

Over 85% of students at Washington Middle College High School (MCHS) meet state standards in English, compared to 47% across the state of California. Over 76% of Washington MCHS students meet state standards in science, compared to 30% statewide. These results might seem surprising considering the school is a public high school that does not use selective admissions criteria, and 80% of students meet low-income criteria. The explanation is less surprising when one considers how the school has been structured to ensure students are likely to experience academic success.
At Washington MCHS all students experience a high level of academic rigor. All the courses at Washington MCHS meet the state’s requirements for admission to California State University or University of California campuses (California’s A-G requirements). Furthermore, Washington MCHS students begin taking courses at a local community college in ninth grade.

The high levels of rigor, however, are paired with a high level of academic support for every student. Small curriculum support classes, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) resources, peer tutoring, and tutoring from teachers outside of school hours combine to create a web of support that helps students succeed in both high school and community college courses. Additionally, it is important to note that Washington MCHS students successfully meet rigorous expectations because of the quality of everyday instruction in classrooms. NCUST observers noted that almost every classroom at Washington MCHS provided a warm and caring environment that led students to feel that teachers believed in their ability to succeed academically. Students were frequently engaged in meaningful learning activity, aligned to specific academic objectives, and intended to help students master challenging academic concepts. Washington MCHS is a small school that is making a big impact on the students it serves.

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