Data Driving College Preparation

Declan Mitchell contemplates his answers to a history test. The Woodford High School junior took advantage of the school's open-door AP-class policy, a shift designed to move students' coursework to a higher level. Kentucky is seeing dramatic benefits of sharing data to get students college-ready.

—Pat McDonogh for Education Week

College-going rates rising, remediation rates falling

By Caralee J. Adams

Once Kentucky educators started sharing data about how high school students were doing after graduation, things started to change.

University professors and high school teachers began comparing notes about their expectations in class. Rigor was ramped up. Transition courses were developed in high schools to help lagging students avoid remediation in college. Advanced Placement restrictions were lifted to expose more students to college-level courses.

As communication lines opened, other changes followed. The percentage of college-going students in Kentucky went up, and the need for remediation...