Los Angeles Schools Have a College Enrollment Problem — But There Are Solutions
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For several years, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has faced difficulties in increasing its college enrollment rate for high school graduates, which has remained at around 60%.
However, there are now three organizations working in collaboration with LAUSD high schools to improve the district’s college enrollment rates. These organizations employ various strategies, including assisting students in writing college essays, providing opportunities for students to hear from professionals, and offering mentorship throughout high school and college.
Although there was a 2.5% increase in college enrollment between the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years, the rate of students attending four-year colleges only increased by 0.1% between the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years.
LAUSD college counselors face a challenging task of informing students about their options after graduation and helping them navigate the path to their desired goals. One of the obstacles that college counselor Tricia Bryan highlights is ensuring that students are aware of the steps they need to take to achieve their aspirations.
Bryan explains, "I would like to see more alignment between careers and college so that students have a clearer understanding of the potential pathways available to them. Often, students express a desire to attend a good college or obtain a good job, but they lack knowledge about the specific routes to achieve these goals."
To address this issue, College Path LA has enlisted the help of volunteers who work alongside Bryan to assist students with their college applications. At John Marshall High School, approximately half of the students go on to attend a four-year college, while the rest enroll in junior college.
Essay writing is a significant component of College Path LA’s program. Mentors not only provide guidance during the college application process but also continue to support students throughout their college experience.
Located in Los Angeles, College Path LA takes advantage of the city’s abundant resources, such as writers, lawyers, and professionals from various fields, who serve as valuable sources of information for students.
Research conducted by UCLA and Claremont Graduate Institute reveals that only 25% of LAUSD students graduate within six years.
To provide additional support, LAUSD offers the A-G Intervention and Support program, which focuses on assisting students who require extra help in fulfilling the A-G requirements. These requirements allow students to apply to California State Universities and UC schools. More than half of the participants reported gaining knowledge about college majors, academic prerequisites for college admission, and financial information.
On the other hand, UCLA EAOP aims to expand postsecondary education opportunities for disadvantaged students in California. The program goes beyond the minimum requirements for college admission, resulting in 72% of students being enrolled in four-year institutions.
UCLA EAOP emphasizes the value of obtaining a community college degree. Hugo Cristales, a first-generation college graduate and associate director of UCLA EAOP, mentions, "Many families are unaware that their children can attend community college tuition-free for two years after graduating high school."
While College Path LA, LAUSD A-G Intervention and Support, and UCLA EAOP have distinct approaches and objectives, they share the common goal of ensuring that LAUSD high school students are prepared to apply to college and receive the necessary assistance.
This article is a collaborative effort between and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Don’t miss out on stories like these – subscribe to Newsletter today.
