Expectations Gap Fact Sheets

There is an ever-growing expectations gap between what we expect of our high school graduates to earn a diploma and what is required for their success in higher education. For too many graduates, the American high school diploma signifies only a broken promise. While students and their parents may still believe that the diploma reflects adequate preparation for the intellectual demands of adult life, in reality it often falls far short of this goal. Regrettably, many students learn that they are unprepared to meet college readiness expectations during the admissions and placement processes when it is much harder to address their gap in skills.

Postsecondary institutions and high schools are mutually responsible for providing clear signals to students. Postsecondary leaders and faculty are in a unique role to make a difference. 

Start by learning the facts: