| CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Only about 50 percent of West Virginia's graduating high school seniors believe their high school education fully prepared them for college, according to a report that will be presented to state lawmakers on Monday.
The West Virginia Education Policy Commission conducted an opinion survey from a sampling of the state's graduating seniors in 2012, falling on the heels of similar surveys in 2008 and 2010. The survey is intended to give policymakers insight as to why more students aren't getting a college education, which state officials say is necessary to grow the state's economy. The commission says the state will need 20,000 more certificate or degree holders by 2018 just to meet West Virginia's expected workforce needs.
While the report says most graduating seniors met the academic requirements to enroll at a public, four-year college in West Virginia, many didn't perceive they were fully prepared to do so. Only 12.4 percent of survey respondents said they felt "very prepared" for college, while 37.6 percent said they felt "prepared." Another 39.3 percent felt "somewhat prepared" while 10.7 percent felt they were "not prepared at all."
"Although academic preparedness may suggest students are ready to enter college, their perceptions of preparedness can also inform matriculation decisions," the report says. "There is still work left to be done to improve student feelings of college readiness. Increasing college access efforts and aligning high school curriculum with college entrance requirements may help students feel more prepared."
Read more www.journalnews
| 
