This is the lowest percentage in at least the last decade

A report from the Arizona Board of Regents indicates that less than half of Arizona High School graduates went on to college last year.  This is the lowest percentage of high school students moving on to college in at least the last decade. Last year, about 46% of Arizona’s 2020 public high school class enrolled in a two- or four-year college, down from about 53% in 2019 and compared with 66% nationally in 2019.

According to the analysis from the Board of Regents, if these “patterns continue, more than 75% of current ninth graders will have only a high school diploma or less six years after their class graduates.  The analysis also says that the low college entrance rate “poses a significant concern for the state’s economic future, which is expected to demand more educated workers.”

Arizona has set a  goal of having 60% of adults with any postsecondary certificate or degree by 2030.  Arizona is now  at 46%, compared with 45% in 2019.

Source:  Arizona Republic report  by Alison Steinbach, December 13, 2021.  

Blog lists 15 excellent sources of internet information about community colleges for summer viewing and reading with an emphasis on the Verde Valley and Yavapai College

There is a plethora of  information about community colleges that anyone interested in post-secondary education has at his or her fingertips on the internet.  The following is a list that was originally compiled by  the Verde Valley Forum on “The Role of Post-Secondary Education in the Future of the Verde Valley Region”  in September 2016.  It was distributed to all of its participants.  The Blog believes it is a great source of information and is regenerating it for its readers to use during the summer.

1. Robert Putnam’s book talk: “Our Kids – The American Dream in Crisis”  (On Youtube.) Click here to go to the YouTube site.

2. Josh Wyner’s book talk: “What Excellent Community Colleges Do – Preparing All Students for Success.” (On Youtube.) Click here to go to the YouTube  site.

3.  ASU Morrison Institute 2013 report: “On the Rise – The Role of Career and Technical Education in Arizona’s Future”.  Click here to go to the internet site.  

4.  ASU Morrison Institute 2016 Forum Background Research Report: “The Role of Postsecondary Education in the Future of the Verde Valley Region.”  Click here to go to the internet site.

5.  Highlights of the April 2013 Arizona Town Hall: “Is Higher Education Ready for Arizona’s Future?”  Click here to go to the internet site.

6.  Aspen Institute Report:  “Structural Equity: Big-Picture Thinking & Partnerships That Improve Community College Student Outcomes.” Click here to go to the internet site.

7.  Georgetown University Center on  Education and the Workforce Report: “America’s Divided Recovery – College Haves and Have-Nots”  Click here to go to the internet site.

8.  The Brookings Institute article:  “Not Just College – Technical Education as a Pathway to the Middle Class,”  Click here to go to the internet site.

9.  The Association of Community College Trustees White Paper:  “Clearing a Path to a Brighter Future: Addressing Barriers to Community College Access and Success.”  Click here to go to the internet site.

10. The Arizona We Want overview:  Click here to go to the internet site.

11.  The Center for the Future of Arizona – list of reports: Click here to go to the internet site. 

12.  Information on Yavapai College Strategic Plan, and Strategic Plan for Yavapai College in the Verde Valley: Click here to go to the  internet site. 

13.  Information on training  and education programs offered by Brighton College, the institution that the Yavapai-Apache Nation is using for online vocational training:  Click here to go to the internet site.

14.  Information on the University of Arizona’s plans to establish a branch of their College of Agriculture at the DK Ranch site in  Cornville,  AZ:  Click here to go to the internet site.  

15. Information on degrees and certificates offered by public post-secondary institutions:

Northern Arizona University.  Click here to go to the internet site.

Coconino Community College. Click here to go to the internet site.  

Yavapai College.   Click here to go to the internet site.