Palo Alto Middle College, the third high school in PAUSD, welcomed its inaugural class of sophomores and juniors to building 6300 on the Foothill College campus in August.
The school was opened for students seeking an alternative to the traditional high school learning style. Before its establishment, the program was offered through the Mountain View-Los Altos School District. According to Assistant Principal Harvey Newland, it was essential for PAUSD to establish its own Middle College program alongside MVLA’s.
“Taking ownership over (our own Middle College) as a district is huge, because we were relying on a different district,” he said.
The enrichment opportunities provided at Middle College High School, such as community college courses, allow students to learn in an environment they can see themselves thriving in, according to Newland.
“I look at (it as) some type of alternative for students,” he said. “They might fit differently in a scenario such as Middle College, where you’re able to take college courses. It’s just one of those things that we use as a district to differentiate student learning.”
Middle College students are also able to join the Transfer Admissions Guarantee program after graduation, where applicants are guaranteed acceptance into six University of California schools and have higher acceptance rates for more selective institutions. For Middle College junior Liam Wong, the benefits of being in the TAG program was a motivator for him to apply.
“If you complete (the TAG application process), you can graduate two years early or be a dual major,” he said. “At Gunn, everyone has a 4.0 average (GPA), so I felt like, at Middle College, you could differentiate yourself.”
According to Wong, a specific class called counseling helps prepare students for college and above.
“It is a course where you get ready for (university and acquire) different learning habits,” he said. “It tells you the different ways you could go from (Middle College), like associate, business and bachelor degrees.”
Additionally, Middle College grants students more flexibility with their schedules. According to Wong, students can decide whether to take their college or high school classes in the morning or afternoon.
“For the first five weeks, you don’t have to show up (to school) until 10 a.m. if you take college courses in the morning and your high school courses in the afternoon,” he said.
Composed of around 120 students who attended either Gunn and Paly in the previous school year, students learn on the Foothill College campus full-time. They are able to take two college classes — which earn them college credits — and three high school classes, according to Principal Dr. Wendy Stratton.
In the 2023-24 school year, only freshmen and sophomores in PAUSD were eligible to apply to Middle College. According to Wong, Middle College typically admitted studentswho may not fit in a normal school setting, which was a factor assisting in the creation of a small class size and tightly bonded community.
“Since (Middle College) is such a small community, you’ll get to know your teachers, the staff and even the front desk lady, since you will see them every day,” he said. “It feels like a big family, and you get to know your teachers a bit more since there’s a lot more one-on-one time.”
