The Need For Remediation Study: Freshmen Class of 2002 Filip Wiecko Summer 2003

This Survey Attempts to Answer: What is the rate of needed remediation for the incoming freshmen class from the Washoe County School District in areas of English and mathematics What are the specific factors and possible causes that influence this need for remediation.

Some Basic Information About Our 2002 Freshmen There were 773 participants in our survey 54% were female and 46% were male 91% were Millennium Scholars 68% attended either Robert McQueen HS, Edward C. Reed HS, Galena HS, or Reno HS

High School History Of all students, 17% took advanced placement mathematics and 24% took advanced placement English Of those who took AP mathematics 75% received a B grade or higher Of those who took AP English 76% received a B grade or higher

Aptitude Testing 73% took the ACT and 27% took the SAT The range of ACT scores was between 11 and 33 with a mean of 22 The range of SAT scores was between 680 and 1490 with a mean of 1072

First Year in College 91% of the 2002 freshmen class enrolled in mathematics courses, 12% of these students enrolled in remedial mathematics courses. 93% of the 2002 freshmen class enrolled in English courses, 25% of these students enrolled in remedial English courses.

How Can We Predict the Need For Remediation? The best predictors are aptitude test scores and advanced placement courses. Of the 132 students who took AP mathematics, none required remediation. Of the students who took AP English for at least 1 year, the need for remediation dropped from 27% to less than 2%.

How Can We Predict the Need For Remediation? continued In mathematics ACT scores show that there is a near perfect correlation between score and the need for remediation. For every increase in test scores there is a decrease in remediation. English shows similar characteristics, in fact students who score a 29 or higher on the ACT have a less than 1% chance of needing remediation.

How Can We Predict the Need For Remediation? continued As expected, High School grades are a good indicator of needed remediation. Overall the higher the students’ GPAs were in high school, the lower was their need for remediation at the college level.

Overall Needed Remediation by High School TMCC Magnet HS7.3% Bishop Monogue HS13.5% Robert McQueen13.7% Sparks HS14.0% Edward C. Reed HS16.3% Reno HS17.5% Galena HS17.9% Earl Wooster HS25.6% Incline HS35.8% Proctor R. Hug HS36.4%

Conclusion Overall we can conclude that students who start out ahead tend to stay ahead. Those who lag behind during their pre- college years continue to do so at the college level. Aside from a few outliers this seems to be a consistent trend.