Sweetwater Graduates Not Prepared for Higher Education

By Ed Herrera

Ed Herrera Pledges to Bring Leadership and Accountability to Sweetwater Union High School District In Order to Help Graduates Succeed in Higher Education

As the years progress more and more students are dropping out and more and more are not attending a four year university or a community college. Most SUHSD graduates, who do go on to higher education, enroll to Southwestern Community College (SWC). In fact, seven out of the nine traditional SUHSD high schools, show that 40% or more of their graduates, enroll at SWC. With 42% of SUHSD graduates enrolled at Southwestern College for Fall 2005, enrollments decreased by 12 students since the previous year. Of those that attend Southwestern College, only 39% have met the reading requirement, only 20% have qualified for Intermediate Algebra, and only 26% qualified for College English Composition as of 2005 in their first Fall semester. There has also been a pattern of steady decline from 2003 to 2005 in fulfilling such requirements. Sweetwater Union High School District graduates, in Spring of 2005, averaged a 1.75 GPA at Southwestern College with 36% of those students in Spring Semester Probation, although the SUHSD self -reported a High School average GPA of 3.01. 90 % of those students that enroll to SWC from SUHSD are peoples of diverse ethnic background. As of 2005, when these statistics were reported to the SUHSD Board of Trustees, the school board has done nothing and has allowed our children to be left behind.

What has been done?

Nothing.

"There is not close articulation between Southwestern College and Sweetwater Union High School District," stated one** Southwestern College School Board member at a candidates forum held September 12, 2006.

What will be done?

Ed Herrera is committed to bringing true leadership and accountability to SUHSD. Ed Herrera will work closely with SWC to increase enrollment, improve communication, and increase overall academic achievement. Although, two of five school board members are employed at SWC, including Herrera's opponent, nothing has been done to bring about a communal and collaborative effort to address the SUHSD graduate/SWC student crisis. Ed Herrera will make that effort because our children's future depend on hard working school board members who will do what ever it takes to leave no child behind.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SUHSD GRADUATES DURING THEIR FIRST FALL SEMESTER

ASSESSMENT RESULTS: 2003 2004 2005

Met Grad. Reading Requirement 41% 38% 39%

Qualified for Intermediate Algebra 21% 24% 20%

Qualified for College Level English 27% 25% 26%

• *Smartvoter policy prevents us from placing actual name of this individual. Please email us at EdHerrera@mail.com to request that information.