Board of Regents Releases 1996 High School Feedback Report

Pierre—The Board of Regents releases the High School Feedback Report for 1996 this week. The report to South Dakota’s high schools shows information on South Dakota’s 1996 high school graduates after their first year in attendance at one of South Dakota’s public universities. The purpose of the report is to enhance communication between high schools and the public universities, provide high schools with information about their graduates’ readiness for post-secondary study, and help educators at all levels work together to ensure that students are prepared to be productive in college. The first high school feedback report was released in fall 1995, with the most recent report being released in fall 1996.

Regents Executive Director Robert T. Tad Perry said, "The Board of Regents is dedicated to improving the level of preparedness of students so they can take full advantage of the educational opportunities available to them at South Dakota’s public universities. The Feedback Report is an important part of this initiative since it helps high schools and higher education pinpoint areas of need. This not only helps the students, but also saves money." Perry went on to explain that under-prepared students cost the education system money through remedial education, re-taking courses, and taking longer to complete degrees. "The Feedback Report is designed to help overcome these costs and improve educational opportunity."

The report contains summary tables and explanatory notes for: the number of South Dakota high school graduates entering Regental institutions in fall 1996 and enrolled for at least 12 credit hours, remedial placement by institution, credit awarded for College Board Advanced Placement (AP) examinations, high school graduates first-year performance (GPA), high school graduates performance compared to their composite ACT score, and high school graduates placement in math and English courses.

The average composite ACT score of the 2,527 1996 high school graduates taking the ACT who entered one of South Dakota’s public universities was 21.96. This is up from last year’s average composite score of 21.68. The average composite score for students entering baccalaureate degree programs (2,363) was 22.12, and 17.82 for the 88 students entering associate degree programs.

The average for all South Dakota students taking the ACT was 21.40 and the national average was 20.90. The South Dakota average includes students who did not attend a public university. (see graph below)

Fall 1996 High School Graduates Entering Regental Institutions
Comparison of Average ACT Composite Scores

Perry said, "High school course preparation improves student’s composite ACT scores, which are a direct indication of a student’s likely success in college. Research and experience show this to be the case, students who complete the core curriculum in math, social and natural sciences, and English do better." The report shows that the average grade point average (GPA) for students taking at least one remedial course was 2.06, compared to 2.71 for students not enrolled in any remedial courses.

Comparison of 1994, 1995 and 1996 South Dakota high school graduates entering Regental universities shows some change. There is a slight increase in the average composite ACT scores. In addition, the average GPA of students enrolled in degree credit courses (courses whose credit counts toward a degree) has increased since 1994. However, the average GPA of students enrolled in at least one remedial course has declined since 1994, as has the percent of total students enrolled in any remedial course. The percent of students enrolled in English remedial courses has increased since 1994. (see table & graph below)

Comparison of Fall 1994, 1995 and 1996 South Dakota
High School Graduates Entering Regental Institutions

	1994	1995	1996
Entering Cohort	2,986	2,718	2,527
Average ACT composite score	21.47	21.68	21.96
Percentage enrolled in English remedial courses	3.85%	3.95%	4.13%
Percentage enrolled in Math remedial courses	5.29%	5.85%	3.37%
Percentage of unduplicated remedial enrollments	8.10%	8.94%	6.26%
Percentage enrolled in degree credit courses	91.90%	91.06%	93.74%
Percentage awarded credit for Advanced Placement Course(s)	NA	2.79%	2.13%
Average GPA of those in remedial courses	2.10	2.38	2.06
Average GPA of those in degree credit courses	2.60	2.72	2.71
Average GPA of those awarded Advanced Placement credit	NA	3.38	3.45
Average GPA of all students at end of year	2.56	2.69	2.68
Retention rate (fall to spring)	98.00%	98.79%	98.69%

A recent study by the National Center for Education Statistics indicates that 82% of the public four-year institutions in the United States offer remedial courses, and 25% of first-time freshmen enroll in one of them. South Dakota students differ from the national trend of more students enrolling in remedial math than in English. In South Dakota most of the students enrolled in remedial education enroll in a remedial English course. South Dakota’s public universities are also among the 60% nationally that select students who need remedial coursework by giving all entering students placement tests. The NCES report concludes that there is not an apparent trend or change, either upward or downward, in remedial course enrollments nationally.

Perry said, "South Dakota’s high schools are doing an excellent job of getting students ready for future challenges and deserve congratulations for their work in improving student preparation." Most South Dakota high schools do not have any of their graduates enrolled in remedial education at a public university. (see graph below)