Announcing our 2018 Model Schools

Graduation - Model School success

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Announces Model Continuation High Schools for 2018

California Department of Education News Release

California Department of EducationSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today announced that 32 schools were newly designated as Model Continuation High Schools for 2018. These schools are recognized for creating innovative programs that focus on academics and social and emotional learning and helping students who have faced many challenges, including chronic absenteeism and truancy, get back on the path to realizing their full academic potential.

“These model continuation high schools provide a space where students can feel a sense of accomplishment and increased confidence and receive strong educational support,” said Torlakson. “Creating an academically challenging yet encouraging school climate can help turn an at-risk student on the verge of dropping out into a high school graduate prepared for a future career or college.”

All the schools honored offer strategic and specialized programs. For example:

  • San Antonio High School in Claremont effectively supplements classroom teaching with online programs.
  • Olympic Continuation High School in Concord has a strong mental health team that works closely with the county mental health agency to help students succeed in the classroom and in life.
  • Desert Oasis High School in El Centro has a counseling staff that is exceptionally dedicated to preparing students for academic opportunities after graduation. The school has cultivated strong partnership with local community colleges, hosts college orientation and financial aid workshops, and allows dual enrollment classes on campus.

Continuation schools provide a high school diploma program for students ages sixteen through eighteen who have not graduated from high school, are required to attend school, and are at risk of not completing their education.

The schools were selected based on a comprehensive and competitive application process that involves effectiveness, assessments, and use of data. The process included a peer review panel and on-site visit.

The Model Continuation High Schools Recognition Program is a joint project of the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Continuation Education Association (CCEA). The program honors continuation high schools for the comprehensive services they provide at-risk youth through instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, guidance, and counseling.

More than 53,000 students attended the state’s 441 continuation high schools during the 2016–17 school year.

The 32 schools selected as Model Continuation High Schools retain their designation for three years and will be recognized at this year’s CCEA State Conference in San Diego on April 27–29. For more information, please visit the CDE Continuation Education Web page or the CCEA Web site.


2018 Model Continuation High Schools

  1. Albert Powell High School, 1875 Clark Avenue, Yuba City, CA, 95991-1274 : Jennifer Cates, Principal — Phone: 530-822-5210
  2. Allan F. Daily High School, 220 North Kenwood, Glendale, CA, 91206-4209 : Rene Valdes, Principal — Phone: 818-247-4805
  3. Apollo High School, 3150 School Street, Simi Valley, CA, 93065-3998 : Shanna Sarris, Principal — Phone: 805-520-6150
  4. Aurora High School, 1391 Kloke Road, Calexico, CA, 92231-4228 : John Moreno, Principal — Phone: 760-768-3940
  5. Central Coast High School, 200 Coe Avenue, Seaside, CA, 93955-6588 : Alan Crawford, Principal — Phone: 831-392-3560
  6. Century High School, 20 South Marengo Avenue, Alhambra, CA, 91801-1947 : Phuong Nguyen, Principal — Phone: 626-943-6680
  7. Coronado High School, 1500 East Francisquito Avenue, West Covina, CA, 91791-3823 : Veronica Pendleton,
    Principal — Phone: 626-931-1810
  8. Del Mar High School, 312 South Del Mar Avenue, San Gabriel, CA, 91776-1356 : Lon Sellers, Principal — Phone: 626-291-5723
  9. Delta High School, 4893 Bethany Lane, Santa Maria, CA, 93455-4880 : Esther Prieto-Chavez, Principal — Phone: 805-937-6356
  10. Desert Oasis High School, 1302 South Third Street, El Centro, CA, 92243-6604 : Fernando O’Campo,
    Principal — Phone: 760-336-4555
  11. Fernando R. Ledesma High School, 12347 Ramona Boulevard, El Monte, CA, 91732-2569 : Freddy Arteaga,
    Principal — Phone: 626-442-0481
  12. Frontier High School, 9401 South Painter Avenue, Whittier, CA, 90605-2729 : Margie Moriarty, Principal — Phone: 562-698-8121
  13. Gateway High School, 1550 Herndon Avenue, Clovis, CA, 93611-0598 : Rees Warne, Principal — Phone: 559-327-1800
  14. Green Valley High School, 35948 Susan Street, Yucaipa, CA, 92399-5299 : Cara Prentiss, Principal — Phone: 909-790-8580
  15. Kinney High School, 2710 Kilgore Road, Rancho Cordova, CA, 95670-6104 : Dana Carrigan, Principal — Phone: 916-294-9060
  16. Lopez Continuation High School, 1055 Mesa View Drive, Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420-3311 : Jennifer Bowen, Principal — Phone: 805-474-3750
  17. Mountain View High School, 1000 Ramona Boulevard, San Jacinto, CA, 92582-2576 : Kenneth Swanson,
    Principal — Phone: 951-487-7710
  18. Mountain Vista High School, 1901 Clinton Avenue, Madera, CA, 93638-1941 : Aimee Anderson, Principal — Phone: 559-675-4580
  19. Nueva Continuation High School, 8600 Palm Avenue, Lamont, CA, 93241-2212 : Mark Weir, Principal — Phone: 661-845-1532
  20. Olympic Continuation High School, 2730 Salvio Street, Concord, CA, 94519-2599 : Lynsie Castellano,
    Principal — Phone: 925-687-0363
  21. Orange Grove High School, 300 Buena Vista Avenue, Corona, CA, 92882-1937 : Henry Torres, Principal — Phone: 951-736-3339
  22. Palomar High School, 480 Palomar Street, Chula Vista, CA, 91911-3098 : Karen Hernandez, Principal — Phone: 619-407-4800
  23. Rancho Vista High School, 32225 Pio Pico Road, Temecula, CA, 92592-6200 : Reggie Ingram, Principal — Phone: 951-695-7320
  24. Salisbury High School, 1050 Kimball Road, Red Bluff, CA, 96080-2502 : Barbara Thomas, Principal — Phone: 530-529-8766
  25. San Andreas High School, 599 William Avenue, Larkspur, CA, 94939-1554 : David Luongo, Principal — Phone: 415-945-3751
  26. San Antonio High School, 125 West San Jose Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711-5205 : Sean Delgado, Principal — Phone: 909-398-0316
  27. Sierra High School, 1134 South Barranca Avenue, Glendora, CA, 91740-4916 : Paul Hernandez, Principal — Phone: 626-852-8300
  28. Vail High School, 1230 South Vail Avenue, Montebello, CA, 90640-6312 : Horacio Perez, Principal — Phone: 323-728-1940
  29. Valley View High School, 1801 East Sixth Street, Ontario, CA, 91764-1599 : Julie Prestsater, Principal — Phone: 909-985-0966
  30. Village Oaks High School, 1900 West Swain Road, Stockton, CA, 95207-3439 : Josef Schallberger, Principal — Phone: 209-953-8740
  31. Vista West High School, 7115 Rosedale Highway, Bakersfield, CA, 93308-5845 : Mike Mullings, Principal — Phone: 661-589-4242
  32. Wasco Independence High School, 1445 Poso Drive, Wasco, CA, 93280-2353 : Martin Lonza, Principal — Phone: 661-758-7450

Looking to Apply?

The “Intent to Submit” form for prospective Model Schools is usually due in the summer each year. So, to become a Model School for 2019, you must submit Summer 2018 to begin the application process.  For more details, click here.

Learn More


Tom Torlakson — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

Release: #18-12 — CDE press release (direct link) | PDF version
Date: February 12, 2018

Contact: Cynthia Butler
E-mail: communications (at) cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818