Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “We aim above the mark to hit the mark,” and at Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi), a K-12 tuition-free public charter school, the saying hits the mark when it comes to learners’ long-term success. The school provides college prep for the 21st century by aiming for success well beyond college. Innovative teaching techniques and rigorous project-based curriculum ensure SCVi learners have what it takes to be accepted into their college of choice, but also the social-emotional skills to thrive in college, career and life.
That’s critically important considering these recent studies:
• A study finds 60 percent of all U.S. college freshmen need to take a remedial class. “Sometimes the students never absorb what they should have learned as they go through the grades and graduate,” one professor says. Another report shows nearly one-third of college students drop out after their first year—and 50 percent never graduate.
• A study confirms college graduates entering the workforce are not prepared for the tasks ahead of them. One professor explains, “There are a set of qualities, characteristics that these people would like to see in new college graduates. Unfortunately, they tend to be lacking.” Those include the ability to communicate and listen respectfully, and motivation to finish a task.
Also, getting into college is now about more than standardized test scores. Three admissions officers from public and private colleges recently spoke about the “holistic” admissions process. One college has a test-optional admissions process. The others consider test scores only as part of the mix, along with rigor, grades, balance, essays, references, school involvement, and community activities.
SCVi High School, which added 10th grade for 2011-2012 and will add 11th and 12th in subsequent years, offers a unique value proposition for college-bound learners. They participate in project-based curriculum that engages and inspires them to become creative thinkers and leaders while meeting the A-G subject area requirements. They learn by exploring, collaborating, doing and using meaningful assessment, and as a result, grow into confident, motivated self-learners that will sustain them for life.
SCVi High School is also part of the world-renowned International Baccalaureate® (IB) Program—a first in Santa Clarita Valley and highly regarded in the college applications process. SCVi has also been granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is taking next steps toward accreditation.
To learn more, visit www.scvcharterschool.org. To schedule a tour, call 661-705-4820.