
Fast Facts
Why We Study the High-School-to-College Transition
CCRC conducts research on programs and policies designed to prepare high school students for college, including programs focused on math, writing, and reading readiness, the transition from high school to college, and early college schools and programs.
One segment of this work focuses on acceleration programs like dual enrollment, which—along with Advanced Placement (AP)—is among the largest and fastest-growing options for high school students who want to get a jump start on their postsecondary degree requirements. CCRC researchers are investigating how such programs affect later outcomes, such as enrollment in college, persistence, and credential completion.
CCRC also studies interventions intended to boost college readiness among underprepared high school students. These reforms, including transition courses and summer bridge programs, dovetail with CCRC’s extensive work on developmental education.
Finally, as colleges advance their guided pathways reforms, they are increasingly reaching down into high schools to help students start exploring their interests and program options and developing a college and career plan. CCRC researchers are studying these types of cross-sector partnerships to understand how community colleges can start supporting students earlier in their educational journey.
Featured Project
Scaling Dual Enrollment Equity Pathways
CCRC is working in Florida and Texas to expand efforts by community colleges and their K-12 partners to extend equity-focused guided pathways practices to dual enrollment students from underserved groups—an approach we're calling "dual enrollment equity pathways," or DEEP.
Key Terms
Dual enrollment
Transition curricula
Summer bridge programs
Further Reading
Dually Noted: Understanding the Link Between Dual Enrollment Course Characteristics and Students’ Course and College Enrollment Outcomes
May 2023
Related Blog Posts
Our High School to College Experts
Elisabeth Barnett
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Davis Jenkins
Senior Research Scholar
Maggie Fay
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John Fink
Senior Research Associate and Program Lead
Read More
View all of our publications on the high-school-to-college transition.