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 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.[2]
TREND
College-Going Rate
The percentage of San Bernardino County public high school completers enrolled in college within 12 months of completing high school increased by nearly five percentage points between 2021/22 and 2022/23, from 53.9% in 2021/22 to 58.8% in 2022/23. This figure remains below the statewide rate of 65.7%. Both San Bernardino County and California college-going rates saw an increase in 2022/23 compared to relatively flat rates over the preceding three years. Of the 58.8% of San Bernardino County students enrolling in college, more than half (57.4%) enrolled in a California community college, 18.0% enrolled at a California State University campus, and 11.4% enrolled at a University of California campus.
PERCENTAGE OF COLLEGE-GOING STUDENTS CONTINUES TO INCREASE
Percentage of Public High School Completers Enrolling in College within 12 Months of Completing High School in San Bernardino County and California, 2015/16 – 2022/23
RACE/ETHNICITY DETAIL
College-Going Rate
In 2022/23, among the San Bernardino County high school completers who enrolled in college within 12 months, 65% identified as Hispanic or Latino, and 16% identified as White. Seven percent of high school completers who enrolled in college 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, 2022/23
GEOGRAPHIC COMPARISON
College/Career Indicator
The College/Career Indicator (CCI) rate among San Bernardino County school districts in 2024 ranged from 9.5% in Trona Joint Unified to 73.5% in Barstow Unified. The CCI rate for the state as a whole was 51.7% 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 Completion
- 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 or College Across San Bernardino County School Districts, 2024/25
| District | CCI Rate |
|---|---|
| Apple Valley Unified | 52.8% |
| Barstow Unified | 73.5% |
| Bear Valley Unified Unified | 31.0% |
| Chaffey Joint Union High | 57.1% |
| Chino Valley Unified | 61.1% |
| Colton Joint Unified | 42.0% |
| Fontana Unified Unified | 60.9% |
| Hesperia Unified | 63.7% |
| Lucerne Valley Unified | 60.6% |
| Morongo Unified | 41.8% |
| Needles Unified | 20.4% |
| Redlands Unified | 62.8% |
| Rialto Unified | 54.1% |
| Rim of the World Unified | 54.1% |
| San Bernardino City Unified | 50.2% |
| Silver Valley Unified | 50.2% |
| Snowline Joint Unified | 40.4% |
| Trona Joint Unified | 9.5% |
| Upland Unified | 52.8% |
| Victor Valley Union High | 47.0% |
| Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified | 48.7% |
Note: Note no data provided for Baker Valley Unified in 2024/25, and that Central School District, Etiwanda School District, and Mountain View School District, which were included last year, were not included as a San Bernardino District in raw CCI Rate download
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.