SJECC enrollment up 15% thanks to K–12 dual credit programs, says chancellor
Matthew Pratt: The American School, 1765. Image in Public Domain
After pandemic-era student population drops that persisted in the Bay Area and beyond, the San Jose Evergreen Community College District has reported a roughly 15% enrollment increase for Fall 2023. As EdSource relays, SJECC's partnerships with local high school programs have helped attract the next generation of scholars—giving hope that community colleges can still prove relevant in today's market.
After years of pandemic declines, enrollment at California’s community colleges may finally be starting to rebound in a significant way.
Several colleges across the state, from San Diego to San Jose, are reporting that their enrollments are up by double digit percentages this fall. Statewide data for the fall isn’t yet available, but enrollment in the spring was up 8% across the system of 116 colleges, according to a memo prepared by the state chancellor’s office.
College officials cited the expansion of dual enrollment and more interest in career-focused programs as being among the main drivers of the enrollment growth....
At the San Jose Evergreen Community College District, enrollment this fall is up by about 15% compared with a year ago, and the largest increases are among students aged 17 or younger, thanks to dual enrollment expansions. The district has specifically focused on expanding partnerships with high schools in East San Jose to enroll underserved high schoolers in that area, said Beatriz Chaidez, the district’s interim chancellor, in an interview.
“People see the value in community colleges, and that’s creating the increased interest, and we’re casting a wider net with our K-12 partners,” Chaidez added.
This article originally appeared in EdSource. Read the whole thing here.
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