By Jon Leckie, Oakland Local
The Peralta Community College Board of Trustees might consider using high school grades to determine college readiness of first-year students after a presentation from interim Vice Chancellor Michael Orkin at its April 23 meeting.
Currently, the Peralta District, as well as most community college districts in the state, uses the COMPASS test -- which is computer based, multiple choice and standardized -- to determine placement of first-year students in either remedial or transfer-level math and English courses. But a study by California’s Community College Student Success Task Force is challenging the effectiveness of the test.
“When compared with standardized tests, high school grades were much better predictors statistically of student success,” Orkin said. “There are lots and lots of students who are doing well in their high school classes and being told they need to go to remedial classes.”
Part of the study looked at Long Beach City College, which also uses standardized testing to determine student placement. According to the study, 60 percent of students placed in remedial English courses earned A's or B's in the same subject in high school. Meanwhile, 35 percent of students placed in transfer-level English courses earned C's and D's in their high school class -- and more than half went on to fail their college courses.