What percentage of a high school graduating class going to four-year college?

Answer 1

Your question is extremely complex so the answer will be lengthly. It's unbelievable that not many stats have been taken in the U.S. regarding students leaving High School and the percentage that is qualified to go to different colleges. Education and funding is lacking greatly in the U.S. Educational System. Many High School Students are simply not prepared for college. President Bush has made some changes to help students with loans (making it easier) to get through college. The system has been broken down by race and State-to-State. Many good students simply can't afford to go to college and those that manage to be accepted into college (SAT scores), often have to leave college after 1 - 2 years because of low finances. The good news is that the States has had an eye-opener and are going to be following students and giving percentages of success rates and finding out where the failures are so students can be helped more through the college process. The following information is interesting. Public High School Graduation and College-Readiness Rates: 1991

Answer 2

• The national high school graduation rate for all public school students remained flat over the last decade, going from 72% in 1991 to 71% in 2002.
• Nationally, the percentage of all students who left high school with the skills and qualifications necessary to attend college increased from 25% in 1991 to 34% in 2002. The finding of flat high school graduation rates and increasing college readiness rates is likely the result of the increased standards and accountability programs over the last decade, which have required students to take more challenging courses required for admission to college without pushing those students to drop out of high school.
• The state with the highest graduation rate in the nation in 2002 was New Jersey (89%), followed by Iowa, Wisconsin, and North Dakota (each at 85%). The state with the lowest graduation rate in the nation was South Carolina (53%), followed by Georgia (56%), Tennessee (57%), and Alabama (58%).
• There is a wide disparity in the graduation rates of white and minority students. In the class of 2002, about 78% of white students graduated from high school with a regular diploma, compared to 56% of African-American students and 52% of Hispanic students.
• There is also a large difference among racial and ethnic groups in the percentage of students who leave high school eligible for college admission. About 40% of white students, 23% of African-American students, and 20% of Hispanic students who started public high school graduated college-ready in 2002.
• There is very little difference between the number of students who graduate from high school college-ready and the number of students who enroll in college for the first time. This indicates that there is not a large pool of students who have the skills necessary to attend college but do not do so because of lack of funds or other non-academic factors.

Hope this helps. <><