Future Students
Who are we looking for?
SOAR High School is looking for students and parents who are motivated to begin and support a college education while attending high school.
Students for SOAR High School will be recruited from 8th-grade students in 30 regional middle schools and nine comprehensive high schools. The targeted population will consist of current 8th and 9th-grade students with one or more of the following characteristics:
Students for SOAR High School will be recruited from 8th-grade students in 30 regional middle schools and nine comprehensive high schools. The targeted population will consist of current 8th and 9th-grade students with one or more of the following characteristics:
- low socioeconomic status;
- first generation college-going youth;
- underrepresented students; and
- students under performing in the traditional setting who have the potential to be successful and to become productive citizens.
Criteria for Selection
To be considered, students must meet the following criteria:
- Completed application by family and two minute video by student (video instructions provided in application).
- 8th grade report card/grades – first semester (Baseline – 2.00 GPA).- ***To be obtained by SOAR
- 7th grade report card/grades – full year (Baseline – 2.00 GPA).- ***To be obtained by SOAR
- 7th grade CAASPP Test Score (Baseline – "Standard Nearly Met").- ***Not required for 2021-22 application.
- Prior educational experience (attendance, discipline, etc.).- ***To be obtained by SOAR
- Recommendations from the middle school.- ***DO NOT CONTACT TEACHERS. Students will provide email addresses of middle school teachers and SOAR will obtain recommendations.
- Reside within the Antelope Valley Unified School District.
The number of 9th grade applicants typically exceeds the number of spaces available. Since all eligible applicants cannot be admitted, SOAR makes use of an application process to determine selected students. The selection criteria is used to identify applicants who have demonstrated the ability and willingness to achieve and who have a variety of other qualities that can contribute to the strength and diversity of this unique campus environment.
Minimum Requirements for Applicants
9th Grade Applicants
•2.0 GPA or above on second semester 7th grade AND first semester 8th grade report cards
•Minimal discipline and attendance problems
•Meet at least 1 AVID criterion:
✓low socioeconomic status,
✓first generation college-going youth,
✓underrepresented students,
✓students underperforming in the traditional setting who have the potential to be successful and become productive citizens, or
✓special circumstance.
10th Applicants
•3.0 GPA or above on second semester 8th grade AND first semester 9th grade report cards
•Minimal discipline and attendance problems
•Student must be currently enrolled in a Biology and Health course and receiving a passing grade
•Meet at least 1 AVID criterion:
✓low socioeconomic status,
✓first generation college-going youth,
✓underrepresented students,
✓students underperforming in the traditional setting who have the potential to be successful and become productive citizens, or
✓special circumstance.
2021-22 Application
Things to know about the 2021-22 application season
The application window for the 2021-22 school year closed on February 10, 2021. We do not have a waiting list and late applications are not available. Our next application window will include incoming 9th and 10th grade students for the 2022-23 school year. Information for the 2022-23 school year application window will be available in December, 2021.
Applicants who have already submitted an application
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Due to COVID-19 restrictions, office coverage is limited. Please do not visit SOAR High School's campus without making prior arrangements with our office staff.
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To mitigate the spread of the virus, we ask that you refrain from contacting or visiting your middle school campus for teacher recommendations or student records. We will be working directly with your current school of attendance to obtain each applicant's required information.
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Our staff will review applications during the months of February and March. Notifications will be sent in early April to the email address provided within the application. If you have not received your notification email by April 10th, please email jschaeffer@avhsd.org.
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If applicants are contacted by their home high school before 4/10/2021, they must proceed with their home high school registration while SOAR applications are being processed. Most high schools begin registration for the next school year in February. It is extremely important that applicants follow through with any instructions or registration appointments given by the home high school while applicants are pending. Less than half of our applicants will be accepted to SOAR due to limited space on campus. Failure to complete home high school registration instructions or appointments may significantly impact class registration at home schools. If you are approved to SOAR, most of your home high school registration will then transfer to SOAR.
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Parents of selected SOAR students will receive instructions via email for SOAR High School registration.
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Selected SOAR students will attend Summer Health/Bridge July 1-July 29, 2021. Summer School is required; students will complete their AVC registration during summer school.
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Do you have questions regarding the application process or our program? Please complete our "Question Submission" Form using the "Application Q&A" tab above. Answers to your questions will be posted to the "Answers" tab within 48 hours.
Application Q&A
Question Submission
Answers
Answers to the Questions submitted by applicants
Where can I find the Flipgrid link?
- The Flipgrid link will not be published on our website. Immediately after you submitted your application, you were sent an email with the Flipgrid link. Please search your emails to find the email with the subject "SOAR APPLICATION REMINDERS". If you cannot find the email, please request the link by emailing jschaeffer@avhsd.org.
After the deadline, what is the rest of the application process? When will students be notified that they have been accepted to SOAR High School? (1/24/2021)
- Each applicant will receive a reminder email after submitting their application. The reminder email includes the expected timeline of the application process. We hope to notify all applicants of their application status in early April.
Do you offer AP classes? (1/24/2021)
- We do not offer AP classes.
Will other applicants be able to see the student video submitted to Flipgrid? (1/8/2021)
- No. The Flipgrid platform is set to private. If you access the Flipgrid link now, you'll see that the response count is 0, but we have already received several videos. Only the staff at SOAR will be able to view your video on the Flipgrid platform. Great question!
Can we watch the student video requirements again? (1/8/2021)
- Yes. You are able to access Dr. Herrera's student submission video from your form responses email or you can go to the Flipgrid link to watch the video directly on the Flipgrid platform. Be sure to watch the technical instructions video on the Flipgrid page as well.
Can you clarify the AVID criteria? (1/8/2021)
- Sure! AVID is Advancement Via Individual Determination. The qualifying criteria for the AVID program are typically low socioeconomic status, first generation college-going youth, underrepresented students, and students that are underperforming in the traditional setting who have the potential to be successful with additional support.
Can the application be submitted today and the video be submitted a couple of days later? (1/8/2021)
- Great question! The video does not have to be submitted to Flipgrid on the same day that you submit the application. For example, you can submit the application form on January 8th and submit the video to Flipgrid on February 1st. Just be sure that BOTH are submitted no later than February 10, 2021.
When I apply, will we be going onto the campus or online? (12/15/2020)
- The entire application process will be online. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you AVOID visiting SOAR High School or your middle/junior high school for application information. All required student information will be requested from the middle/junior high school by SOAR High School directly. Please stay home and stay safe.
Can I still apply if I currently live outside of the AVUHSD boundaries but plan to move? (submitted 12/2/2020)
- You are welcome to submit an application if you are certain that your student will be moving within the AVUHSD boundaries. If your student is approved to the program, you would be required to reside within the AVUHSD boundaries and ready to attend summer school by 7/1/2021.
Do you have to live near the school to apply and be accepted? (submitted 12/1/2020)
- Applicants must live within the boundaries of the Antelope Valley Union High School District (AVUHSD). This includes, but is not limited to Lancaster, Palmdale, Leona Valley, Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles, and Pearblossom. Transportation is not provided.
What are the requirements for 9th grade students applying for 10th grade? (submitted 11/29/2020)
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See updated minimum requirements under the "Who are we looking for?" tab above.
