BY MATTHEW TRAGESSER | MACIVER INSTITUTE
The vast majority of Wisconsin’s public high schools are sending students to the University of Wisconsin unprepared for college-level coursework and in need of remedial education, according to a recent report from the Universities of Wisconsin.
There are 514 public high schools in Wisconsin, and 486 of them are on the UW’s list. There are also 87 private high schools on the list, for a grand total of 573 schools. Each of those schools had at least one graduate in the UW-system who required remedial courses their freshman year.
The situation is getting worse as time goes on. Back in 2017, there were far fewer schools on the list, but the state already knew this was a problem. Rep. John Jagler (R-Watertown) passed legislation in 2015 that required the UW System to publish this remedial course information for incoming freshmen in an annual report.
Needless to say, taking remedial high school classes in college is expensive. In-state tuition at most UW campuses is $6,813 a year for undergrads. Those classes typically do not count for college credit, and they increase the likelihood of extending the time needed to graduate.
The latest data from the University of Wisconsin System reveals a stark contrast between public and private schools. Of the 162 high schools where six or more students required some form of remedial education, 148 were identified as public schools, and only 14 were identified as private schools.
Milwaukee Public Schools had some of the worst offenders in the state. All students from Milwaukee South Division High School (100%) were required to take remedial math courses as freshmen—the highest percentage in the state. Similarly, Carmen Science & Tech-Southeast ranked fourth highest, with nearly 90% of its students needing remedial math.
Nearly half (45%) of Milwaukee School of the Arts students were required to take remedial English courses as freshmen—making it the second-highest percentage for that category (only beaten by Milwaukee South Division High School).
Senator Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) and Chairman of the Committee on Universities and Revenue expressed concerns over the data, telling MacIver that “this data is yet another stark warning sign that too many students are graduating high school without the basic education they will need to succeed as adults. The level of remedial support many students are needing in math and English as they enter the workforce or higher-ed is likely telling us something about their preparedness coming out of our high schools.”
He also stressed the importance of not lowering academic standards as a result of the latest findings:
“I support the UW and Tech System helping students who are not prepared for higher-ed academically. But let’s stop lowering the standards and recommit to making the grade with the promise of real academic achievement for all K-12 students. The economic future for Wisconsin families will be our ultimate report card.”
