March 2004

In 1977, 63 percent of New York's public school graduates entered college. [10]

By 2002 - 25 years later - the percentage of New York's high school graduates going on to college had skyrocketed to 81 percent, well above the national average of 66 percent. [11] New York currently ranks 15th in the nation in its percentage of students entering college directly from high school. [12]

And, not only are more New York students pursuing higher education, more are doing it with very high SAT scores. This exciting phenomenon is also helping to raise the admissions standards at the State University of New York and City University of New York, where more students are not only enrolling in public higher education institutions, they are entering with much stronger academic credentials.

New York's SAT scores have climbed steadily over the last decade, from an average of 500 verbal and 501 math in 1992, to 504 verbal and 516 math in 2002. More impressively, the proportion of New York's college-bound seniors scoring above 600 - a very high score - on the math SAT has climbed by 22 percent since 2000. In 2002, 19 percent of New York students scored above 600 on the verbal section of the SATs, while 23 percent scored above 600 on the math SAT. [13] That's a spectacular result.

The trend toward greater college enrollment by New York's high school graduates is accelerating largely because of gains by New York City and high-need rural school districts.

New York City has increased its percentage of students enrolling in college in each of the last three years. College enrollment from New York City public schools has climbed from 59 percent in 2000, to 64 percent in 2001 and, finally, to 71 percent in 2002. [14] Meanwhile, the going-to-college rate for graduates of high-need rural school districts has also been rising steadily, and reached 77 percent in 2002. Among low-need suburban districts, the college enrollment rate has held steady at 93 percent for three straight years. [15]

More than one-quarter of the state's school districts - 189 out of 701 - sent at least 90 percent of their 2002 graduates to college. These school districts are opening the doors of higher education and economic opportunity to nine out of every 10 graduates.

Most of these school districts are found on Long Island and in the northern suburbs of New York City. But, dozens of rural school districts - in places like Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Essex, Lewis, Warren and Wayne counties - also succeeded in sending at least 90 percent of their graduates on to college in either of the last two years.

The effects of these quiet strides toward greater excellence are being felt at New York's public colleges and universities.

NEXT: 8. "SUNY and CUNY: More Competitive than Ever"