In order to promote a college going culture and the vision of college success among all of our students, a variety of strategies and college partnerships have been developed throughout the PUC system of schools.
Incoming 6th grade students in PUC schools are immersed in the college culture prior to the onset of their middle school years. Incoming 6th grade students in the Northeast San Fernando Valley begin their middle school experience with one week on the California State University, Northridge (CSUN) campus. In Los Angeles, the incoming 6th grade students engage in a variety of activities at Pitzer College and actually stay overnight in the dorms. During their time on college campuses, the middle school students are immersed in the college culture through first-hand experiences. As a result, the young students are inspired with the vision of future college admission and graduation and cannot wait to return to the college campuses. Students are also taught about the “A – G” requirements beginning in 6th grade so there is an early understanding of what will be required of them to enter 4 year universities in California.
All PUC high schools have “early college high school” programs. This means that a number of the students take classes in college simultaneously with their high school course work. Students at Community Charter Early College High School, Lakeview Charter High School, and Triumph Charter High School take classes at Los Angeles Mission College. In addition, some of the upper class students have taken classes in the past at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). As part of the partnership with Los Angeles Mission College, Community Charter Middle School provides the college with evening classroom space at some of the valley schools in order to help them with space challenges. As part of the partnership with Los Angeles Mission College, several of the schools in the Valley have provided the college with evening classroom space at some of the valley schools in order to help them with space challenges. Through this program, the students earn college credits prior to high school graduation, earn dual high school and college credit for the completion of certain classes, become comfortable on a college campus and develop the self confidence and determination necessary to complete university degree programs. In addition, the students’ college applications are enhanced by the completion of these college courses, making them more competitive and attractive as they submit their applications at the beginning of their 12th grade year. Large numbers of PUC students have now successfully graduated high school with either an AA degree being awarded from a community college simultaneously or up to 50 college transferable college units or more already having been completed.
Another way in which the college connection is established is through a number of college and university field trips throughout the grade levels. In the grades leading up to the 11th grade year, students typically visit campuses located in the Southern California region. In the 11th grade year, as students prepare to submit their university applications, the trips become more extensive and actually include an East coast university tour.