Why college readiness rates vary so widely across Contra Costa County high schools

AT FIRST GLANCE the numbers don’t seem real: at Antioch High School, only about 23% of graduating students met the course requirements to apply to University of California and California State University schools last year at this time. Just miles away at Miramonte High School in Orinda, that number jumps to around 90%.

Across Contra Costa County, A-G completion rates vary widely from school to school. These requirements — courses in seven subject areas like English, math, science, and foreign language — determine whether students are eligible to apply to UC and CSU campuses. This is sometimes called “readiness.” A recent San Francisco Chronicle analysis brought attention to these differences, raising questions about why graduates at some high schools are more prepared for college than others.

While some schools report completion rates above 80%, others fall below 30%. These gaps document that student access to college opportunities may differ depending on where they attend high school. 

At Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch, 12th grader Jo’Karri Kelly said meeting A-G requirements can feel like a lot to manage alongside other responsibilities. “It can be really stressful trying to make sure you’re meeting all the A-G requirements while also balancing classes, extracurriculars, and college applications,” Kelly said. “Sometimes it feels like you have to plan everything perfectly just to stay on track.”

At Deer Valley High School in Antioch, 12th grader Bella Rose said awareness and support play a big role. “I think a lot of students don’t always realize how important A-G requirements are until later,” Rose said. “It can be harder if you don’t have as much guidance or if certain classes aren’t available when you need them.”

Comparing the numbers

A closer look at countywide data shows major differences in college readiness. Some schools report high A-G completion rates, including Miramonte High School at 90% and Acalanes High School in Lafayette at 82%, while others fall much lower, such as Antioch High School at 23% and Deer Valley High School at 24%.

Debra Pettric, a coordinator of education services at the Contra Costa County Office of Education, said A-G completion rates are based on data reported directly by school districts to the state, which tracks whether graduating seniors meet the required coursework.

Two education leaders running for Contra Costa County superintendent of schools — Jag Lathan and Dana Eaton — spoke about the variety of reasons for low “readiness” scores, citing district finances, family educational achievement, future employment goals, academic support systems, and early planning. Meanwhile, some of the 18 county school districts face declining enrollment and, therefore, less state revenue, teacher layoffs, and cutbacks in course offerings. 

“One (reason) is that kids, young people, aren’t necessarily prepared for the A-G courses,” said Lathan, president of the Antioch Unified School District Board of Trustees. “They don’t know, so they’re not properly informed by their counselors or by their teachers about the importance of A-G programs.” She said that “others might be taking courses that are not A-G but are interesting to them.”

She also pointed to differences in family awareness. “Sometimes parents’ education level makes a difference,” she said. “In areas where there may be more wealth, parents understand that kids need certain classes to graduate. … In other areas, parents might not know, so it’s the job of schools to inform them.”

She emphasized that those differences should not determine outcomes. “A child’s income level, a child’s ZIP code, should not determine whether or not they are prepared for college,” Lathan said.

‘It’s a three-legged stool’

“I think different school districts have different reasons because every community is a little bit different,” said Eaton, superintendent of the Brentwood Union School District.

He said students without early guidance, especially first-generation students, can easily fall off track. “If you’re a first-generation college student or even a first-generation high school student, you might come in and not know those expectations, and there might not be somebody at home that can help you,” Eaton said.

He emphasized that student success depends on multiple support systems working together. “What happens at school is important, but it’s also what happens with community support, with family support,” Eaton said. “It’s a three-legged stool.”

While A-G completion rates vary widely, educators emphasize that students still have multiple pathways to success, whether through college or career training. Understanding the reasons behind these differences may be key to creating more equal opportunities for students across Contra Costa County.

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Vi Nguyen is an 11th grader at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School in Antioch and a CCYJ reporter. This story originally appeared in CCSpin.