Academic Preparation and Transitions
Whether you’re a student preparing for college, a counselor guiding students, or a teacher helping high school juniors and seniors, this page gives you tools and information about readiness, placement, and support at Cal Poly.
Early Academic Preparation
The Early Assessment Program (EAP) is a partnership among the State Board of Education, the California Department of Education, and the California State University (CSU). It gives high school juniors an early look at their readiness for college-level English and math. Students who aren’t yet fully prepared can use their senior year to strengthen skills and close gaps. The goal is simple: to ensure California high school graduates arrive at the CSU ready to succeed in college-level coursework. For more information, click here.
Academic Placement and Transitions
The CSU sets guidelines for how first-year students enroll in General Education (GE) written communication and math courses. At Cal Poly, placement is determined using multiple measures of academic preparation, including:
- Junior-year CAASPP scores
- High school GPA
- Completed high school and college coursework
- Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) results
- ACT or SAT scores (if available)
These measures help ensure students are placed in courses that match their skills and provide the right level of support for success.
Resources for High School Teachers
ERWC
ERWC is a college preparatory course (A-G) rhetoric-based English Language Arts course for grades 11 and 12 designed to develop academic literacy (advanced proficiency in rhetorical and analytical reading, writing, and thinking).
Check ERWC’s website to register for a free training.
Additionally, be sure to stay in the loop through the ERWC Online Community, which includes modules, high impact strategies, discussion forums, and other resources to support ERWC educators.
Interested in adopting ERWC in your school for the first time? Click here to learn more about the adoption process.
CSU Mathematics Bridge Courses
The CSU offers a variety of 12th grade bridge courses focused on supporting mathematics and quantitative reasoning readiness. For example, the Quantitative Reasoning With Advanced Math Topics (QRAT) Course is being offered at high schools in San Luis Obispo County. This innovative course is designed for students who are not ready for an AP level course and may not have chosen to take senior year math. It is an alternative to the Pre-Calculus/Calculus pathway. For more information or to consider adoption, click here.
In addition to the QRAT course, there are a variety of other 4th year mathematics options to consider, such as Mathematical Reasoning with Connections (MRWC) and Transition to College Level Mathematics (TCLM).
Resources for Students
What do I need to attend a CSU?
https://www.calstate.edu/attend/freshman/Pages/planning-for-college.aspx
Why is the CAASPP important and how should I prepare?
The CAASPP test is one of the multiple measures that the CSU uses to determine your EAP results and therefore, which courses you will need to take. You will take the CAASPP test your Junior year.
The best strategy to prepare for your test is to consistently do your best work in your English and Math classes. If you would like to take a practice test, click here.
Why should I take a senior year math course?
Taking a fourth year of math is positively correlated with college enrollment and persistence and students who take a fourth year are more likely to earn a degree.
What do my EAP results mean?
You will have one of three possible outcomes for both English and math: fulfilled requirement, enroll in GE course, or enroll in supported GE course with supported pathways.
See this placement estimator for more information.
Resources for HIgh School Counselors and Administrators
This brochure explains placement and preparation.
Interested in adopting ERWC in your school for the first time? Click here to learn more.
