The Columbus Dispatch

Many Minority Students Ill-Prepared for College
Few are taking proper preparatory courses, study says
September 19, 2003

By Ruth E. Sternberg

About half of black and Latino students graduate from high school, and even fewer of them make it to college.

But money isn't the major obstacle. A study released today by the Manhattan Institute in New York suggests that students aren't academically prepared.

The study is paid for by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which has been awarding grants to school districts nationally to rebuild their high-school programs.

The project looks at individual state graduation data from the U.S. Department of Education and at high-school transcript information the government collected from about 5,000 seniors from the class of 2001.

Analysts considered the courses the students took, especially those colleges typically require -- including four classes in English and three in math.

The study said that nationwide, 20 percent of all black students and 16 percent of all Latino students had those classes on their transcripts.

Ohio ranked 14th among the states, with a 78 percent graduation rate that year. The state's Latino graduation rate of 61 percent ranked sixth.

The state ranked 26th in terms of black graduates -- 52 percent in 2001.

Thirty-percent of Ohio graduates were ready for college, as were 12 percent of black students and 17 percent of Latinos.

Study co-author Greg Forster said the findings point out a lot of problems.

"The strongest conclusion we can reach is to rule out some solutions that are not working -- such as trying to get more (college) financial aid. We need to focus our efforts on the K-12 system.

"There's a disconnect -- a gap between what you need to do to graduate from high school and what you need to do to apply to college."

College officials say they work hard to recruit diverse student populations. Typically, about 10 percent of college students are black and 6 percent are Latino, according to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.

At Ohio State University, 9.7 percent of students were black in fall 2002, while 3.1 percent were Latino, said spokeswoman Liz Cook.

Officials cite student financial difficulties as the chief barrier to recruitment.

"I don't think you'd find too many people who would argue that academic preparation is necessary in boosting minority attendance in college," said Tony Pals, spokesman for the independent colleges.

"But that certainly goes hand-in-hand with having the financial resources to make that happen."

Darrell Glenn, the director of performance reporting for the Ohio Board of Regents, said there are many issues and few easy answers.

"Sometimes it's a family battle -- to steer a kid in a direction for courses they need. I could see how this discussion might not take place,"

Sam Gresham, director of the Columbus Urban League, said some parents don't know how to fight for their children's academic interests. Some have had their own bad experiences with school. Some are simply busy making a living.

"I think we're a naive country. We divorce poverty and racism away from education," he said.

Eddie Harrell, who helps Columbus Public Schools children get academic assistance and apply for college through Project GRAD and I Know I Can, said parents need to know what's expected.

"Is my kid following the progression? If not, why? And class selection has to start at the end of your eighth-grade year."

©2003 Columbus Dispatch