The Palau Ministry of Education and Palau Community College are aligning their education systems to better prepare students for college. Research on the high school academic preparation variables that predict college success is limited for students in Palau. Using data from Palau's Ministry of Education and Palau Community College, this study examined factors that predict early community college success and college completion. The study found that 60 percent of Palau High School graduates who enrolled in Palau Community College earned a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in their first year of college, 56 percent persisted to a second year, and 20 percent completed an associate degree or certificate within three years. Students with a higher grade point average and those with a higher math score on the grade 12 Palau Achievement Test in high school had better community college outcomes, after other academic preparation variables and student characteristic variables (gender and college cohort) were controlled for. In addition, students who earned a grade of C or higher in English I in grade 9 or in English IV in grade 12 had better community college outcomes, after the other variables were controlled for. In contrast, enrollment in the Construction Technology Career Academy in high school was a negative predictor of persisting to a second year of college and of earning an associate degree or certificate within three years. [For the study snapshot, see ED610716. For the study brief, see ED610717. For the appendices, see ED610720.]
