Rising Star Report 2007 -2008 : Student Analysis

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STUDENT ANALYSIS BY CLASS

Rising Star scholars are mainly comprised of low-income and middle-income students. Currently, 79 percent of new Rising Star students receive some state and/or federal financial aid. Overall, 54 percent of Rising Star students are receiving some type of government funding.

Rising Star serves as a safety net to make the cost of a college education more affordable (if not free) for low-to-middle income students and ensures that private dollars are used in the most efficient way possible. At a national level, full-time students enrolled in public two-year colleges receive approximately $2,040 in grants from all sources and tax benefits.* This aid reduces the average tuition and fees paid from the published 2007-2008 price of $2,361 to about $320 per year.**

Although all Rising Star students were high school graduates who averaged a “B” or better, 73 percent of new scholars need college remediation classes. According to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, in 2006 only 48 percent of full-time college freshman did not require remedial courses. Additionally, minority students showed lower levels of college readiness. Nationally, 52 percent of college students will take at least one remedial education course.

In response to the high number of Rising Star students requiring remediation, the DCCCD has implemented the following initiatives:

Rising Star offices were established at each of the seven DCCCD colleges. The offices are staffed by full-time District employees who “case-manage” the progress of Rising Star students and who provide services such as tutoring or advisement to ensure their success in college. Additionally, a Rising Star office has been established at the DCCCD headquarters to further enhance the administration and management of the program.
Each Rising Star student is required to take a Human Development course designed especially for them. The class engages them in active study skills, provides information and practice in accessing tutorial labs, and presents information on how to succeed in college. This course not only strengthens the academic skills and habits of Rising Star students, but also benefits other DCCCD students who opt to enroll in it.

"Rising Star is about relevance, leverage and scale. It represents the absolute best way to give large numbers of our kids a real opportunity to acquire the skills and education they need to earn their way into the middle class and help themselves."
-Robert L. Thornton III
Immediate Past Chair, Foundation

STUDENT DATA:

* Baum, Sandy and Patricia Steele. “Total Undergraduate Student Aid.” Trends in Student Aid 2007. Washington, D.C.: College Board, 2007. pg. 9. www.colleboard.com/trends

** Baum and Jennifer Ma. “Net Price: Public Institutions.” Trends in College Pricing 2007. Washington, D.C.: College Board, 2007. pg. 16. www.collegeboard.com/trends

*** Texas Public Policy Foundation. Texas Public Education Facts. February 2006.
http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2006-02-edfactsheet-cp.pdf

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