Most Martinez High School Grads Don't Take Required College Courses

About a third of Martinez Unified high school graduates have been taking the courses required to be accepted into state colleges and universities in California.

Statistics compiled by Ed Data show that from the 2006-2007 school year to the 2010-11 school year between 28 and 38 percent of Martinez Unified high school graduates took the required courses.

The average for Contra Costa County school districts for those five years was between 36 and 44 percent.

Martinez Superintendent Rami Muth said the 2011-2012 figures show 43 percent of high school graduates in the district took the required courses.

Muth said school officials have taken several steps to increase students' preparedness to enter college.

Counselors meet with 10th graders and their parents to make sure they are aware of the requirements for all colleges.

College-bound students are enrolled in advancement placement and honors classes.

Schools also offer programs during the school day to help students establish goals, research options and track results.

"It is not enough to be eligible if students are not ready for the rigors of college," Muth said.

The UC/CSU courses are broken into seven categories. They’re called A-G courses simply because the university systems gave them those letter equivalents to help organize them better. They are:

A) History/social science (two years)

B) English (four years)

C) Mathematics (three years)

D) Laboratory sciences (two years)

E) Foreign language (two years)

F) Visual and performing arts (one year)

G) College prepartory elective (one year)

The college readiness courses aren’t without their controversy.

During the past decade, some school districts, including Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose and San Diego, have added the college preparedness courses to their graduation requirements, according to an article in the Contra Costa Times.

Educators say the new requirement will help more students prepare for college. However, critics point out the requirements might make it more difficult for struggling students to graduate from high school.