of college prep course offerings across Texas and determine which school characteristics are associated with higher and lower numbers of course offerings. We also examine how college prep course offerings are related to student-level college prep course-taking and, in turn, how course-taking behaviors are related to long-term educational outcomes. This investigation of the distribution of college prep course offerings across Texas high schools reveals that more college prep courses are offered at larger, urban and suburban schools with higher levels of academic achievement and lower levels of economic disadvantage. Offering more college prep courses is associated with higher levels of course-taking, which, in turn, is associated with improved chances of completing a postsecondary credential, particularly for lower-achieving students.
Links
Houston Education Research Consortium (HERC) research report
HERC summary document
Urban Edge blog post
University of Houston Education Research Center (UH ERC) policy brief
Related HERC products
Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Texas Workforce — project overview
Transitioning to College and Work (Part 1: Where are high school seniors from 2006-2008 now?) — research report | summary document
Transitioning to College and Work (Part 2: A Study of Potential Enrollment Indicators) — research report | summary document | methodological appendix
Transitioning to College and Work (Part 3: Labor Market Analyses in Houston and Texas) — research report | summary document | methodological appendix
School-to-Work Linkages in Texas — research report | summary document | methodological appendix
Tracking Eighth-Graders’ Postsecondary Outcomes in Harris County — interactive website | summary document
Related UH ERC products
Tracking Eighth Graders' Post-Secondary Outcomes in Texas — policy brief
Optimal Subsidies for Increasing Two-Year and Four-Year College Graduation Rates — policy brief