Students Take Charge

Hoping to give under-served students a head-start on college, the UC Davis School of Education joined Sacramento City College and the Washington Unified School District in West Sacramento to launch an innovative early college charter school in 2007. The first graduating class will celebrate with a special ceremony in Freeborn Hall on the UC Davis campus in June 2013.

West Sacramento Early College Prep (West Sac Prep) opened its doors on August 22, 2007, to about 100 sixth and seventh graders, subsequently adding a grade each year. Many of the school’s seniors have been there from the beginning, and many have taken advantage of the opportunity open to all high school students to take college courses at Sacramento City College. Virtually all plan to attend college after graduation.

As the first graduating class, they are the trailblazers. The majority of students interviewed have gone to school together since elementary school, and many credit their 6th grade teacher at Elkhorn Elementary, Ms. Ramirez, with encouraging them to try out what was in 2007 a brand new school in West Sacramento. Many will be the first in their families to attend college.

We took some time in October to meet with some of the seniors to get their take on the school.

“What better way to gauge the success of the school than to ask those for whom the stakes couldn’t be higher,” said Dean Harold Levine, president of the board for West Sac Prep. “It is gratifying to see that we have indeed made a difference for the amazing young adults who are interviewed here.”
As the students’ voices reflect, they agree on many things, most significantly on what they see as the strengths of West Sac Prep: teachers who care, the ability to work at their own pace, the power of project-based learning, and the ability to take college courses.

Baron Chase
Baron entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. He has taken seven college courses at Sacramento City College, and after graduation, he plans to complete his general education requirements and transfer to a UC where he may study engineering.

“I came here because I have a funny way of learning and I liked the flexibility of the teaching here.”

Jessie Jones
Jessie entered West Sac Prep as a sophomore. After graduation, he plans to attend cosmetology school and get a job so that he can pay his way through college. He plans to major in business, with a minor in linguistics, and hopes to open his own business one day.

“I attended three different high schools my freshman year. I had a hard time with school in general, but this school has helped me to grow as an individual. I am enjoying school. I haven’t been able to say that ever before. I just love to learn again.

“This school helps a lot of kids be happy to go to school again. We are all so open with the teachers. We can ask them anything and study anything we’re interested in.”

Tim Zavgorodniy
Tim entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. However, he left in 9th grade and returned in 10th. He plans to join the military after graduation.

“I left in 9th grade because I wanted to see what a new environment was like. I didn’t like it. The pace of learning was too fast. I came back so that I could learn at my own pace.”

“The environment here is easy to fit into. All are welcome. The teachers don’t forget about anyone, and everyone knows each other. We’re a community without a lot of hatred. If someone is having a hard day, tons of people will ask what’s wrong. We really have a feeling for each other.”

Priscilla Toledo
Priscilla entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. She plans to attend a university after graduation and major in psychology and writing.

“I like the focus on college here. The teachers help everyone, not just the advanced students. They are always supportive and reminding us to get our work done. I don’t think you get that at other schools.”

Elisa Magallanes
Elisa entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. She plans to attend a university after graduation and has not decided on a major.

“The college classes have been pretty much the same [in difficulty compared to high school classes]. I took my first college class with a bunch of friends and it felt more comfortable. I’m taking a theater class now with just one friend, and I feel fine. It’s all up to us to get the job done or not.”

Bradley Palmer
Bradley entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. He has taken several college courses at Sacramento City College and has set his sights on Stanford University as his first choice school after graduation. He plans to double major in political science and philosophy, and then to pursue a degree in law.

“When I started here I was intrigued by the college prep emphasis and that I would be able to take college classes. In sixth grade, I didn’t feel like I was doing anything important and I didn’t think my work at school really mattered. Ms. Altschule [an alumna of the School of Education and a teacher at West Sac Prep] was my fifth grade teacher and encouraged me to apply. I really pushed to come here. This school has given me an intellectual mentality. I am the leader of my own education.”

Alejandro Castro
Alejandro entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. He is taking a sociology course at Sacramento City College and is planning to attend a university after graduation. He wants to major in sociology and physical education.

“This school all around has shaped me into the person I am today. I’ve learned how to be responsible and how to manage my time properly. The teachers devote their time to help us find ourselves and what we are passionate about. In a traditional setting, teachers don’t really try to give that kind of help. I have discovered all these small things that I think will help me when I transition to college.”

Jonathan Martinez
Jonathan entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. He is taking a sociology course at Sacramento City College and is planning to attend a university after graduation. He wants to double major in sociology and psychology.

“This school has exceeded my expectations. We’re not held to a certain degree of how high [the teachers think] we can go. We’re in the driver’s seat, and we push ourselves to exceed the standards we set for ourselves. The teachers and the staff are like family and that is what has made this school so successful.”

Jose Perez
Jose entered West Sac Prep with the first class of students as a 7th grader in 2007. He has taken several classes at Sacramento City College, and served an internship at the UC Davis Medical School. He plans to attend UC Davis after graduation majoring in pre-medicine. He hopes then to become an MD and a naval officer.

“I have strong relationships with my teachers. They are my mentors, leaders and friends. Even some of the school’s board members are mentors to me. This is my second family.”