Number of high schoolers enrolling
in college has increased: DOE
By Alejandra O’Connell-
Domenech The number of high
school seniors enrolling
in college continues to
increase, according to
Mayor Bill de Blasio and
School Chancellor Richard
Carranza.
From 2018 to 2019, about 8
percent more students enrolled in
higher education. Last year, only
62 percent of high school seniors
enrolled, they said.
The mayor and chancellor
announced the figures on Thursday
in Brooklyn, stating that a total of
48,782 seniors decided to pursue
college after graduating this spring,
which was an increase of 3,600
students from 2018’s enrollment
numbers.
According to the DOE, 27,783
high school seniors are enrolled
in a CUNY school; 8,241 at SUNY;
4,637 at an out-of-state school; and
6,858 at an in-state private school.
An additional 1,263 are enrolled in
vocational, public service programs
like AmeriCorp or the City Year
volunteer corp, or are receiving
associates degrees in partnership
with the DOE.
The inclusion of students off to
vocational school and public service
programs is typically incorporated
in college enrollment numbers,
according to the DOE.
According to a press release, those
students enrolled in two-year or fouryear
colleges, vocational programs,
or public service programs.
The DOE has not responded to
a request for a break down of that
number.
De Blasio intimated that the
upward trend is a sign that things
are changing for the better in the
public school system, in growing
opportunity for generations.
“You should never be kept from
your dreams or your potential
because of your neighborhood or
the ZIP code you grew up in, or the
amount of money in your family’s
bank account,” said de Blasio
during a press conference at the
High School of Telecommunications
Arts and Technology in Bay Ridge.
“That’s not the way it’s supposed to
be. It’s the way it has been for a long
time.”
De Blasio boasted that since his
time as mayor, more than 8,000
extra students have been able to
pursue college degrees. According to
city data, the number of high school
seniors that enrolled in college in
2013 was only 40,641.
“Let’s be honest, how many great
young people didn’t get to pursue
their dreams because of those
realities?” said de Blasio. “What we
are committed to in this city is ending
that once and for all, and saying that
it doesn’t matter who you are, where
you’re from, we’re going to help you
get a higher education.”
The mayor credited the increase
to programs started under his Equity
and Excellence for All Agenda, which
included expansions in the universal
Pre-k and 3K for All programs, access
to advanced placement classes,
and waivers of admission fees for
attending CUNY.
“The numbers are in and the
results are clear: In New York City,
more students are enrolling in
college and are on a path to success.
Our schools are assisting at every
turn by building college and careerready
cultures, eliminating barriers
such as application fees, and
helping students directly apply,”
said Carranza.
De Blasio expressed optimism
that the upward trend in college
enrollment will continue in the years
to come.
“In the next two years, we are
going to take that higher and
higher. By the time that we leave
the administration, two-thirds of
our kids will be going on to higher
education,” he said.
Photo via Getty Images
QNS.COM
18 WINTER 2019
/QNS.COM