Capistrano Unified A-G Completion Rates Are In

CUSD LCAP 2017 A-G Completion Rate Data

CUSDs' 2016-17 A-G Completion Rate is a 53.7%

This is a substantial decline over the past two years:
2014-15 59.1%
2015-16 60.5%
2016-17 53.7%

Why A-G Completion Rates Matter

To gain entrance into a 4-year selective college or university (any where in the country, including UC and CSU), students are required to:

1. Complete all A-G course requirements, and
2. Perform well on College entrance exams (ACT and SAT), and
3. Have a competitive GPA that shows "Rigor".

Student are competing on a national and international level to be admitted into a four year selective college or university. Colleges are not impressed with the bare minimum. Academic "Rigor" makes a difference when applying to colleges. A 3.8 GPA taking standard classes is not as impressive as a lower GPA taking Honors or AP or IB Classes. A competitive applicate must show all... a good GPA combined with academic rigor, completion of all A-G course work and high performance on SAT/ACT college entrance exams.

How Does CUSDs' A-G Completion Rate Compare to Other Local School Districts?

CUSD 2016-17 A-G Completion Rates by School

CUSDWatch Comment

An A-G Completion rate of 53.7% means 53.7% of students have completed the course work necessary to get into a 4- year selective college or university including (UC or CSU). This means that almost half of the students graduating from CUSD are not qualified to enter a 4- year selective college or university after graduating from high School. They will have no option after high school but to attend Community College to to complete remedial work or to get a job.

An Individual School DIstrict's Graduation Requirements and Curriculum Choices Greatly Effect A-G Completion Rates

CUSDWatch Comment

The chart below illustrates that a student who meets minimum California State Graduation Requirements will graduate, but will not be prepared to enter a 4- year college or selective university. They will be limited to Community College or a Career because they have not completed all of the coursework required for admittance into a selective 4-year college or university.

They have not completed the required A-G Course Work.

The chart below also illustrates that a student who meets minimum CUSD Graduation Requirements will graduate, but will not be prepared to enter a 4- year college or selective university. They will also be limited to Community College or a Career, because they have not completed all of the coursework required for admittance into a selective 4-year college or university.

Graduation Requirements / A-G Course Requirements

Source:
CDE Graduation Requirements
CUSD Graduation Requirements page 96
UC Options for completing A-G
Cal State Options for A-G:

CUSDWatch Comment

Because of CCP/Health CUSDs' high performing students start off one year behind in their electives and therefore one year behind in completing their A-G course requirements.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AT OTHER LOCAL ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOLS

As this chart demonstrates, Districts have flexibility to create there own Graduation requirements so long as they offer the minimum required by the State of California.

GPA GRADE BUMPS AND RIGOR (HONORS - AP- IB CLASSES)

Only Certain classes qualify for a bump in GPA.

Even if a District designates a class as an "Honors Class", a student will NOT get the bump in GPA from the UC System unless the class is taken in 10th and 11th grade, and has been pre-approved by UC Doorways. If a student wants to ensure the bump in GPA, check US Doorways before taking the class. Otherwise, a student will be doing accelerated work but they will not receive the bump in GPA for the extra rigor.

* Other colleges outside the UC and CSU accept Honors Classes in 9th grade. This greatly effects a students GPA and their ability to get merit money.

If a CUSD student took and of the following classes in 2015-16 school year, check your transcripts to ensure that you received the appropriate bump in GPA for the work that you did.

• Accelerated Biology
• Accelerated World History
• IDEA Courses
• HMO Courses
• SOCSA Courses
• ATMS Courses
• World Language 5

On March 25, 2015 the CUSD Board of Trustees began a discussion of approving currently named "ACCELERATED" "IDEA" "HMO" "SOCSA" "ATMS" and World Language 5 course work as true "Honors" classes with an accompanying bump in GPA

See: March 25, 2015 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #2 "High School Graduation Requirements Board Presentation"
Board Audio at 1:55:15

Honors Classes Discussion at 2:31:00

May 13, 2015 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #28 Broadening the Course of Study - New Secondary Courses at page 49

Board Audio at 9:56

This Item was on the Consent Calendar.

Trustee McNicholas pulled Item #28 to Clarify that this would give a grade bump to the following classes.

The Board Board Approved Honors Designations for the following 9th Grade classes.
The Item passed 7-0

• Honors English I
• Honors Biology
• Honors World History
• Honors Algebra II
• Honors Algebra II/Trig

July 15, 2015 Board/Superintendent Workshop: "High School Graduation Requirements"

Board Audio is very hard to understand

Bottom Line- Health/CCP messing up CUSD's students ability to complete A-G course requirements.

September 9, 2015 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #22 Broadening the Course of Study- New Secondary Courses at page 347

Oral Communication re: Retro-active Grade boost for Honors Classes Board Audio at 21:10

Agenda Item #22 was Pulled from the Consent Calendar by Trustee Jones and Trustee Hatton-Hodson Board Audio at 5:27:35

Discussion regarding inequity - Freshmen taking accelerated classes so not get a bump in GPA like 10th- 12th grades students.

September 23, 2015 Special Board Meeting Agenda Item #1 Retroactive Recognition of Honors English I, Honors English II and Honors Algebra 2- Trigonometry Courses for Current District Students at page 1

There is no Board Audio and nothing is recorded in the minutes for this meeting.

October 14, 2015 CUSD BOT Meeting Agenda Item #18 Approval of Remaining Honors Course Implementation (No page is referenced)

There is no supporting documentation for this Item in the Board Agenda.

This Item was passed on the Consent Calendar without Board Discussion

The Board Minutes at page 165 stated that the Board approved adding the following Honors courses:

• Honors Biology
• Honors Chemistry
• Honors World History

Aliso Niguel High School

California Preparatory Academy

Capistrano Valley High School

Dana Hills High School

Junipero Serra High School - No Classes that get a bump in GPA
San Clemente High School

San Juan Hills High School

Tesoro High School