Tab E - Missouri High School Graduates Performance Report
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
Missouri High School Graduates Performance Report
Coordinating Board for Higher Education
April 6, 2006
DESCRIPTION
On an annual basis, the Coordinating Board for Higher Education has statutory responsibility to provide a report to the State Board of Education about the performance of public high school graduates during their first year of attendance at Missouri's public two- and four-year institutions (Section 173.750, RSMo). The intent of this board item is to provide a summary of the April 2006 Missouri High School Graduates Performance Report.
Background
As part of the Missouri Outstanding Schools Act, the Coordinating Board was given responsibility to prepare an annual report on recent high school graduates' academic performance during their initial year of pursuing collegiate-level work. As described in statute, the data in this report are to be arranged by individual school and disaggregated by race and gender. Further, individual student names are not to be used, and no grade point averages are to be disclosed in any cells with three or fewer students.
By statute, the report must include:
- Grade point average after the initial year in college
- Percent of students returning to college after the first and second semester
- Percent of students taking remedial courses in the basic academic subjects of English, mathematics, or reading
- Other data as determined by rule and regulation of the Coordinating Board for Higher Education
This annual report, which was first issued in 1996, is intended as a strategic resource to inform discussion about student preparation, high school and collegiate curricula, advising systems, academic planning, and collegiate success.
The April 2006 Report
The High School Graduates Report is based on Missouri public high school graduates entering the state's public two- and four-year postsecondary institutions as first-time freshmen in the fall semester following high school graduation.
Data for the following categories are included in Attachment A:
- Demographic characteristics of college entrants
- Academic preparation
- Performance and retention
- Degree completion
New Freshmen Demographics
Table 1 provides trend data for Missouri public high school graduates from 1996 and 2005 who entered Missouri public two- and four-year colleges and universities. These data demonstrate increased college attendance and changing demographics of high school graduates who become first-time freshmen at public institutions. General highlights include:
- Overall enrollment has increased 30 percent
- Sector distribution has shifted to the two-year sector, which now constitutes approximately 50 percent of new enrollments
- Proportion of females has remained significantly higher than males by about 10 percentage points
- African-American and Hispanic headcount has increased at a faster pace than Caucasian
- Proportional share of enrollment for African-Americans and Hispanics has increased by 2.2 and .6 percentage points respectively, while Caucasian enrollments declined by 4.1 percentage points
Academic Preparation
Table 2 provides trend data on academic preparation of Missouri public high school graduates from 1996 and 2005 who entered Missouri public two- and four-year institutions. Included are data on ACT test takers, completion of the CBHE-recommended 16-unit high school core curriculum, and enrollment in remedial coursework. General highlights include:
- Percent of ACT test takers has remained stable at about 71 percent
- Average ACT test scores were 22.6 in 1996 and 22.1 in 2005; both are above state and national averages of all ACT test takers, which were 20.9 and 21.4 in 1996 and 20.9 and 21.6 in 2005, respectively
- 91 percent of first-time freshmen at public four-year institutions completed the CBHE-recommended 16-unit high school core curriculum in 2005, representing a significant increase of 18 percentage points from 1996
- Percent of first-time freshmen taking remedial courses has increased noticeably
- Percent of students enrolled in remedial classes at public institutions has increased from 26 percent (4,768) in 1996 to 36 percent (8,575) in 2005
- Data demonstrate increased remedial enrollments in specific subjects from 1996 to 2005:
- Mathematics - 18 percent to 29 percent
- English - 13 percent to 18 percent
- Reading - 7 percent to 10 percent
- Of all the first-time freshmen taking remedial courses, the proportion at the state's public two-year institutions increased from 73 percent in 1996 to 77 percent in 2005
Performance and Retention in College
Table 3 provides trend data on first-year college performance of Missouri public high school graduates from 1996 and 2005 who entered Missouri public two- and four-year institutions. These data include fall and spring semester retention rates and GPAs, as well as freshman-to-sophomore retention rates. General highlights include:
- Fall and spring semester retention rates have remained above 96 percent and 83 percent, respectively, for both 1996 and 2005
- Freshman-to-sophomore retention rates declined slightly from 74 percent in 1996 to 73 percent in 2005
- Moderate improvement in students' first-year academic performance in terms of average GPA by the end of spring semester (from 2.56 to 2.69)
Degree Completion
Table 4 provides information on degree completion status among more than 17,700 Missouri public high school graduates who entered the state's public colleges and universities as degree-seeking freshmen in fall 1999. General highlights include:
- 52 percent of Missouri high school graduates entering the state's public colleges and universities in fall 1999 graduated during the subsequent six-year period
- 37 percent received baccalaureate degrees, 12 percent received two-year associate degrees or certificates, and 3 percent received both two- and four-year degrees
- Approximately 7 percent of fall 1999 degree-seeking freshmen are still pursuing degrees in the state's public higher education system
Access to the Full Report
An increasing number of high school administrators and practitioners have expressed interest in using data in the Missouri High School Graduates Performance Report as an indicator of student preparation. In response, MDHE staff has worked with Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) staff, Dr. Jim King, Executive Director of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals, and several secondary school principals to make the report more accessible and usable.
As a result of this joint effort, several changes have transpired, including use of the DESE website, new data formatting, and additional data covering multiple years. While the traditional report is still accessible on the MDHE website at http://www.dhe.mo.gov/hsgradreport.shtml, the integration of the data into the DESE website under educational performance for each district and building makes the report more visible to K-12 personnel, who are now able to look at the report alongside other relevant data on school performance.
Data from the report located on the DESE website may be accessed by going to http://dese.mo.gov/schooldata/ and clicking on a particular school district. DESE has also publicized access to this online database through Commissioner Kent King's March 2006 newsletter to administrators.
Conclusion
The "Missouri High School Graduates Performance Report" is a P-20 product that serves as a foundation to inform both high schools and higher education institutions about the transitions experienced by students moving from one system to the other. The intent of the report is to engage educators and administrators from both sectors in dynamic discussions about high school preparation, collegiate participation, and postsecondary program completion. Changes made in 2006 will result in more access and use of this important information.
STATUTORY REFERENCE
Section 173.005 (7) RSMo, Information on the performance of the state's system of higher education.
Section 173.750 RSMo, Annual reporting of performance of graduates, furnishing of report ? procedure ? data included
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Assigned to Consent Calendar
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Missouri Public High School Graduates Data: First-time Freshmen Enrolled in Public Institutions
Attachment B: Chapter 173.750, RSMo.
Attachment A
Missouri Public High School Graduates Data:
First-time Freshmen Enrolled in Public Institutions
| Table One: Demographic Characteristics of College Entrants |
| |
Year
1996
|
|
Year
2005
|
|
Percent
Change in
Headcount
|
Pct point
Change in
Proportion
|
| Overall Enrollment |
18,110
|
|
23,521
|
|
29.9%
|
|
| Four-year |
10,768
|
59.5%
|
11,715
|
49.8%
|
8.8%
|
-9.7%
|
| Two-year |
7,342
|
40.5%
|
11,806
|
50.2%
|
60.8%
|
9.7%
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Women |
10,075
|
55.6%
|
13,036
|
55.4%
|
29.4%
|
-0.2%
|
| Men |
8,034
|
44.4%
|
10,485
|
44.6%
|
30.5%
|
0.2%
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| African American |
1,422
|
7.9%
|
2,354
|
10.0%
|
65.5%
|
2.2%
|
| Hispanic |
210
|
1.2%
|
404
|
1.7%
|
92.4%
|
0.6%
|
| Caucasian |
15,619
|
86.2%
|
19,327
|
82.2%
|
23.7%
|
-4.1%
|
| Asian |
289
|
1.6%
|
350
|
1.5%
|
21.1%
|
-0.1%
|
| Other |
570
|
3.1%
|
1,086
|
4.6%
|
90.5%
|
1.5%
|
Missouri Public High School Graduates Data:
First-time Freshmen Enrolled in Public Institutions
| Table Two: Academic Preparation |
| |
Year
1996
|
|
Year
2005
|
|
Pct point
Change in
proportion
|
Percent completing
core curriculum |
73%
|
|
91%
|
|
24.7%
|
| Percent taking ACT |
71%
|
|
71%
|
|
|
| Average ACT |
22.56
|
|
22.12
|
|
|
| Remediation |
|
|
|
|
|
| Overall |
4,768
|
26.3%
|
8,575
|
36.5%
|
10.1%
|
| - four-year |
1,295
|
27.2%
|
1,954
|
22.8%
|
|
| -two-year |
3,473
|
72.8%
|
6,621
|
77.2%
|
|
| Math |
3,279
|
18.1%
|
6,916
|
29.4%
|
11.3%
|
| English |
2,408
|
13.3%
|
4,212
|
17.9%
|
4.6%
|
| Reading |
1,287
|
7.1%
|
2,395
|
10.2%
|
3.1%
|
Missouri Public High School Graduates Data:
First-time Freshmen Enrolled in Public Institutions
| Table Three: Performance and Retention |
|
Year
1996 |
|
Year
2005 |
|
Pct point
Change in
proportion |
College Retention of the Freshmen
Cohort in the Previous Year |
|
|
|
|
|
First term retention |
17,297 |
96.0% |
22,432 |
97.0% |
1.0% |
First term GPA |
2.22 |
|
2.60 |
|
|
Second term retention |
14,982 |
83.0% |
19,479 |
84.0% |
1.0% |
Second term GPA |
2.56 |
|
2.69 |
|
|
Freshman-to-soph retention |
13,533 |
74.0% |
16,900 |
73.0% |
-1.0% |
- Four-year institutions |
8,953 |
83.0% |
9,206 |
85.0% |
2.0% |
- Two-year Institutions |
4,580 |
63.0% |
7,694 |
63.0% |
0.0% |
Missouri Public High School Graduates Data:
First-time Freshmen Enrolled in Public Institutions
| Table Four: Degree Completion |
|
Graduation Status
by 2005 |
Percent |
First-time, Degree-seeking Freshmen in 1999 |
17,737 |
|
- Received 4-year degrees only |
6,554 |
37.0% |
- Received 2-year degrees only |
2,047 |
11.5% |
- Received both 2- and 4-year degrees |
577 |
3.3% |
- No degree but still enrolled |
1,234 |
7.0% |
- Out of system |
7,325 |
41.3% |
- Total graduates |
9,178 |
51.7% |
Attachment B
Missouri Revised Statutes
Chapter 173
Department of Higher Education
Section 173.750
August 28, 2005
Annual reporting of performance of graduates, furnishing of report --procedure--data included.
173.750. 1. By July 1, 1995, the coordinating board for higher education, within existing resources provided to the department of higher education and by rule and regulation, shall have established and implemented a procedure for annually reporting the performance of graduates of public high schools in the state during the student's initial year in the public colleges and universities of the state. The purpose of such reports shall be to assist in determining how high schools are preparing students for successful college and university performance. The report produced pursuant to this subsection shall annually be furnished to the state board of education for reporting pursuant to subsection 4 of section 161.610, RSMo, and shall not be used for any other purpose.
2. The procedures shall be designed so that the reporting is made by the name of each high school in the state, with individual student data to be grouped according to the high school from which the students graduated. The data in the reports shall be disaggregated by race and sex. The procedures shall not be designed so that the reporting contains the name of any student. No grade point average shall be disclosed under subsection 3 of this section in any case where three or fewer students from a particular high school attend a particular college or university.
3. The data reported shall include grade point averages after the initial college year, calculated on, or adjusted to, a four point grade scale; the percentage of students returning to college after the first and second half of the initial college year, or after each trimester of the initial college year; the percentage of students taking noncollege level classes in basic academic courses during the first college year, or remedial courses in basic academic subjects of English, mathematics, or reading; and other such data as determined by rule and regulation of the coordinating board for higher education.
(L. 1993 S.B. 380 § 19 subsecs. 1, 2, 3)
*Contingent expiration date. See section 143.107.
CROSS REFERENCE: Report of vocational education program, high school students completing course to be combined with report required by this section, RSMo 161.610
(1996) Contingent referendum provision was found to be an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority thereby making section 143.107 void. Akin v. Director of Revenue, 934 S.W.2d 295 (Mo.banc).
