The Middle College at Skyline College (MCSC) began its second year with a new educational partnership. In June, the San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) Board of Trustees approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the San Mateo County Community College District that allows Capuchino High School students to attend the MCSC. MCSC Director Raymond Jones is thrilled with SMUHSD’s willingness to give its students the option to attend the middle college that is closest to them.
SMUHSD joins with the South San Francisco Unified School District to offer high school students living in North San Mateo County the unique opportunity to develop their talents, abilities and skills; pursue their academic goals; explore career and major options; cultivate their leadership skills; and give back to their communities.
This fall semester a new cohort of 11th-grade students entered the MCSC, joining the founding 2015-16 cohort now in the 12th grade. The MCSC currently serves 85 students, of which 80% are first-generation and 91% are historically underrepresented students. These students decided to take the advantages that MCSC offers, saving thousands of dollars in tuition and fast-tracking their journey toward achieving academic and career goals.
MSCS students spend their last two years of high school on the Skyline College campus, taking high school grade-level classes based on California Common Core Standards along with transfer-level college courses. As a result, these students will earn their high school diploma along with a minimum of 24 units that can be applied toward Career Technical Training certificates, an Associate degree or transfer to a four-year university.
The MCSC is committed to the “Skyline College Promise” accelerated pathway to support students entering higher education.
Article by Kim Saccio-Kent & Raymond Jones
