De Anza College Earns Pathway Champion Status for 2025
De Anza College in Cupertino, California, has achieved recognition as a Pathway Champion for 2025 due to its significant contributions toward facilitating student transfers to four-year universities. This accolade highlights the college’s commitment to enhancing student success, particularly in critical foundational subjects such as math and English.
The Campaign for College Opportunity, a statewide research and advocacy organization, awarded De Anza high rankings among California’s community colleges for the 2023-24 academic year. Notably, De Anza ranked third in the state for students completing transfer-level math within one year, achieving a completion rate of 78.8%. Additionally, the college secured second place for Black students completing transfer-level English within the same timeframe, with a remarkable completion rate of 82.6%.
This continued success follows previous commendations from the Campaign for College Opportunity. In 2024, De Anza ranked second statewide for the 2022-23 academic year in both categories: with 81.4% of students completing transfer-level math and 81.2% completing transfer-level English within one year of enrollment.
The Campaign’s rankings aim to acknowledge community colleges that are effectively aiding students in achieving their educational goals through equitable course placement practices. This initiative gained momentum following the passage of state legislation in 2018, which called for a shift away from traditional placement methods. These older practices often placed students into remedial courses, delaying their progress to transfer-level coursework.
In response to this legislative change, De Anza College implemented new assessment practices, curriculum adjustments, and additional support services designed to assist students in successfully completing college-level courses. This proactive approach has proven successful as evidenced by the college’s strong performance metrics.
As De Anza College continues to lead in student transfer success, it exemplifies the commitment required to support diverse student populations and ensure their readiness for higher education challenges. The recognition as a Pathway Champion underscores the importance of innovative strategies in community colleges, setting a benchmark for others in the field.
In community engagement, the Cupertino Historical Society and Museum will host the next Tavern Talk event on November 12, 2023, from 18:00 to 20:00 at Florentine’s Trattoria. This event aims to celebrate the restaurant’s 61st anniversary while discussing its historical significance in Cupertino. Tickets can be purchased for $25 through their official website.
