What is the purpose of the Educational Pipeline?
The Educational Pipeline analysis conveys the importance of viewing student progress as a continuum leading from high school into postsecondary education and through to the completion of a college degree. The Educational Pipeline, rather than viewing K–12 schooling and postsecondary education as separate entities, estimates the state-by-state patterns of student progress from the 9th grade through four key transition points: (1) high school graduation within four years of entering high school; (2) enrollment in college the fall semester after receiving a high school diploma; (3) return for the second year of college; and (4) completion of an associates degree within three years or a bachelors degree within six years of enrolling in college. The Educational Pipeline enables states to compare patterns of student progress with other states and with national averages. States vary widely in these patterns: Many states that have similar results at the end of the pipeline (that is, in the pro
