WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - Washington Middle College High School, located at 637 Todhunter Ave., West Sacramento (formerly Bryte Elementary), has made the Sacramento Bee’s Top 10 high schools in the entire Sacramento Region when it comes to 12^th-grader admissions into a University of California campus! Washington Middle College High School (WMCHS) is a 9-12 grade Charter High School where the children attend and complete High School classes while also completing general education, pre-requisite college classes. In fact, many of these students graduated High School with a High School Diploma and an AA Degree at the same time! In addition to that, there are students that are receiving their diplomas and double AA degrees when they walk for graduation ceremonies.

WMCHS is a dual enrollment program. The students attend WMCHS while attending Sac City College, starting in 9^th grade. These do not need to be kids that have gone through the GATE program or AVID kids. They are kids that have the drive and determination to attend and graduate college. They do, in fact, have the AVID program at this school as well, however. In the AVID class, in 12^th grade, the school helps the students to complete required documents, letters, essays, etc., as part of the college admission paperwork.

The students take their English, Science, History, Math and AVID at the high school. All of the other classes such as electives, foreign languages are taken at the college. So, by the time they graduate high school, they have the potential to have earned an AA Degree. This year, three Seniors are receiving AA degrees. Natasha Z. is receiving an AA in Interdisciplinary Studies: Arts and Humanities, and one in Social and Behavioral Studies. Hanna V. is receiving an AA in Psychology. Multiple Seniors are graduating with over 60 college units. One hundred percent of our Seniors are graduating with A-G UC eligibility.

In order to graduate from WMCHS, the students need to take all A-G (general education) courses with a grade of C or better as well as having a C or better on their college classes. By achieving this, the students have their required general education completed. This usually takes the first two years of college to complete.

The 12^th graders from WMCHS will enter college as Freshmen but will have the first two years of work completed (or nearly completed) and are now considered a “better risk” or having a better chance of completion. The high school curriculum is a little bit more flexible, for example the English class is more of a College Composition writing class. In addition, in order to graduate the students must complete Integrated Math 1, 2 & 3. Basically, the classes are designed and structured for the plan of continuing their education.

You do not have to “qualify” to attend this school. It is a public Charter School that welcomes all demographics. However, Principal Rachel Lane says that she can only accept up to 75 students each year. So, being timely to apply is a factor, but seeing if the student and school are a good fit is important when it comes to success.

This is a great school for children with the drive to succeed. It doesn’t matter if they are the first one in their family to attend college or if all generations in the family have. For first generation students there are so many support systems embedded into the program, the school walks them through it. Many families may not know what is required to attend a university, much less how to navigate through it. WMCHS does that.

“We guide them all the way through, both the students and the families”, said Principal Lane, “That’s part of the reason why every student I have got accepted into a four year… and not just one. Most got accepted into multiple school[s].”

WMCHS is the only school of its kind in this region. There are many around the country and Principal Lane said there is one in the Sacramento Region, with the next closest one being in Stockton.