To prepare students for well-paying jobs in the future, high schools must align their standards with college expectations and focus on helping every student achieve college readiness, suggests a report by the Washington-based Alliance for Excellent Education.
Eighty-five percent of jobs today require some postsecondary education, it says, but only 34 percent of students graduate ready for college. By increasing the rigor of high school courses, aligning high school standards with college-level work, and supporting teachers through professional development, schools can help boost the number of students who continue their education and help ensure their success in college, the report says.