Progress
College Milestones

College Milestones

Completion of Gatekeeper English and Math: California

Percentage of California Community College students who completed a gatekeeper English and math course within seven years

What Is Measured?

Percentage of students completing gatekeeper English and math within seven years

Who Is Counted?

First-time degree-seeking students enrolled in California Community Colleges in 2000-01, excluding noncredit and dual-enrolled students

What It Tells Us

More than one-quarter (28 percent) of California Community College students completed a gatekeeper English course within seven years, while about one-fifth (21 percent) completed a gatekeeper math course within seven years.

Why It's Important

There is general consensus that timely completion of gatekeeper courses, the lowest-level college-level courses in the core subjects of mathematics, reading, and writing, positively affects student outcomes such as attainment of certificates and degrees and transfer to a four-year institution. Completion of gatekeeper courses fulfills requirements for graduation and transfer as well as prerequisites for more advanced courses in various fields.

About the Data
Degree-seeking students: include students enrolled in more than six units during the first year.
Data Source

Offenstein, J., Moore, C., & Shulock, N. (2010, April). Advancing by degrees: A framework for increasing college completion. Sacramento, CA and Washington, DC: IHELP and The Education Trust.