NEW YORK, NY — A new report released today by EdTrust-New York, Pathways to Opportunity: The Growth and Impact of College in High School Programs Across New York State, highlights significant growth in college in high school participation and strong graduation outcomes for students across the state, particularly for students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities.

As New York rolls out the College in High School Opportunity Fund with a new Request for Proposals (RFP) the New York State Education Department (NYSED) will release this year, this report examines how existing state funded programs—Smart Scholars, Smart Transfer, and Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) —have supported underserved students in enrolling in these programs, graduating from high school, and earning college credit.

The analysis examines enrollment and graduation data from the 2020–2021 through 2023–2024 school years across three primary College in High School models recognized by the New York State Education Department: P-TECH, Smart Scholars, and Smart Transfer programs.

“At a moment of new state investment, it’s critical that expansion is paired with equity and accountability,” said Arlen Benjamin-Gomez, executive director at EdTrust-New York. “This funding creates a powerful opportunity to ensure students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities not only access college in high school programs but thrive in them.”

Enrollment Increased 61% in Four Years

Between the 2020–21 and 2023–24 school years, enrollment in state-funded college in high school programs grew from 7,149 students to 11,528 students, a 61% increase.

Importantly, enrollment gains were strongest among underserved students:

• Students of color saw a 72% increase in participation, more than 10 percentage points higher than the overall growth rate.
• Black and Latinx students experienced continuous enrollment increases each year and are now overrepresented in state-funded college in high school programs compared to their share of statewide enrollment.
• Students from low-income backgrounds saw enrollment rise 72%, nearly 30 percentage points higher than their more affluent peers.
• Students with disabilities experienced the highest rate of growth, 77% over four years, though they remain underrepresented relative to their share of the statewide student population.
• Multilingual learners saw enrollment increase 73% overall, yet participation remains disproportionately low. While multilingual learners make up approximately 11% of students statewide, they represent just 4–5% of college in high school participants.

Higher Graduation Rates and Smaller Equity Gaps

The report also finds that students who participate in state-funded college in high school programs graduate at higher rates than their peers statewide.

The four-year graduation rate for college in high school students in 2023–24 was 89%, compared to 86% statewide.

The graduation gap between students from low-income backgrounds and their more affluent peers, more than 10 percentage points statewide, shrinks to less than 2 percentage points in college in high school programs.

Black, Latinx, Native American, and Multiracial college in high school students graduate at rates comparable to their White and Asian peers and higher than statewide averages for their groups.

Recommendations for Sustaining and Expanding Impact

• While celebrating progress, the report outlines several recommendations to ensure continued growth and equity:
• Strengthen oversight and quality standards for all College in High School programs under the new Opportunity Fund.
• Require robust data disaggregation by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, student subgroups, and first-generation college status to identify and address disparities.
• Integrate college in high school pathways into updated graduation measures, positioning them as rigorous demonstrations of proficiency aligned to the new Portrait of a Graduate.
• Prioritize longitudinal data tracking through New York’s developing Statewide Longitudinal Data System to assess long-term college and workforce outcomes.
• Align programs with workforce development efforts, ensuring students gain access to internships and industry partnerships.
• Ensure stable, sustainable funding that includes academic advising, tutoring, and mental health support to help underrepresented students succeed.

A Continuum of Opportunity

New York’s College in High School ecosystem, including dual enrollment partnerships, Smart Scholars, Smart Transfer, and P-TECH, forms a continuum of opportunity. From college-credit courses to integrated six-year degree pathways, these models help students transition more seamlessly from high school to college and career.

As enrollment continues to grow, a new RFP rolls out under the Opportunity Fund, and new state investments expand access, the report concludes that College in High School programs represent one of New York’s most promising strategies for advancing educational equity and workforce readiness.

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About EdTrust-New York

EdTrust-New York is dedicated to eliminating equity and opportunity gaps that hinder students from reaching their full potential. We focus on ensuring that students of color, including Black, Latinx, Native American, and Asian American and Pacific Islander students, and those from low-income backgrounds achieve high levels of success from early childhood through college. For more information, visit EdTrustNY.org.