Since the overarching goal of Bellevue School District is to prepare all graduates to be successful, not just in enrolling in college but in succeeding in college, it is important that the district be engaged in ongoing assessments of its performance. The questions that must be asked are: How well prepared are Bellevue graduates to enter college? Have they had the educational experiences, that is, challenging coursework and core courses beyond the minimum, which will enable them to successfully navigate the college experience?
Measures of accountability include: enrollments in advanced coursework (more information here); disaggregated results of district-level common assessments given in all subject areas; grade point averages over time; state test results (http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/); college admissions tests; remedial course-taking in college; and graduation and dropout rates. In addition, the district looks at school performance by gender, ethnicity, and enrollment in special programs.
Are students prepared for college admission?
Nearly all Bellevue graduates say they plan to attend college and many have been admitted to elite schools around the country. Students take the courses required for college admission, and a large percentage have chosen to challenge themselves by enrolling in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs. Almost 90% of the Class of 2010 earned credit for AP or IB courses, and 52% had more than 4 AP/IB credits apiece on their transcripts. Average SAT scores have climbed over time. See SAT History
Many graduates have saved on college tuition by being awarded college credit for doing well on AP and IB tests. In addition, students who may not have seen themselves as “college material” in the past are signing up for AP, working harder in school than they ever expected, and gaining the confidence they need to pursue further education. They have learned that the most important lesson is that “effort” is the key to success.
Are students prepared to be successful in college?
The answer to the question of whether graduates have the tools they need to finish college comes from both district data on student completion of challenging high school courses and information from the state and our own graduates on remedial course enrollments in college. We know from research by the federal government that taking two or more AP classes increases students' chances of earning a college degree.
A large body of research has stressed the importance of high school math course-taking as an indicator of college success. Ninety percent of the Class of 2010 completed an advanced math course -- either AP or IB calculus, AP statistics or Pre-Calculus - and 92% took math during their senior year. Science course-taking is on the rise. Seventy percent of 2010 grads took four years of science, and 68% earned AP or IB credit in science.
Students also earn college credits through Tech-Prep courses in accounting, auto technology, careers in education, computer networking and programming, culinary arts, graphics production, health occupations, horticulture and welding. The state's Running Start program offers an additional way for students to earn college credit while still in high school.