college and career readiness:

Preparing All High School
Students for Success

Ninety percent of the fastest-growing jobs in the global ‘knowledge economy’ of the 21^st century will require education or training after high school. So it’s very good news that more and more U.S. high school seniors plan to go on to college after graduation.

But here’s the bad news: A large and growing number of those seniors are not adequately prepared. The percentage of incoming students at two- and four-year colleges who require remedial instruction is alarmingly high. And the level of college dropouts is unacceptable: Half of all community college students — and up to a quarter of freshmen at four-year institutions — do not come back for their second year.

What can we do to close the gap? At McGraw-Hill Education, we believe high school can and should provide students with a foundation for learning that will support their lifelong education and career goals — whether they continue at a four-year university, a two-year community college or a one-year training program for a specific trade. That’s why we’re focused on creating programs that teach students critical skills, like problem-solving and teamwork, to ensure they are successful down the road. These skills are not generally taught in high school.

Particularly now, in the 21^st century, when more students must complete some postsecondary education to have an economically secure life, the need for improved transitions from high school to college is urgent.

In the knowledge economy of the 21^st century, learning never stops.