Measuring Up 2008: National and State report cards on higher education

The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education has issued it fifth set of report cards on higher education for the nation (with international comparisons) and the individual states. In spite of some improvements, other nations are advancing more quickly than the United States in preparing students for and providing access to higher education. Nevada, in spite of improvements, is still performing abysmally.

The importance of middle school for college readiness

New research by ACT shows "the level of academic achievement that students attain by eighth grade has a larger impact on their college and career readiness by the time they graduate from high school than anything that happens academically in high school." The lack of college readiness, as assessed by ACT's three-stage assessment, is "alarming":

• Only 20% of tested high school grads were ready for entry-level college courses in the four areas of biology, social science, English composition and college algebra
• 25% of tested students were not prepared for entry-level college courses in any of the four subject areas.
• Less than 20% of tested eighth graders were on target to be college-ready by the time they graduate.

"This report also reveals that students’ academic readiness for college and career can be improved when students develop behaviors in the upper elementary grades and in middle school that are known to contribute to successful academic performance."