College-Going Rates Hold Steady
Career technical education (CTE) integrates academic and technical skills, supporting educational goals, workforce development, and economic development. It offers students research-based, relevant curricula developed expressly for success in college and careers. For those just entering the workforce, changing careers, or needing on-the-job skill upgrades, CTE provides applicable skillsets and increased career opportunities. For those entering college, CTE provides a foundation of real-world skills that will enhance academic learning. In addition to CTE coursework, preparation for success in college includes taking coursework that is required for college admission and is academically rigorous. Successful completion of college can lead to increased earning power, better health, a stronger workforce, and societal benefits, such as increased voter participation and increased tax receipts.[1] This indicator measures college and career readiness, by tracking the college-going rates among San Bernardino County high school completers[2] as well as the California Department of Education’s College/Career Indicator (CCI), which measures the percent of high school graduates at each San Bernardino County school district who graduate prepared for college or career.
TREND
College-Going Rate
While over half 53.9% of San Bernardino County public high school completers in 2021/22 enrolled in college within 12 months of completing high school, this figure remains below the statewide rate of 62.0%. Although San Bernardino County and California college-going rates have largely held steady over the past three years, both reflect a longer-term decrease in college going rates, from 57.7% in San Bernardino County in 2014/15, and 64.5% statewide during this period. Of the 53.9% of students enrolling in college, more than half (55.3%) enrolled in a California community college, 18.6% enrolled at a California State University campus, and 10.6% enrolled at a University of California campus.
PERCENTAGE OF COLLEGE-GOING STUDENTS HOLDS STEADY AT STATE AND COUNTY LEVEL
Percentage of Public High School Completers Enrolling in College within 12 Months of Completing High School in San Bernardino County and California, 2014/15 – 2021/22
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
In 2023/24, among San Bernardino County high school completers who enrolled in college, 64% identified as Hispanic or Latino, and 17% identified as White. Eight percent identified as Black, and 6% identified as Asian. In the accompanying chart, the race and ethnic distribution of all San Bernardino County high school completers is provided for context.
COLLEGE-GOING RATES BY RACE/ETHNICITY GENERALLY ALIGN WITH OVERALL DISTRIBUTION OF COMPLETERS
Race/Ethnic Distribution of Public High School Completers Enrolling in College within 12 Months of Completing High School Compared to the Race/Ethnic Distribution of All Completers in San Bernardino County, 2021/22
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
College/Career Indicator
The College/Career Indicator (CCI) rate among San Bernardino County school districts in 2024 ranged from 14.3% at Needles Unified Education to 69.7% in Barstow Unified. The CCI rate for the state as a whole was 45.3% in 2024.[3]
CCI: A Composite of 11 Indicators that are Associated with College and Career Readiness
The College/Career Indicator (CCI) represents the percentage of high school graduates that are prepared for college or a career. Designed to prepare students for postsecondary success, the following measures are included in the indicator:
- Advanced Placement Exams
- a-g UC/USC eligibility completion
- Career Technical Education Pathway
- College Credit Course
- International Baccalaureate Exams
- Leadership/Military Service
- Registered Pre-Apprenticeships
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments in English and Math (Grade 11)
- State and Federal Job Programs
- State Seal of Biliteracy
- Transition Classroom and Work-Based Learning Experiences
COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPAREDNESS OF GRADUATES VARIES AMONG DISTRICTS
Percentage of High School Graduates Prepared for Career of College Across San Bernardino County School Districts, 2023-24
| District | CCI Rate |
|---|---|
| Barstow Unified | 69.7% |
| Chaffey Joint Union High | 55.1% |
| Hesperia Unified | 54.8% |
| Chino Valley Unified | 54.6% |
| Redlands Unified | 52.1% |
| Fontana Unified | 51.8% |
| Upland Unified | 45.4% |
| Apple Valley Unified | 41.9% |
| San Bernardino City Unified | 41.4% |
| Lucerne Valley Unified | 41.1% |
| Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified | 40.6% |
| Silver Valley Unified | 40.2% |
| Rialto Unified | 39.1% |
| Victor Valley Union High | 35.0% |
| Morongo Unified | 34.5% |
| Colton Joint Unified | 31.1% |
| Baker Valley Unified | 28.6% |
| Rim of the World Unified | 26.6% |
| Snowline Joint Unified | 26.4% |
| Bear Valley Unified | 19.9% |
| Trona Joint Unified | 15.8% |
| Needles Unified | 14.3% |
Source: California Department of Education, California School Dashboard (https://www.caschooldashboard.org/)
Measuring and Improving College Readiness
The Early Assessment Program (EAP) uses California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP/EAP) 11th grade English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics results to provide an early indication of college readiness. Students who score at the highest performance level (Standard Exceeded) are considered college ready and will enroll in English and mathematics college level courses upon entering the CSU system. Students who score the next highest performance level (Standard Met) are considered conditionally ready and must complete a year-long English and/or mathematics course in 12th grade with a “C-” or better to enroll in college level English and/or mathematics courses upon enrollment.
Sources: California Department of Education, California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (https://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/) and Early Assessment Program (www.cde.ca.gov/ci/gs/hs/eapindex.asp)
Post-Secondary Education: Universities, Colleges, and Career Training
San Bernardino County offers residents many opportunities for college and post-secondary career training, serving the educational needs of the county and developing a strong workforce. Within San Bernardino County, major universities and colleges include University of Redlands, California State University/San Bernardino, Loma Linda University, and University of La Verne College of Law. Community Colleges in the county include Barstow, Chaffey, Copper Mountain, Crafton Hills, Palo Verde Community College/Needles Campus, San Bernardino Valley, and Victor Valley. In addition, there are several private career and technical educational institutions that offer career-focused certificates and degrees.
[1] College Board, Education Pays, 2023 (http://trends.collegeboard.org/education-pays)
[2] High school completers includes students who graduate and receive a traditional high school diploma as well as students who earn a Special Education Certificate of Completion, a California High School Equivalency Certificate, an adult education diploma, or pass the California High School Proficiency Examination
[3] Rates at the county level are not calculated by the California Department of Education.