being of the county. The Fund for Our Economic Future Benchmark Study lists workforce development as one of the highest priorities for Northeastern Ohio. Despite the fact that there are many institutions of higher learning in Stark County, educational attainment after high school is lower in Stark County than in the state or the nation.
A college degree is not the only postsecondary educational option available in Stark County. Approximately 20 percent of Stark County adults 25 years and older have some college experience but no degree. These post educational opportunities can include skills training and certifications and stackable certificates resulting in a degree.
It is worth noting that Stark County is above the state as a whole in the percentage of high school graduates that go on to an Ohio colleges or universities. One of the major changes has been the formation of dual credit programs that allow qualified students to earn college credit while still in high school. The Stark/Wayne dual credit program is the largest in the state. There are 90 dual credit courses offered to Stark County high school students. Such programs are designed to reduce the cost of education beyond high school and to encourage high school students to continue on to college.
The number of Stark County high school graduates going on to college has been increasing. However, the percent of students entering college who require remediation has remained at approximately 40 percent. There is disagreement regarding the cause. Some believe it is a lack of rigorous preparation during high school. Others argue that it is a result of a lack of alignment between high school course work and the tests used to determine remedial placement. Stark County school districts, Stark State College of Technology and Kent State Stark are involved in a two year alignment of curriculum with the goal to eliminate math remediation for Stark County students.
