College and Career Readiness Indicators: Preparing Students for What Comes Next

Maya graduated with a 3.2 GPA, enrolled in the state university, and was placed in remedial math her first semester. Despite four years of high school mathematics, she wasn't ready for college-level work. Her high school transcript said she was prepared; her placement test said otherwise.

Stories like Maya's are common. Graduation rates have risen, but readiness hasn't kept pace. Too many students complete high school requirements without developing the knowledge and skills they need for what comes next—whether college, career training, or the workforce.

Defining Readiness

Academic Readiness

Students are academically ready when they can succeed in credit-bearing college courses or career training programs without remediation. This means mastery of foundational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics at levels required for post-secondary success.

Career Readiness

Career readiness includes technical skills for specific occupations plus broader employability skills: communication, collaboration, problem-solving, self-management, and professionalism.

Social-Emotional Readiness

Success after high school requires more than academics: self-advocacy, time management, resilience, help-seeking, and navigating new environments. Students who lack these skills struggle even when academically prepared.

Financial Readiness

Understanding how to pay for college, navigate financial aid, manage money, and make informed decisions about educational investments is increasingly essential.

Academic Readiness Indicators

Benchmark Assessments

ACT and SAT provide college-readiness benchmarks indicating likelihood of success in credit-bearing courses. Students meeting benchmarks in all subjects have significantly higher college completion rates than those who don't.

Advanced Coursework

Participation and success in advanced courses—AP, IB, dual enrollment—indicates readiness for college-level work. These courses provide experience with college-level rigor and expectations.

Course Sequence Completion

Completing a rigorous course sequence matters more than GPA alone. A student with a B in honors courses may be more prepared than a student with an A in less rigorous courses. Track completion of college-preparatory sequences in core subjects.

GPA in Core Subjects

Core academic GPA—English, math, science, social studies—predicts college success better than overall GPA that includes electives. A 3.0 in core subjects is more meaningful than a 3.5 inflated by easy electives.

Career Readiness Indicators

CTE Pathway Completion

Completing a coherent Career and Technical Education pathway—multiple courses in a career cluster culminating in advanced skills—prepares students for industry entry or further training.

Industry Certifications

Earning industry-recognized credentials while in high school demonstrates job-ready skills. Certifications in areas like IT, healthcare, manufacturing, or skilled trades have labor market value.

Work-Based Learning

Internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing provide real-world experience. Students who participate in work-based learning have better employment outcomes and clearer career direction.

Employability Skills

Beyond technical skills, employers value reliability, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Some schools assess and credential these "soft skills" through portfolios, presentations, or standardized measures.

Transition Indicators

College Application Completion

Students can't attend college if they don't apply. Track application completion, especially for first-generation students who may need support navigating the process.

FAFSA Completion

Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid unlocks financial support. Many students don't attend college because they don't complete FAFSA, even when they'd qualify for significant aid.

Post-Secondary Enrollment

What percentage of graduates enroll in college, career training, or the military? Track enrollment within the first year after graduation.

Persistence and Completion

The ultimate measure: Do graduates persist and complete post-secondary programs? Track this through National Student Clearinghouse data or alumni surveys.

Building a Readiness Dashboard

Comprehensive readiness monitoring tracks multiple indicators:

Individual Student View

For each student: Are they on track for readiness? Which indicators are met? Which need attention? What supports are needed? Individual profiles enable personalized planning.

Cohort View

For the graduating class: What percentage meet readiness benchmarks? Which indicators show strength? Which show weakness? How do rates compare to previous years?

Equity Analysis

Disaggregate readiness indicators by student group. Are there gaps in access to advanced courses? In certification attainment? In FAFSA completion? Equity in readiness outcomes requires equity in readiness opportunities.

Improving Readiness

Early Intervention

Don't wait until senior year to address readiness. Identify students not on track in 9th or 10th grade and intervene early. Course placement, academic support, and guidance should begin well before graduation.

Access to Rigor

Many students lack readiness because they weren't enrolled in rigorous courses. Expand access to honors, AP, and dual enrollment. Eliminate tracking that limits opportunity.

Support Structures

Rigor without support produces failure. Provide tutoring, study skills instruction, and academic support to help students succeed in challenging courses.

College and Career Counseling

Students need guidance navigating post-secondary options: understanding choices, applying to schools, completing financial aid, making informed decisions. Counseling caseloads must allow meaningful support.

Senior Year Matters

Combat "senioritis" by keeping senior year rigorous and purposeful. Require college-level work, maintain expectations, and use senior year to build transition skills.

Maya's Different Story

What if Maya's school had tracked readiness indicators throughout high school? They might have noticed in 10th grade that her math trajectory wouldn't lead to readiness. They could have enrolled her in additional math support, ensured she took pre-calculus senior year, and prepared her for the college placement test.

Or they might have identified her interest in healthcare and connected her to a CTE pathway, resulting in a certified nursing assistant credential that gave her career options while pursuing further education.

The goal isn't just graduation—it's preparation for what comes next. When we measure readiness, we can improve it. When we monitor each student's progress toward readiness, we can intervene before it's too late.

Every student deserves to leave high school ready—ready for college, ready for career, ready for life. Readiness indicators help us deliver on that promise.