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The seniors at Ghidotti Early College High School readily admit that, as 14-year-olds on a community college campus, they acted, well, 14.
There was some horseplay; there was the occasional plunge into the ornamental pond at the center of campus.
But four years after the start of the educational experiment — in which students take college and high school courses simultaneously — seniors say they're older, wiser and well-positioned for their next steps in higher education.
“It makes you more mature,” said senior Tiffany Craddick.
Ghidotti's Class of 2010 will walk across the stage at 7 p.m. next Thursday at Sierra College's Grass Valley campus. Seven students already walked at Sierra College's graduation two weeks ago, earning an associate's degree before they finished high school.
Some seniors say they felt like guinea pigs, as school administrators worked out the kinks in the unconventional program.
They wouldn't trade it for anything.
Small and tight-knit, Ghidotti is “like a family.”
Unconventional high school
“When I first went to high school, it felt exactly like middle school,” said senior Matthew Ames, who started out at the much larger Bear River High School. “There was one class after the other.”
Then, a friend told him about Ghidotti, which this year reached its maximum enrollment of about 160 students.
“I was very impressed,” Ames said. “You get to know each other well. It's like a family environment.”
Ghidotti is one of about 15 early college programs in California and among 200 nationwide. Funded by a start-up grant of $400,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, early college programs are an effort to blur the line between high school and college, where students tend to fall between the cracks.
After Ghidotti, “college is a lot less daunting,” said Anders.
The free program is not limited to high achievers: Ghidotti accepts students of all academic backgrounds, as long as they commit to working hard.
The philosophy behind early college is that even underachieving students can succeed when they're challenged by rigorous courses and supported in a small, personal environment.
For the past three years, Ghidotti has posted higher scores in the California Academic Performance Index than Nevada Union or Bear River high schools.
Students start the day by checking in with a teacher and taking a study skills course called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination).
In other high schools, AVID targets a small group of disadvantaged students. At Ghidotti, everyone participates. The program supports students as they transition from middle school to college, and helps them plan out a schedule combining core high school subjects and college courses.
School days look more like college. Rather than seven back-to-back periods, students have open blocks during the day.
“There's more responsibility,” said Craddick. “There are all these open periods, so we have to discipline ourselves.”
While they miss out on some traditional high school activities, such as pep rallies, they still have a prom and can join sports teams at other district schools.
They also rub shoulders with a diverse group of community college classmates, including single mothers, Iraq War veterans, and people as old as their grandparents.
“Just meeting these people makes it harder to be judgmental,” said Anders.
A little family
With a graduating class of just a few dozen students, friendships are strong. It's hard to invite just one friend to an event, students say — the whole class will probably come along.
They bond over movie nights and team-building games.
“There are no fights in the parking lot,” said senior Peter Brennan. “People are respectful of each other.”
Graduation festivities are already underway. Last weekend saw an overnight field trip to Disneyland, and students are fighting “senioritis” after completing finals for their college courses weeks ago.
High school was fun, but college next fall is a thrilling prospect on the horizon. Four years of experience with the higher education routine makes it much easier.
“As attached as we get, we're ready to move on,” Ames said.
To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
There was some horseplay; there was the occasional plunge into the ornamental pond at the center of campus.
But four years after the start of the educational experiment — in which students take college and high school courses simultaneously — seniors say they're older, wiser and well-positioned for their next steps in higher education.
“It makes you more mature,” said senior Tiffany Craddick.
Ghidotti's Class of 2010 will walk across the stage at 7 p.m. next Thursday at Sierra College's Grass Valley campus. Seven students already walked at Sierra College's graduation two weeks ago, earning an associate's degree before they finished high school.
Some seniors say they felt like guinea pigs, as school administrators worked out the kinks in the unconventional program.
They wouldn't trade it for anything.
Small and tight-knit, Ghidotti is “like a family.”
Unconventional high school
“When I first went to high school, it felt exactly like middle school,” said senior Matthew Ames, who started out at the much larger Bear River High School. “There was one class after the other.”
Then, a friend told him about Ghidotti, which this year reached its maximum enrollment of about 160 students.
“I was very impressed,” Ames said. “You get to know each other well. It's like a family environment.”
Ghidotti is one of about 15 early college programs in California and among 200 nationwide. Funded by a start-up grant of $400,000 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, early college programs are an effort to blur the line between high school and college, where students tend to fall between the cracks.
After Ghidotti, “college is a lot less daunting,” said Anders.
The free program is not limited to high achievers: Ghidotti accepts students of all academic backgrounds, as long as they commit to working hard.
The philosophy behind early college is that even underachieving students can succeed when they're challenged by rigorous courses and supported in a small, personal environment.
For the past three years, Ghidotti has posted higher scores in the California Academic Performance Index than Nevada Union or Bear River high schools.
Students start the day by checking in with a teacher and taking a study skills course called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination).
In other high schools, AVID targets a small group of disadvantaged students. At Ghidotti, everyone participates. The program supports students as they transition from middle school to college, and helps them plan out a schedule combining core high school subjects and college courses.
School days look more like college. Rather than seven back-to-back periods, students have open blocks during the day.
“There's more responsibility,” said Craddick. “There are all these open periods, so we have to discipline ourselves.”
While they miss out on some traditional high school activities, such as pep rallies, they still have a prom and can join sports teams at other district schools.
They also rub shoulders with a diverse group of community college classmates, including single mothers, Iraq War veterans, and people as old as their grandparents.
“Just meeting these people makes it harder to be judgmental,” said Anders.
A little family
With a graduating class of just a few dozen students, friendships are strong. It's hard to invite just one friend to an event, students say — the whole class will probably come along.
They bond over movie nights and team-building games.
“There are no fights in the parking lot,” said senior Peter Brennan. “People are respectful of each other.”
Graduation festivities are already underway. Last weekend saw an overnight field trip to Disneyland, and students are fighting “senioritis” after completing finals for their college courses weeks ago.
High school was fun, but college next fall is a thrilling prospect on the horizon. Four years of experience with the higher education routine makes it much easier.
“As attached as we get, we're ready to move on,” Ames said.
To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.
