Washington Middle College High School was awarded gold as one of America’s Best Schools on Oct. 13 by the National Center for Urban School Transformation. Photo courtesy of Washington Middle College High School

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - After 35 pages of documentation, a year of evaluation and practicing what it preaches, Washington Middle College High School was awarded gold as one of America’s Best Schools on Oct. 13 by the National Center for Urban School Transformation.

Washington Middle College High School Principal Rachel Lane said that data shows the school scoring in the top percentiles among English, math and science. Attendance for both students and teachers was recorded and scored by the National Center for Urban School Transformation. Lane said the center draws 21 finalists that are then evaluated in person, sitting in during class sessions to verify that the school does what is promised in its literature. 

“Our goal is to give everybody an opportunity for that chance to get into a four-year college right out of high school,” Lane said. “So, by the time they graduate, there’s a couple of different pathways.” 

To graduate from Washington Middle College High School, Lane said, students must achieve a C grade or better in all their A through G general breadth requirements, which are classes that are required for acceptance into the California State University system. Students can also complete their Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum requirements for the University of California campuses at Washington Middle College High School by the time they graduate, comprehensively preparing students for college. 

Washington Middle College High School students pose for a photo in front of the campus. Photo courtesy of Washington Middle College High School

Washington Middle College High School partners strongly with Sacramento City College, a community college in the Los Rios Community College District, Lane said. Every one unit for a Sacramento City College course is equivalent to 3.33 units at Washington Middle College High School, Lane said. Students who graduate from Washington Middle College High School and apply to California universities are in the top 10% of admission in the state. When a particular University of California’s enrollment fills up, other universities will reach out to Washington Middle College High School graduates with acceptance letters because they have completed all the prerequisite courses necessary for admittance. 

“(Washington Middle College High School) saves people like 60 grand from college when their students complete their first two years because they can literally walk out of here and they are done with their freshman and sophomore year of college,” Lane said. “All their GEs, the whole IGETC curriculum done, if they choose. Or they can walk away with AA degrees.”

Lane said that staff is constantly preparing students to exceed academic standards. A graduate came back to the Washington Middle College High School campus to pick up his sister, according to Lane, and said that he is preparing to graduate from University of California, Davis in June. Lane said the most fulfilling part of her job is having students come back to share their success stories, thanking educators for the comprehensive lessons they learned, allowing them to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while in high school. 

According to Census Reporter, about 30% of West Sacramento’s population are college graduates and Lane said Washington Middle College High School is in the business of producing hundreds of them.

“We care about being able to critically think and analyze concepts,” said English teacher Patty Zurilgen, “and it’s just fun here. I’ve been in the district for 17 years. This is my eighth year at the school and it just gets better and better every year.”

Zurilgen said that Washington Middle College High School is a small but mighty school where the staff pours their heart and soul into providing the best experience for students. With growth and success, Zurilgen said, the students rise to the occasion every year, leaving educators amazed at what the students are capable of.  

Washington Middle College High School students pose for a photo. Photo courtesy of Washington Middle College High School

“Based on their hard work and determination, they may come in from socioeconomic disadvantage or coming in as the first generation whose parents don’t know anything about college,” Lane said. “That’s what we’re here for. Then we’ve changed the trajectory on that generation.

Choosing their own novels to read, Zurilgen said, students have the opportunity to tie their books into the California standards. She said students' reading comprehension and critical thinking skills are displayed through their assignments, asking inquisitive questions and explaining why a concept is important.

“We’re the little engine that could and it’s nice to have the recognition,” Zurilgen said. “The students were very pleased with that information.” 

Several students go on to become first-generation college students, Lane said, with some students graduating with multiple associate’s degrees by the time they finish at Washington Middle College High School. She said multiple staff members are West Sacramento residents who are also first-generation college students, including herself, Zurilgen and academic counselor Claudia Gaona Guzman. 

Guzman said that she has a more than 200-student caseload and that she helps students navigate their path to a college or university. She meets with the senior students more frequently to ensure that their various applications, letters of recommendation and other documents are properly filled out. 

“I’ve experienced college classes to the point where now I’m in an in-person college class and I’m doing better than half of the actual college students in there because I’m prepared for it,” a Washington Middle College High School senior female student said.

In Guzman’s office, her degree from California State University, Sacramento hangs on the wall above her, saying that she has come full circle, from being a student who utilized school resources such as counselors to becoming a counselor herself. 

“For me, it’s really rewarding,” Guzman said. ‘I always tell my kids, I had the privilege of having an amazing counselor when I was in high school that honestly helped me and my older sister even get to college because we didn’t know. We were first gen.”

Growing up in Willits, a town in Mendocino County, Guzman said that her high school had about 500 students and that there was not a large collegiate culture. At Washington Middle College High School, Guzman said, the school is also small but the collegiate focus is geared toward preparing every student for higher education. 

“We really work to help our kids, above and beyond what’s expected of us because every single staff member cares so deeply about the students and their success,” Guzman said. 

Washington Middle College High School is located at 637 Todhunter Way in West Sacramento. To learn more about the school, visit https://wmchs.wusd.k12.ca.us/.