In families where higher education is valued, where parents graduate from college and the benefits of a degree are tangible, youths grow up knowing the importance of preparing for college. They appreciate why they need to engage in rigorous high school studies. However, in homes where higher education is a luxury, youths grow up having less confidence about their futures. Still, many of these youths aspire to go to college just like their college-bound peers, even though their chances of realizing that opportunity are diminished by conflicting personal and family life circumstances.
Issues surrounding the adequacy of high school academic preparation are also evident.
For many, an over-reliance on basic courses limits college readiness because advanced math, science, and technical courses are missing from their high school programs of study. For years, liberal arts and sciences education at the high school level dominated the college preparatory curriculum. However meritorious, this track often engages only a small proportion of high school youths. By expanding college-going opportunities, more students can attain the benefits of social mobility and economic prosperity that a college education can provide.