Where freshmen enroll in high school has implications for student experiences and future attainment outcomes. Students are more likely to be successful in schools where they feel both supported and challenged.

Graduating high school with a high level of academic achievement is among the most important markers along the road to college success. Students who graduate from high school with a GPA of 3.0 or above have at least a 50 percent probability of graduating from a four-year college within six years. In order to graduate from high school on time, students must earn a minimum of 24 credits.

Students’ choice of college influences their likelihood of earning a college degree. Students who choose a college with a strong track record of graduating its students, and which fits their unique financial, geographic, and cultural needs, are more likely to earn a college degree or credential. College may not be the best path for every student, but due to data limitations, we are not currently able to track outcomes for non-college pathways.

Students who remain continuously enrolled through the first two years of college are more likely to complete a degree or credential.

Completing a college degree or certificate is increasingly a prerequisite for social and economic stability in the 21st century. The college completion rate is the critical benchmark for thinking about the ultimate success of a high school’s efforts to increase the educational attainment of its students.