Free Charter School Prepares Students for College Yolo County high schoolers can earn college credits while receiving personalized instruction ashington Middle College High School (WMCHS), which opened in July 2017, provides students in Yolo County with the opportunity to receive advanced education to prepare for college and a successful future. The school accepts students grades 9–12. As a dependent charter school of Washington Unified School District, WMCHS is fully funded by the district — which means students can attend tuition-free. “We have students from all walks of life,” says Sean O’Neil, principal for WMCHS. “Some of our students come from foster homes, others require special education, and some are gifted students who need a more advanced curriculum. The goal is to help kids be successful in college, no matter where they come from.” At WMCHS, students can earn transferable college credits in a small school setting, with personalized instruction and a guided plan. Students can finish most of their elective college courses before they graduate from high school, and even earn an associate degree. Students are admitted on a first come, first served basis until the school reaches capacity, at which time remaining students are entered into a lottery. A maximum of 280 students, 70 per grade, can enroll, leaving the average class size at 20 students or less.
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“Classes sizes are small so students can get the best education possible,” says O’Neil. “Also, having a small student body enables me to have one-on-one contact with every student on a regular basis.” One of the things that makes the school unique is a strong partnership with Sacramento City College (SCC) and other schools in the district. Students take some classes on the WMCHS campus and are bused to SCC for additional classes. They can also participate in extracurricular activities at River City High School.
“The goal is to help kids be successful in college, no matter where they come from” Sean O’Neil, principal for Washington Middle College High School
“We have the freedom to tailor a program for each student based on their interests and the courses they are required to take,” says O’Neil. WMCHS is an AVID school with a proven curriculum. AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is PAID ADVERTISEMENT
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a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap to help students prepare for and graduate from college. “The AVID curriculum was developed to help students who are often overlooked to give them the attention they need,” says O’Neil. “It includes skill development, such as note-taking and organization, as well as information on how to apply for financial aid.”
Apply Now for the 2018-19 School Year! High school students in Yolo County, grades 9-12, who want to prepare for college and a bright future are encouraged to apply at Washington Middle College High School! Visit WMCHSCharter.org for more information and to apply
Applications due March 1, 2018 Schedule a campus visit! Call 916-793-5435