Welcome to NACAC's Research web page, where you can find NACAC sponsored research and surveys as well as other studies and materials relating to the world of college admission and college bound students.
NACAC is at the forefront of college admission-related research with its annual State of College Admission report, a compilation of the NACAC Admission and Counseling Trends surveys. The association also conducts an annual Space Availability Survey, for students in need of last-minute college options, and explores other avenues of research, by commissioning white papers and providing resources for further admission-related information.
Research Topics
May 2008
Report to the Community on the Education for the 21st Century (e21) High School Redesign Initiative: 2002-2007 and Beyond
This report describes the Sacramento City Unified School District’s (SCUSD) efforts to redesign the District’s high schools to improve student learning and success. The report outlines the project’s accomplishments, lessons learned and challenges in hopes of serving as a model to other school districts.
Empowering Students: How Georgia College Early College Changes Student Aspirations
A case study from Jobs for the Future examines the features of the Georgia College Early College—college-going culture, small class sizes and other support structures—that result in increased aspirations and success for students.
Characteristics of the 100 Largest Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts in the United States: 2004-05
This National Center for Education Statistics’ report highlights key features of the nation’s largest public school districts, which enroll 23 percent of public school students. The report includes information about the numbers of students, teachers and counselors; the number of high school completers and the averaged freshman graduation rate; and revenues and expenditures.
Writing, Technology and Teens
A study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project surveyed teens age 12 – 17 and held focus groups to learn more about the writing habits of today’s teens and how they are influence by technology. Results indicate that teens see benefits to using technology for school-related writing but make important distinctions between electronic social communication and formal writing for school.
April 2008
Parent Expectations and Planning for College
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) examines parents’ educational expectations for their children (grades 6 – 12) as well as the postsecondary education planning practices of families and schools. The survey results showed that roughly nine out of every 10 students had parents who expected them to continue their education beyond high school, with about two-thirds who expected them to finish college. Only about one-third had parents who perceived that their child’s school did very well at providing information to help their child plan for postsecondary education. Among students whose parents expected them to continue their education after high school, 82 percent had parents who reported that the family was planning on helping to pay for their child’s postsecondary education costs, and 66 percent of those parents thought they had enough information about postsecondary education costs to begin planning.
Window of Opportunity: Targeting Federal Grant Aid to Students with the Lowest Incomes
A report from the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), published in partnership with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), examines how Pell grant recipients finance higher education. The study found that the average Pell grant recipient is more likely to rely and loans, but is still left with about $4,500 in unmet need after all aid sources. The report presents policy options that would target Pell grant funds to the lowest income students.
Graduation Rate Watch: Making Minority Student Success a Priority
A report from Education Sector presents graduation rate data showing the gaps between black and white students’ six-year graduation rates at the nation’s four-year colleges and universities. The report highlights institutions that have particularly large and small gaps, and presents examples of institutions with successful programs for increasing minority success.
Additional Learning Opportunities in Rural Areas: Needs, Successes, and Challenges
A report from the Center for American Progress discusses the benefits of expanded learning opportunities for low-income students in rural areas. The report provides examples of successful after school, before school, intersession, weekend, holi¬day, and summer learning programs and describes best practices of these programs.
Beating the Odds: The Real Challenges Behind the Math Achievement Gap—And What High-Achieving Schools Can Teach Us About How to Close It
A report from Jobs for the Future describes the characteristics of small schools that are having success in raising the math achievement of at-risk students. A key characteristic seems to be the creation of a “culture of success” that addresses the psychological barriers to learning for students who have failed in the past.
Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary Education: School Year 2005-06 (Fiscal Year 2006)
A report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) presents 2005-06 revenue and expenditure data for public elementary and secondary education at both the national and state levels.
Denied: Community College Students Lack Access to Affordable Loans
An issue brief from the Project on Student Debt discusses the potential consequences for community college students when their colleges don’t participate in the federal loan program. The authors found that almost one-quarter of community colleges representing one million students don’t participate and that both African American and Native American students are over-represented at these colleges.
Getting Ahead or Losing Ground: Economic Mobility in America
A report from The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Economic Mobility Project shows that the educational income gap has increased substantially since the mid-1960s. The report also examines economic mobility by race and gender, considers issues of immigration and intergenerational mobility, and provides international comparisons.
Paying the Price: The High Cost of Private Student Loans and the Dangers for Student Borrowers
A report from the National Consumer Law Center cautions that students are taking on too much risk with increased private loan borrowing. Private loans provide fewer protections for borrowers than government-backed loans, and they are more expensive for borrowers, particularly those with limited credit histories or low credit scores. The report reviews these differences in detail and makes policy recommendations for preserving affordable access to higher education.
The Nation’s Report Card: Writing 2007
Results of the 2007 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) writing assessment show that average writing scores and the percentages of students performing at or above Basic were higher than in the 1998 and 2002 assessments for both grades 8 and 12. To measure writing skills, the assessment engaged students in narrative, informative, and persuasive writing tasks. Results are also reported for student performance by various demographic characteristics such as race/ethnicity, gender, and eligibility for the National School Lunch Program. The report is issued by the National Center for Education Statistics.
Public Education Finances: 2006
School districts in the United States spent an average of $9,138 per student in fiscal year 2006, up from $8,701 in 2005, according to a report from the U.S. Census Bureau. The report provides in-depth information on the revenues and expenditures of public school districts at both the national and state levels. The Web site also provides access to data tables that include spending on instruction, support services, construction, and salaries and benefits of the more than 15,000 school districts.