Design Science Middle College High named National Blue Ribbon School

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- In the Business Education Building astatine Fresno City College, emblems connected the doorway are 1 of the lone ways to archer which rooms are portion of Design Science Middle College High School.

The 9th done 12th-grade students blend close successful arsenic they seamlessly power betwixt precocious schoolhouse and assemblage courses.

"It's really a truly brainsick acquisition due to the fact that we commencement our assemblage classes astatine the property of 13," ASB President and Senior Kasandra Alvarado said.

Alvardo has attended the schoolhouse since her freshman year.

As a first-generation Mexican-American, she was unsure of her aboriginal erstwhile she applied.

"Even though I didn't truly cognize what I was getting myself into, I was truly excited astir this opportunity," Alvarado said.

Principal Floridia Cheung says students are required to use to the precocious schoolhouse if they privation to attend, but determination are nary minimum requirements students person to meet.

Students are selected done a lottery system.

"Our extremity is to hole our students for assemblage and higher education," Cheung said.

The collaboration betwixt Fresno Unified and Fresno City College allows the bulk of students to postgraduate with their associate's degrees and precocious schoolhouse diplomas astatine the aforesaid time.

The school's hard enactment to hole students was recognized successful September arsenic it was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the US Department of Education.

It was one of 30 schools successful the authorities awarded for its precocious show and making strides successful closing accomplishment gaps.

"It ranges from our investigating scores to our GPA to our assemblage and precocious schoolhouse completion. It is conscionable a tremendous grant to beryllium recognized," Cheung said.

FCC Interim President Kim Armstrong says this precocious schoolhouse acquisition is dissimilar immoderate other.

"They're getting the afloat assemblage experience. Unlike immoderate of our students who whitethorn person to thrust to our field and spell backmost to their big precocious schools, they get a accidental to beryllium housed here," Armstrong said.

The State Center Community College District Chancellor Dr. Carole Goldsmith says this grant shows the occurrence of dual enrollment and higher education.

"We judge that it's a exemplary that invests successful students and their quality to achieve," Goldsmith said.

Kasandra, who is preparing to postgraduate with an Associate's Degree successful Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, says she has precocious hopes for her continued acquisition and aboriginal career.

"I'm truly thankful that plan subject allows america to truly sprout high, sprout for the stars and truly fto america cognize that the entity is the limit," Alvarado said.

Students can apply to Design Science until December 1.

Some of the unit volition beryllium headed to Washington, D.C. to formally judge the Blue Ribbon Award connected November 6.

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