About
- About
- Principal's Message
- School Plan for Student Achievement
- Mission, Vision, & Student Learner Outcomes
- School Safety Plan
- Lancaster Updates
- Palmdale Updates
- TITLE IX
- School Profile
About
Model and Program Practices
Description
Students On Academic Rise (SOAR) High School is an early college high school and collaborative program between the Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD) and Antelope Valley College (AVC). Students attend high school and college courses concurrently. The program is also rooted in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) principles and is committed to an AVID school-wide model through its emphasis on leadership, systems, instruction, and culture. This program was created and continues to exist in order to close the achievement gap and provide structures, supports, and opportunities for students who have traditionally not been successful candidates or completers of four-year universities, many socioeconomically disadvantaged and underrepresented youth. Over 400 Antelope Valley students benefit from this early college high school experience every year.
Since SOAR is a collaborative program between the AVUSHD and AVC, the program is funded through both entities at no cost to students or families (all college tuition and textbook costs are covered by the program) and referenced in the AVUHSD’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). SOAR aligns its site goals with the district’s LCAP goals:
-
Ensure that students are academically proficient and prepared for college and career ready
-
Provide a 21st century learning environment and rigorous curriculum that allows students to have multiple experiences and opportunities for academic, collegiate, professional, and personal growth
-
Cultivate a safe and secure, positive school culture that supports all students’ personal and academic growth
-
Communicate effectively with all stakeholders and continue to build relationships in the community that help provide our students with innovative educational opportunities
Students begin taking college classes during their first year at SOAR. As students progress through the program, they add in more college courses, many of which they can receive dual credit for high school and college, plus they can work towards an associate’s degree or Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) Certification at AVC.
A large portion of the program’s budget is also used to support the AVID program, which is seen an essential element to overall student and program success. SOAR leadership, counseling, and instructional staff are trained in various aspects of AVID in order to promote AVID’s school-wide model. Each student is strategically placed in an AVID elective/support class during each year in school to reinforce aspects of Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR). The AVID class also provides a multitude of school counseling services: transcript review, course selection advisement, PSAT/SAT guidance, social/emotional health curriculum, and everything regarding how to apply and pay for a college or university. AVID class supports focus on instilling positive habits during the four years students attend SOAR so that they will go on and continue to use what works in a four-year university and beyond.
SOAR has a 100% graduation rate and nearly 60% of students from each class will also receive an associate’s degree or IGETC certification from AVC within four years. Over 90% of SOAR students are accepted into a four-year university upon high school graduation, with a small amount of students choosing to stay at AVC for an additional year (at no cost to the student) or enlist in one of the military branches. There are minimal attendance and disciplinary issues in this college-going setting. Universities highly admire students coming from the program because of the demonstrated success shown by students in college classes, their ability to handle the rigor of both high school and college coursework, and SOAR’s full accreditation from the Western Accreditation of Schools and Colleges (WASC). SOAR students are accepted at a high rate to many of the Cal State and University of California institutions – many students have even achieved acceptance into their dream universities (Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and MIT) because of their academic diligence and success.
Implementation and Monitoring
SOAR employs the cycle of inquiry and continuous improvement model. After the program’s last WASC accreditation visit, the Continuous School Improvement (CSI) Committee was created to spearhead the school’s initiatives with regards to the school’s goals (listed above). This committee meets often and works closely with school leadership in order to develop, review, and revise the details of the school plan. All aspects of WASC’s recommendations, the district’s LCAP goals, school initiatives, and early college high school expectations influence the committee’s decisions when providing feedback for the plan. The AVID Site Team also works to align AVID goals with the school’s plan. Each year, SOAR’s School Site Council provides input and approves the school’s plan.
The implementation and monitoring of SOAR’s early college high school and AVID school-wide program has several references in the AVUHSD’s LCAP:
-
Goal #1 – Ensure that students are academically proficient and prepared for college and career ready
-
Provide a Point of Contact for AVC in order to support dual enrollment and course articulation agreements
-
Provide access for students in 9th through 11th grade to take the PSAT
-
Provide access for students in 11th grade to take the PSAT
-
Provide access to Naviance/Family Connection software to improve college and career readiness
-
Provide access to x2vol in order for students to manage their community service hours
-
Provide access to live tutors through Princeton Review (tutor.com)
-
Provide access to college and university visits
-
-
Goal #2 – Provide a 21st century learning environment and rigorous curriculum that allows students to have multiple experiences and opportunities for academic, collegiate, professional, and personal growth
-
Provide expansion of technology in classrooms
-
Provide expansion of technology/materials for STEM activities
-
Provide professional development for teachers on Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
-
Provide access to DigiCoach to gather coaching data on Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and 21st learning
-
-
Goal #3 – Cultivate a safe and secure, positive school culture that supports all students’ personal and academic growth
-
Provide access to training and materials to staff for Positive Behavioral Supports (PBIS)
-
Ensure access for students to needed instructional materials
-
Provide maintenance and upgrades to facilities
-
Gather stakeholder feedback through CA Healthy Kids Survey/Qualtrics
-
-
Goal #4 – Communicate effectively with all stakeholders and continue to build relationships in the community that help provide our students with innovative educational opportunities.
-
Gather stakeholder feedback using the Hanover Research Group/Qualtrics
-
Provide Parent Link and Sprout Social systems for messaging families, creating a digital app, and coordinating social media
-
Provide college information and financial aid workshops for non-English speaking families
-
Results and Outcome
SOAR has experienced continued success since its introduction as the early college high school program to the Antelope Valley Community. There are a multitude of ways SOAR uses data collected through its CSI committee and the AVID Site Team to ensure effective practices continue, impacting student wellness and academic achievement. Students’ progress is closely monitored and adjustments are made along the way by leadership, teachers, or staff to make certain students are given every opportunity to be successful in the program. SOAR has the benefit of gathering qualitative feedback – the small learning environment provides the chance for an ongoing dialogue among its stakeholders. The SOAR team, which includes both AVUHSD and AVC employees, work hard to hear stakeholder opinions and suggestion, then adjust aspects of the program when possible.
Overall, students are achieving in a variety of ways, sharing in the program’s major successes:
-
Fully accredited by WASC
-
100% graduation rate (2018)
-
96% of students are considered college or career ready (2018)
-
91% of students are accepted into a four-year university (2018)
-
High Smarter Balanced Tests (2018)
-
English/Language Arts – students scored on average 110 points above the standards
-
Math - students scored on average 40 points over standard
-
-
Low suspension rate (2018) - .2%
-
Over $2,000,000 in financial, grants, and scholarships for the Class of 2018 (89 students)
-
64% of students graduated with an AVC Associate’s degree when graduating from high school (2018)
-
Ongoing improvement of PSAT and SAT results
-
Golden Bell recipient (2013)
-
CA Gold Ribbon recipient (2015)
-
Blue Ribbon recipient (2015)
-
US News and World Report – Bronze
Principal's Message
It is an honor to serve as the principal of SOAR High School. Our staff and faculty are committed to providing our students with the best possible Early College High School (ECHS) experience while addressing both access and equity barriers for students. At SOAR, we continue to have a strong foundation in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) principles and remain committed to our mission which supports science, math, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) activities.
SOAR’s vision is the following:
SOAR Stars are life-long learners and self-advocates who solve the most pressing challenges through an unwavering pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, becoming engaged and productive leaders in their communities.
We value a team approach at SOAR High School. Involvement from everyone is needed in order to ensure that students fulfill this vision. As parents, you are a critical part of the team that will enable students to excel in this program. We encourage all stakeholders to reach out to us if we can ever help you in any way.
On behalf of the entire staff and faculty at SOAR, we look forward to our continued partnership with SOAR’s students, families, and community members as we “soar” to new heights!
Sincerely,
Wendi D. Johnston
Principal, SOAR High School
School Plan for Student Achievement
Mission, Vision, & Student Learner Outcomes
MISSION
Students On the Academic Rise (SOAR) High School provides a supportive, flexible, and academically enriched environment with an emphasis in mathematics, science, and engineering for underrepresented students who may be high potential but low performing in the traditional educational system. SOAR High School is designed to promote academic achievement, social maturity, and enhanced economic opportunities through the completion of high school and success in college. SOAR High School embraces the Core Principles of the Early College High School (ECHS) Initiative, including improving the graduation rates by creating a flexible high school year, by compressing the number of years to complete a college degree and removing financial and other barriers to college.
VISION
SOAR Stars are life-long learners and self-advocates who solve the most pressing challenges through an unwavering pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration, becoming engaged and productive leaders in their communities.
Student Learner Outcomes
Self-directed learners who
- Create an educational plan based on individual student goals
- Practice effective study and work habits including regular attendance and effective time management
- Overcome obstacles and become resilient through individual determination
- Use technology to research, evaluate, and synthesize information
Open-minded thinkers and problem solvers who
- Exhibit academic excellence by completing a combined high school and college curriculum
- Connect ideas across the curriculum to accomplish meaningful tasks
- Develop logic, reasoning, and inquiry based skills
- Engage in high level critical thinking to solve problems and make decisions in school and real life situations
Active communicators who
- Utilize self-advocacy to achieve goals speak and write with clarity to diverse audiences
- Listen attentively and read critically to interpret the messages and ideas of others
- Utilize technology to communicate with other students and faculty
Respectful citizens who
- Exhibit AVUHSD character traits of respect, responsibility, caring, fairness, trustworthiness, and citizenship
- Demonstrate personal, academic, and social integrity
- Exhibit civic responsibility by participating in a democratic society
- Demonstrate community and global awareness through tolerance of diverse cultures and beliefs
School Safety Plan
We are committed to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all our students and employees. We are focused on teaching strategies for violence prevention and have high expectations for student conduct, responsible behavior and respect for others.
Each school safety plan is reviewed by the Board of Trustees and District leadership.
If you have a safety concern, please use the Tip Line to submit a tip to the District.
SOAR High School Site Safety Plan - both sites
Lancaster Updates
Palmdale Updates
TITLE IX
Click on the box for more information. TITLE IX
Equity, Title IX, and Nondiscrimination
The Antelope Valley High School District is responsible for ensuring that all individuals are treated equitably in the District’s programs and activities and are provided an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, and bullying consistent with federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Pursuant to law and District policy, no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from state assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid.
