Across the college-going population, course grades are consistently the strongest indicators of students' general academic preparation¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · qualitative r? · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person · recheck by 2028: tool and model accuracy changes quickly

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Across all college-going students, course grades are the strongest indicators of general academic preparation, and grades provide the most comprehensive single measure for assessing academic readiness. → Key Questions: How important are course grades as predictors of students' future success? 2025

Evidence¶

Key Questions: How important are course grades as predictors of students' future success? 2025¶

Key Questions: How important are course grades as predictors of students' future success? (2025). UChicago Consortium / FutureEd. https://consortium.uchicago.edu

q2 · i? · qualitative · r?

In this research-practice interview, Allensworth states that across the overall population of college-going students, "course grades are consistently the strongest indicators of students' general academic preparation," and that grades alone give the most comprehensive readiness information. No effect sizes are printed.

"If we look at the overall population of college-going students, students' course grades are consistently the strongest indicators of students' general academic preparation."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• The strongest college-readiness predictors measure four broad constructs: academic preparation, aspirations and expectations, socioeconomic status, and teacher perceptions — related
• The quality and intensity of the high school curriculum is reported to be the single most important factor in college success — reports the opposite
• Course grades and GPA predict high school and college outcomes better than standardized test scores or coursework — related
• High school GPA is a better predictor of college graduation than standardized test scores, yet districts continue to rely on test-based readiness benchmarks — related
• Ninth grade GPAs are the single most predictive indicator of high school graduation, college enrollment, and degree completion for all English Learner groups — a narrower finding that bears on this claim