Course Placement

California law (Assembly Bill 705) eliminated the use of assessment tests to determine the placement of students into transfer-level math and English courses in California community colleges.

For students enrolling in:

• English and math, we use high school performance data, such as last completed high school English and math classes and high school grade point average (GPA) for determining placement.
• for credit and non-credit English as a Second Language (ESL) classes, we use a Guided Self Placement Tool to determine class to take

The goal of AB 705 is to maximize the probability that a student will enter and complete transfer-level coursework in English and math, either with or without support, within a one-year timeframe while attending college.

To learn more, watch the Know Your Rights: The AB 705 Initiative and What it Means for Students video.

California law (Assembly Bill 1805) requires California community colleges to publicly provide placement and enrollment outcome data highlighting students who have been enrolled in our English, math, and English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

The goal of AB 1805 is to ensure students are placed fairly, equitably and appropriately in English, math, and ESL classes.

Sierra College Placement and Enrollment Data

View Sierra College English, math and ESL course placement data for 2021-2022, 2020-2021 and 2019-2020.

Our data includes the number of students in a specific academic year by:

• Total number of “new first-time students” and “first-time transfer students”
• Race/ethnicity
• Headcount and percentage of students recommended for transfer level courses with and without support based on placements
• Headcount and percentage of students who enrolled in transfer level courses with and without support
• Percentage of students who enrolled in non-credit/below transfer level courses

Students that have taken non-credit English and/or Math were all given new placements for transfer level courses in these subjects. You can view your new placement in mySierra.

If you are a returning student, when you reapply your application data will give you all new placements that are in line with these policies. You can view your new placement in mySierra.

You can contact your high school and request a copy of your transcript. Depending on the district there may be a small fee.

If you are unable to access your high school information, your placements will be based on the information you provided when you applied to attend Sierra College. If you feel like this placement is not right for you, please contact Assessment and Placement Services or make an appointment with your counselor.

Sierra College will use the information you provided in your application to determine your placements.If you feel like this placement is not right for you, please contact Assessment and Placement Services or make an appointment with your counselor.

Submit your high school transcript(s) to show what you did complete to get the most accurate placement for you. If you have no classes taken in high school, please contact Assessment and Placement Services or make an appointment with your counselor.

Please set up an appointment with your counselor as your situation is unique and needs one-on-one attention.

For students whose primary language is English, they can register for support courses along with their English courses and use our free academic support services, such as the Writing Center or Tutoring Center. If you have further questions or concerns, be sure to make an appointment with a counselor.

For students whose primary language is not English, they can choose to take English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. ESL classes can help students improve their English, including writing, reading, speaking and listening. Credit and free, non-credit classes are available. Be sure to meet with a counselor to review your options.

For students who have been placed in transfer-level math, they can register for a support course along with their math course or look for math courses in the class schedule that note “This section includes embedded support.” They can also use our free academic support services, such as Math Tutoring or Tutoring Center. If you have further questions or concerns, be sure to make an appointment with a counselor.