California Department of Education - Information on California-County-District-School (CDS) Code

Program and Service Descriptions

Middle College High School (MCHS) is a unique collaborative program that enables high-potential, "at-risk" students to obtain a quality high school education while concurrently receiving direct and invaluable access to college courses and services.

A high school located on and integrated into the community college environment, the MCHS merges high school and community college curricula and experience in a fashion that significantly enhances academic success and provides students with an empowering and viable path to improve their lives. High school students attend classes at a community college and earn credit toward a high school diploma while having the opportunity to concurrently take college courses and to receive more intensive counseling and administrative attention.

Program goals include reducing high school dropout rates by improving the academic skills, self-concept and self-esteem and decision-making skills of participating students. Through participation in the MCHS, transfer rates, student retention, persistence and career opportunities are enhanced. The MCHS provides reduced class size and curricula responsive to student needs that are linked with effective support services.

Attending a MCHS offers advantages over a traditional high school, which include:

• An opportunity to acquire the skills to become a motivated learner. "Self -starter" skills which are essential to success in higher education and in business are too often neglected in the more impersonal environment of a traditional American high school.
• Intimate student body and class sizes and lower teacher-student and counselor-student ratios are vital to the program's success.
• The host college provides an enhanced academic and social environment with students receiving invaluable access to college facilities (learning resource centers, science labs, computer labs, student centers, tutoring centers, transfer centers, etc.).

The 13 MCHS programs currently receiving state program funds serve nearly 2,000 students.

Staff Information

Joanne Vorhies, Coordinator, jvhorhies@cccco.edu
916-323-2768