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Middle College High School

Unique educational model leads to postsecondary gains for under-served youth
Santa Ana Unified School District, Orange County, CA

Middle college high school is a unique collaborative program aimed at a student population that has been historically under-served and underrepresented in colleges. Through this program, a high school located on and integrated into the community college environment allows students to obtain a quality high school education while concurrently receiving direct and invaluable access to college courses and services.

Program goals include reducing high school dropout rates by improving the academic skills, self-concept, and decision-making skills of participating students. Through participation in this program, transfer rates, student retention, persistence and career opportunities are enhanced. The middle college high school provides reduced class size and curricula responsive to student needs that are linked with effective support services.

Currently, 13 community colleges throughout California are participating in this program. One such college is Santa Ana College, which houses Santa Ana Unified School District's Middle College High School (MCHS). collaborative venture between the district and the college, MCHS opened its doors in 1997, with approximately 80 sophomores and a staff consisting of four teachers, a high school counselor, a principal, and two classified employees. In 2000, MCHS graduated its first class; and since 2000, nineteen MCHS students have completed associate’s degrees or received 60 transferable units. Since 2000, MCHS has been a member of the Middle College High School National Consortium, a network of middle college high schools. In 2004, MCHS became part of the redesigned initiative of Early College. To make this dream a reality, Santa Ana Unified School District, MCHS, and Santa Ana College worked collaboratively to rethink the traditional curriculum sequences, to find creative ways to align and connect high school and college experiences, and to then provide the academic and social supports students need to succeed in an intensive early college program of study.

MCHS students are very active in the governance of their high school and college programs. They participate in a range of clubs and activities, including service learning, community volunteerism, and leadership activities―all of which reinforce students' abilities to apply academic skills and concepts in life experiences.

Since the implementation of the school's focus on standards-based instruction and assessment, the MCHS Academic Performance Index (API) has improved from 728 in 2003 to 851in 2008, a gain of 123 points. In addition, they celebrated a 100 percent pass rate on the California High School Exit Exam for the past three school years. MCHS has increased graduation rates, provided support to students in pursuing rigorous high school and college courses, and instilled in them a commitment to earn a college degree.

The MCHS community at Santa Ana College is proud of their academic accomplishments. In 2007, 2008, and 2009, MCHS was recognized as a National Title I Achievement School. Only two schools in California received this honor. In 2009, MCHS was also recognized as a California Distinguished School. Recently, MCHS received the honor of being selected by the U.S. Department of Education as a 2009 No Child Left Behind — National Blue Ribbon School for its work in closing the achievement gap. The Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes elementary and secondary schools that are both academically superior and have demonstrated dramatic gains in student achievement, while serving an economically disadvantaged population of students. In 2008 and 2009, U.S. World and News Report listed MCHS as a silver and bronze medal winner in its list of the nation's top high schools.

For more information on the middle college high school program, contact Sally Montemayor Lenz, at slenz@cccco.eduor Jan Holder at jholder@cccco.edu, with the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. For more information about Middle College High School in Santa Ana, contact Principal Lucinda Nares Pueblos, at lucinda.pueblos@sausd.us.