For all the justified angst about drops in higher-ed enrollment last fall, one key trend has been overlooked: At many predominantly online institutions, enrollment went up—in some cases by quite a lot.

This trend is significant for at least two reasons. For one, it’s a marker of the way the pandemic continues to create (or exacerbate) haves and have-nots in higher education. It's also an early indicator of an evolving shake-up in the online-education arena.

Photo: Henry Gass

Pedro Martinez grew up in a low-income, Hispanic school district. Now, as the superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD), he feels strongly that getting students into college is important—but keeping them there is also a school district responsibility.

Martinez says his college readiness focus aims to give students “armor” to survive the intensity of college. The district has covered the cost for students to retake the SAT and ACT to improve scores. It signed agreements with local universities guaranteeing scholarships for a certain number of SAISD graduates. It also works with parents to send personalized care packages to graduates at college.