Differences in the income makeup between high schools make the largest contrast in postsecondary outcomes of graduates — much greater than differences in geography — according to new research from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.
The 2024 High School Benchmarks Report revealed enrollment within a year increased as much as 3.2 percentage points (pp) across nearly all high school characteristics—those defined by incomes, race/ethnicity, or locale.
While the rate of 2023 high school graduates immediately enrolling in college remained flat from the previous year’s graduating class across most high school characteristics, the rate of 2022 high school graduates enrolling within a year of their graduation increased from the previous year.
Here are four ways high school administrators can leverage the High School Benchmarks report to make data-driven decisions, improve outcomes, and support their students’ educational journeys.
The 2023 High School Benchmarks Report reveals the first improvement in immediate college enrollment rates for high school graduates since 2020. The report includes a special analysis of the enduring impact that the pandemic has had on college enrollment.