Data

How Early College & Dual Credit Propel Waianae High School Students to College Success

Waianae High School's data reveals a compelling positive trend: our Early College and Dual Credit programs are increasingly effective in preparing students for direct entry into college-level coursework at the University of Hawaii. This demonstrates a robust recovery and performance surpassing pre-pandemic levels in several key areas. For the Class of 2024, 29% enrolled in college nationwide (13% at 2-year, 16% at 4-year institutions), with 20% specifically enrolling in the University of Hawaii system.

Key Trends & Impact

• Growing Dual Credit Engagement & Impact: While dual credit participation percentages saw some fluctuation, the absolute number of students engaging in these programs has recovered strongly from a dip. Critically, the percentage of students earning 6 or more dual credits has shown a positive trajectory, increasing from 13% for the Class of 2023 to 14% for the Class of 2024. This signifies a growing cohort of students completing substantial college-level work while still in high school.

• Significant Reduction in Remedial Math Enrollment at UH: A standout trend is the dramatic decline in Waianae High School graduates requiring below college-level math at the University of Hawaii. For the Class of 2020, 17% were placed in remedial math. This steadily decreased to just 4% for the Class of 2024. This remarkable improvement directly correlates with a substantial increase in students earning math credit in high school, surging from 3% (Class of 2020) to 17% (Class of 2024). This trend powerfully highlights the effectiveness of early math preparation.

• Consistent Improvement in English Placement at UH: A similar positive trend is observed in English. The percentage of UH-enrolled students from Waianae High School needing below college-level English dropped significantly from 17% (Class of 2020) to 5% for the Class of 2024. Concurrently, the proportion of students earning English credit in high school saw a remarkable rise from 14% (Class of 2020) to 36% (Class of 2024).

The Waianae High School Advantage

Despite a noticeable dip in some indicators around the Class of 2021 (likely attributable to the global COVID-19 pandemic's disruption), Waianae High School has not only recovered but is demonstrating sustained and growing success in leveraging early college and dual credit initiatives. The clear trends of increased high school college credit attainment and plummeting remedial placements at UH underscore these programs' effectiveness in bridging the gap between high school and higher education, saving students time, tuition, and accelerating their academic progress.

Data Source: https://www.hawaiidxp.org/data-products/college-and-career-readiness-indicators-summary-reports/