Now in its fourth year of operation, the Ukiah High School Middle College program will begin taking applications in March for its fifth cohort of students who will begin the program in the Fall of 2022.
Senior Wesley Duong reflected on his time at Middle College, “Middle college is like a big family as you get to know your teachers and peers on a personal level. It is made up of collaborative and supportive individuals. As a senior who has been with the program for 3 years, I strongly believe that I have gained a unique academic experience. Not only has it thoroughly prepared me for college, but I have acquired important life skills such as budgeting and investing.”
Students accepted into the Middle College Program gain the best of two worlds, college and high school. Students attend high school classes every day at the Mendocino College campus instead of the high school campus. A maximum of 30 students per grade level are accepted, so they will experience all the benefits of a small, caring school environment during the school day and still attend UHS social events or compete in UHS athletics if they want to.
Middle College Junior Gerry Juszczak writes: “I've been in the middle college program for two years now, and what I most appreciate about it is being around other like-minded students who take learning seriously. I feel that the middle college provides a very distinct learning environment, where a student can form more personal connections to their classmates and teachers. I think everyone can remember doing a group project for school where it ends up being only one person doing all the work… that doesn't happen in this program. We all value our education and support each other equally.”
One of the greatest successes we have seen over the first four years of our middle college program is the deep connections our students have developed despite coming from a broad cross-section of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. With a maximum of 90 students in the program and three high school teachers, everyone has to work together. We have seen amazing friendships form between students who likely wouldn’t have known each other at the bigger high school. The rich exchange of ideas and cultural understandings that this has fostered truly enriches our students' lives and better prepares them for life after high school.
“The middle college program is perfect for me. The teachers are very helpful and accommodating to the students' needs. The number of available classes is extensive and have a subject for everyone to enjoy,” wrote current Sophomore Casey Ramsey. “Being able to attend college classes in person has really allowed me to understand the subjects fully. Due to my anxiety, having a large group of people makes it hard for me to concentrate, while the Middle College has smaller class sizes and allows me to concentrate and allows me to make strong friendships with my fellow classmates. The Middle College program is perfect if you want to get a head start on the road to college and want to experience college life while in high school.”
Beyond this, the confidence students develop as they complete CSU/UC transferable coursework has opened many students’ eyes to the possibility of reaching higher than they initially thought they could.
“This program has helped me grow as a student. It has taught me to be responsible towards my work and persevere through challenges whether academic or practical. It has given me a community of determined people who try to lift you up along with them. It has shown me my weaknesses and strengths and made me much more confident in my abilities than I had previously been,” commented Junior Manav Mittal.
While our Middle College Program is open to all students who meet the basic entry requirements (3.0 GPA, desire to go to college, and on track with the A-G course sequence), we do prioritize student populations that are historically underserved in college and first-generation college-going. The transition from high school to college is a challenge for many students, so an important component of middle college is additional support for students to help them keep up with the rigors of the work, help them register for their college courses, and make sure they’re taking the right courses to qualify for transfer. This is a huge head-start when they enter four-year universities after high school.
Senior, Hailey Vincent says, “I am very glad that I joined the Middle College program because I was able to develop a better understanding of how college really works. I was able to experience how college classes differ from regular high school classes. The program allowed me to get a head start in my career and the educational goals I hope to accomplish. Some positive experiences I have had throughout my time during the program I really enjoyed having classes with a smaller number of people rather than high school.”
Financially, this program can be a big help for students and families as well. Most middle college students will complete 30 – 60 free college credits by the time they finish high school. With the average annual cost of tuition, books, and fees at the University of California at approximately $18,000, middle college students can realize significant savings on their college education.
Middle College Senior Maritza Varelas added, "The Middle College program has had a huge impact on my life not only because of the college-level classes that they offer me to take for free but also because it made me feel at home. By home, I mean that I feel safe, and I feel like if I need help with anything, I can get it from any of my mentors because they are so understanding and care about the students."
Applications for the program are open for any current 9th and 10th grade students in Mendocino and Lake Counties and can be found on the Ukiah High School website at www.ukiahhigh.uusd.net. Click on the “Academics” tab and then select “Middle College” from the drop-down menu. The initial application round opens March 1st and closes on March 25th. Interested 9th and 10th-grade students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed and enrollments accepted until the program reaches capacity at 30 students per grade level.
Contact UUSD Director of Alternative Education Scott Paulin at (707) 472-5062 or [email protected] for more information.