High School Benchmarks 2020

This eighth annual report updates the key indicators of high school to college transition, persistence, and completion outcomes for high school graduates of 2019 and earlier. In addition, this year’s report features a first look at the effect of COVID-19 on the immediate college enrollment rate of the high school graduating class of 2020. Using preliminary data from high schools and colleges reporting as of September 18, 2020, the immediate enrollment rates are estimated for 2,324 high scchools with differing income, minority, and urbanicity characteristics. KEY FINDINGS: Preliminary data shows little impact of COVID-19 on high school graduation in the school year 2019-2020. However, far fewer graduates went to college immediately after high school this fall, declining by 21.7 percent compared to 2019 graduates. COVID-19 impacted immediate college enrollments rates considerably for graduates of high poverty, low income, and urban high schools. Public college enrollment among graduates of low-income high schools declined at disproportionately higher rates, revealing impediments to college access during COVID-19. #education #covid-19