6 EDCAL February 26, 2018
California Department of Education names
2018 Model Continuation High Schools
Thirty-two schools were newly desig-
nated as Model Continuation High Schools
for 2018. These schools are recognized for
creating innovative programs that focus on
academics and social and emotional learn-
ing as well as helping students who have
faced many challenges, including chronic
absenteeism and truancy, to get back on
the path to realizing their full academic
potential.
“These model continuation high schools
provide a space where students can feel
a sense of accomplishment and increased
confidence and receive strong educational
support,” said Superintendent of Public
Instruction Tom Torlakson. “Creating an
academically challenging yet encouraging
school climate can help turn an at-risk
student on the verge of dropping out into a
high school graduate prepared for a future
career or college.”
All the schools honored offer strategic
and specialized programs. For example:
•
San Antonio High School in
Claremont effectively supplements class-
room teaching with online programs.
• Olympic Continuation High School
in Concord has a strong mental health team
that works closely with the county mental
health agency to help students succeed in
the classroom and in life.
• Desert Oasis High School in El
Centro has a counseling staff that is excep-
tionally dedicated to preparing students for
academic opportunities after graduation.
The school has cultivated strong partner-
ship with local community colleges, hosts
college orientation and financial aid work-
shops, and allows dual enrollment classes
on campus.
Continuation schools provide a high
school diploma program for students ages
16 through 18 who have not graduated
from high school, are required to attend
school, and are at risk of not completing
their education.
The schools were selected based on a
comprehensive and competitive application
process that involves effectiveness, assess-
ments and use of data. The process included
a peer review panel and on-site visit.
The Model Continuation High Schools
Recognition Program is a joint project of
the California Department of Education
and the California Continuation Education
Association.
The program honors continuation high
schools for the comprehensive services they
provide at-risk youth through instructional
strategies, flexible scheduling, guidance, and
counseling.
More than 53,000 students attended the
state’s 441 continuation high schools during
the 2016-17 school year.
The 32 schools selected as Model
Continuation High Schools retain their
designation for three years and will be
recognized at this year’s CCEA State
Conference in San Diego on April 27-29.
For more information, please visit the CDE
Continuation Education webpage at www.
cde.ca.gov/sp/eo/ce or the CCEA website
at https://cc eanet.org.
2018 Model
Schools
Continuation
High
• Albert Powell High School, Yuba City,
Jennifer Cates, principal.
• Allan F. Daily High School, Glendale,
Rene Valdes, principal.
• Apollo High School, Simi Valley,
Shanna Sarris, principal.
• Aurora High School, Calexico, John
Moreno, principal.
• Central Coast High School, Seaside,
Alan Crawford, principal.
• Century High School, Alhambra,
Phuong Nguyen, principal.
• Coronado High School, West Covina,
Veronica Pendleton, principal.
• Del Mar High School, San Gabriel,
Lon Sellers, principal.
• Delta High School, Santa Maria,
Esther Prieto-Chavez, principal.
• Desert Oasis High School, El Centro,
Fernando O’Campo, principal.
• Fernando R. Ledesma High School,
El Monte, Freddy Arteaga, principal.
• Frontier High School, Whittier,
Margie Moriarty, principal.
• Gateway High School, Clovis, Rees
Warne, principal.
• Green Valley High School, Yucaipa,
Cara Prentiss, principal.
• Kinney High School, Rancho Cordova,
Dana Carrigan, principal.
• Lopez Continuation High School,
Arroyo Grande, Jennifer Bowen, principal.
• Mountain View High School, San
Jacinto, Kenneth Swanson, principal.
• Mountain Vista High School, Madera,
Aimee Anderson, principal.
• Nueva Continuation High School,
Lamont, Mark Weir, principal.
• Olympic Continuation High School,
Concord, Lynsie Castellano, principal.
• Orange Grove High School, Corona,
Henry Torres, principal.
• Palomar High School, Chula Vista,
Karen Hernandez, principal.
• Rancho Vista High School, Temecula,
Reggie Ingram, principal.
• Salisbury High School, Red Bluff,
Paid Advertisement
Barbara Thomas, principal.
• San Andreas High School, Larkspur,
David Luongo, principal.
• San Antonio High School, Claremont,
Sean Delgado, principal.
• Sierra High School, Glendora, Paul
Hernandez, principal.
• Vail High School, Montebello, Horacio
Perez, principal.
• Valley View High School, Ontario,
Julie Prestsater, principal.
• Village Oaks High School, Stockton,
Josef Schallberger, principal
• Vista West High School, Bakersfield,
Mike Mullings, principal.
• Wasco Independence High School,
Wasco, Martin Lonza, principal.
The CDE website explains that continu-
ation education is an alternative high school
diploma program.
It is for students who are 16 years of
age or older, have not graduated from high
school, are still required to attend school,
and who are at risk of not graduating.
Many students in continuation educa-
tion are behind in high school credits.
Others may need a flexible school schedule
because they have jobs outside of school.
Some students choose continuation edu-
cation because of family needs or other
circumstances.
Students who attend continuation high
schools must spend at least 15 hours per
week or three hours per day at school. They
take courses that are required for gradua-
tion.
They also receive guidance and career
counseling. Some programs offer indepen-
dent study, job-placement services, and con-
current enrollment in community college.