High School at College

Re “High Schools Join Community College Push,” Oct. 30.

At College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, we initiated a program two years ago encouraging high school students to attend college classes by waiving enrollment fees. It has been a phenomenal success, with 3,379 high school students attending in 1999-2000.

The program benefits those bound for four-year schools since major college and university admissions officers tell us that they look for completion of classes at a local community college as an important part of student application packets.

The local high school district has granted Advanced Placement credit for courses taken at the college and decided that many classes taken at the college would fulfill both high school and college credit requirements. Accumulating credits that are transferable to the UC and CSU systems allows students to take a few less credits during their first semesters at a large university--easing adjustments to university life. It also provides them the option of working more hours at jobs to pay for college.

College of the Canyons and the William S. Hart Union High School District jointly created a “middle college” called Academy of the Canyons on the college campus, designed for students who wish to pursue academics and who opt to forego the social aspects of the traditional high school campus. Students take high school classes taught by high school teachers half the day and attend college classes, taught by college instructors and populated with college students, the other half.

It is truly a win-win situation for the students and the college. We heartily recommend the program to other college districts.

SUE BOZMAN

Director, Public Information,

Communications & Marketing,

College of the Canyons

Santa Clarita