1. Increasing College Success for High School Seniors
Eliza Moeller
Associate Director of Research and Data Strategy
Network for College Success

2. Why focus on college?

3. Source: Economic policy institute http://www.epinet.org/datazone
Men’s Real Hourly Wages by Education (2011 Dollars)
Source: Economic policy institute

4. Almost All Graduates from Chicago Public Schools Hope to Complete Some Form of Postsecondary Education

5. Eighty-three Percent of CPS Graduates Hope to Complete at Least a Four-Year College Degree

6. Major Topics and Findings
Low qualifications prevent many students from entering and succeeding in college.
Even college-ready students struggle in the transition to postsecondary education.
Understanding and effectively participating in financial aid is critical.
Students rely on the adults in their schools to fill in the “social capital” they lack in their communities.
College choice matters a great deal.

7. #1: Low qualifications prevent many students from entering and succeeding in college.

8. High School GPA is the Best Predictor of College Success
3.0 GPA – Bs or Better – Is an Important Benchmark

9. CPS Students’ GPAs are Low

10. #2: Even college-ready students struggle to take the steps necessary to successfully access post-secondary education.

11. Tracking CPS Graduates’ Steps Toward College Enrollment

12. Only 41 Percent of CPS Graduates Who Aspired to Complete a Four-Year Degree Took These Steps

13. Only 61 Percent of Students Qualified to Attend a Somewhat Selective College Applied

14. Latinos Were the Least Likely to Plan to Attend/Apply to a Four-Year College

15. Reflection: Stop and Write
What stands out to you so far? What is interesting, surprising, or note-worthy?

16. #3: Understanding and effectively participating in financial aid is critical.

17. FAFSA Filing Matters for College Enrollment

18. Additional Financial Aid Challenges
Improper FAFSA filing
Late
“Never heard back”
Only submitted to one college
FAFSA TRACKING HELPS THIS IMMENSELY
Sticker shock – unable to reconcile tuition price vs. net cost of attendance
NET PRICE CALCULATORS CAN HELP THIS
Lack of awareness of institutional financial aid process
Paralyzing fear of loans
Students protecting their families from difficult decisions

19. #4: Students rely on the adults in their schools to fill in the “social capital” they lack in their communities.

20. How much does parental press influence college enrollment?

21. Students’ Reports of Parental Press (Questions from My Voice, My School Survey)
To what extent do your parents or guardians:
Encourage me to work hard in school?
Talk to me about how I am doing in my classes?
Encourage me to continue my education after high school?
Talk to me about my homework assignments?
Help me select courses that will prepare me for college or work?
Push me to take the steps I need to make my plans happen? 21

22. Percent of Students Who Plan to Attend a Four-Year College
Difference between students strong vs. weak on parental press =
4 percentage points

23. Difference in the Percent of Students Who Plan to Attend a Four-Year College
4 percentage points

24. The Effect of Parental Press on Each “Pothole”

25. How much does college-going culture in schools influence college enrollment?

26. Teachers’ Assessment of College-Going Culture (Questions on My Voice, My School Survey)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statements:
Teachers in this school expect most students to go to college.
Teachers help students plan for college outside of class time.
The curriculum at this school is focused on helping students get ready for college.
Teachers feel that it is a part of their job to prepare students to succeed in college.
Many of the students in this school are planning on going to college. 26

27. Impact of Parental Press vs
Impact of Parental Press vs. College-Going Culture on Planning to Go to College

28. Impact of Parental Press vs
Impact of Parental Press vs. College-Going Culture on Taking Steps Towards College

29. Why is college-going culture in schools more influential than parental press?
Consider social capital…

30. Chicago is Extremely Racially Segregated

31. Chicago is Even More Segregated by Education

32. If You Live in a Community with Very Few College-Educated Adults…
How do you know when college applications are due?
Where do you learn how to file a FAFSA?
Who do you call for help when something goes wrong over the summer?
How do you know how to write an effective application essay?
How do you know the difference between one college and another?

33. Reflection: Write
What stands out to you about the findings on college-going culture?
In what ways do you think your practice sends messages to students about their postsecondary aspirations?

34. #5: College choice matters a great deal.

35. College Choice Matters for College Completion

36. Major Topics and Findings
Low qualifications prevent many students from entering and succeeding in college.
Even college-ready students struggle in the transition to postsecondary education.
Understanding and effectively participating in financial aid is critical.
Students rely on the adults in their schools to fill in the “social capital” they lack in their communities.
College choice matters a great deal.