Kudos to Saddleback Valley Unified School District for For An Excellent High School Planning Guide!

Since 2010; when the Capistrano Unified laid off all but 16 credentialed academic counselors and replaced them with non-credentialed academic advisors, the District has struggled to provide parents and students with meaningful guidance and assistance in planning their high school, college and career paths. In my research, I came across the Planning Guide that Saddleback provides it's families and thought that all parents could benefit from such a well written easy to understand guide. The full guide can be read at:

High School Planning Guide

https://www.saddlespace.org/sullivand/mvhsguidancesite/cms_page/view/16191483 scroll to the bottom of the page and click on High School Planning Guide

Some Quick Highlights:

MATH:

Saddleback requires every student to take 3 years of math to graduate.

The 30 credits of mathematics must include the content of the SVUSD Algebra 1 course (10 credits of Algebra 1 or 20 credits of Algebra 1A and 1B). Students completing Algebra 1 with a grade of “B” or better at the intermediate school will have met one year of the high school math graduation requirements and must complete an additional 20 credits of advanced math at the high school level. Students completing Geometry Honors in intermediate school must complete at least 20 credits of math at the high school level. No high school credits will be granted for completing Algebra 1 or Geometry in intermediate school.

CUSD requires 2 years of math to graduate.

A student that would like the opportunity to go to a 4-year university or enter the military must take 3 years of math and complete Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II in order to do well on the College Boards. Saddleback is preparing students for a 4-year college and career while CUSD is preparing students for Community College.

CUSD GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

CCP

Capistrano Unified requires every student to take a full year of CCP/Health which prevents students from using a full block of instructional time for an A-G course. Saddleback does not require students to take CCP, and in fact the State of California does not require CCP to graduate. Only CUSD requires this CCP- why? Most districts have no CCP requirement, and they incorporate the 3 required units of Health into their PE course which then gives students an additional full block of instructional time for an A-G course.

If CUSD wants to improve A-G completion rates they should eliminate CCP and incorporate health into PE rather than force students to loose a full year block or spend their summer taking CCP/Health.

Saddleback has a very easy to understand one page document that outlines a 4-year plan:

High School GPA Calculation:

Saddleback does an excellent job of explaining GPA/Class Rank which not only effects a students ability to to get into a particular college, but effects the merit money a student may be able to receive. CUSD curriculum guides fail to mention GPA calculation at all.

Saddleback has an easy to understand summary of Higher Education:

Saddleback has an easy to understand summary of Career and Technical Training Opportunities:

and opportunities at Community College

Saddleback does an excellent job at explaining admission to the UC and CSU system:

The Guide then goes on to outline all kinds of career pathways for students who wish to pursue a career rather than pursue a college degree or enter the military.

Well done Saddleback!