High school students to graduate with college degrees

In a high school in South Central Los Angeles, fifteen graduating seniors are earning a combined 27 associate degrees and college transfer certifications, putting them years ahead in their higher education journey.

The fifteen seniors from Stella High Charter Academy, an independent public charter school, will graduate with more than just a high school diploma. More than half of the fifteen students are getting two AA degrees and all of them will receive a college transfer certification. 

The certifications come through dual enrollment and a dual-degree partnership between Stella High Charter Academy and Los Angeles Southwest College, which allows students to complete college coursework while still in high school. 

The fifteen students at Stella High Charter Academy will now enter four-year universities with junior standing and their lower-division general education requirements already fulfilled. 

Erick Salazar, the dual enrollment coordinator at Stella High Charter Academy, told CALÒ News that many of the fifteen students  had been taking college courses when they were ninth graders to complete the required 60 units and specific course requirements to receive an associate's degree. 

“ It’s been an experience for [students] to navigate college and high school at the same time. They definitely had to sacrifice a lot, but they've been very resilient and I think it's allowed them to have the knowledge to know what it is to be in college and take college classes and feel very confident as they move into their bachelor's degree,” Salazar said. 

Salazar said this milestone is even more monumental due to the fact that California public and charter schools have faced federal budget deficits, job cuts and program reductions. 

In addition, this year, California has faced the largest decline in enrollment rates since 2021-22, after schools returned from the pandemic, as reported by EdSource. 

“ I think it's important that our students have these experiences so they can believe that they could do it and have the tools and skills to be successful,” Salazar said. “At the end of the day, these students are going to be the leaders of tomorrow, so it's crucial that they're able to represent their community.”

Darryl Garris, principal of Stella High Charter Academy, said this achievement is especially significant for students, as most of the graduates are first-generation college students and the majority come from low-income households. 

"We have robust support for them through a dedicated career coordinator as well as onsite school counsellors who are constantly monitoring their progress and supporting them," Garris said. "That means when they go to a four-year institution, they are already halfway there. It also means they are set up to be more successful as transfer students, spend less time earning their bachelor's degree and spend a lot less money doing it."

Apart from saving thousands of dollars in tuition costs, students will also accelerate their path to a bachelor's degree. One of these students is this year’s valedictorian, Omar Soto, a Latino graduate who earned two associate degrees. 

Soto, the son of immigrants, will be attending the University of Southern California (USC), where he plans to study electrical engineering with a minor in construction management. Soto dedicated his achievement to his parents. 

“My story began with my parents' courage,” Soto said. “After losing my older brother, they made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and come to the United States in search of hope and opportunity. Their resilience taught me that challenges can become motivation.”

Many of the students have been accepted to some of California's most respected universities, including UCLA, UC Irvine, Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University and Cal State Dominguez Hills.

The program also helps alumni navigate financial aid and access career development opportunities for up to six years.

The associate degrees and college transfer certifications are also offered in other school districts, such as the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). In LAUSD schools, receiving an associate of arts or associate of science degree is possible through dual and concurrent enrollment partnerships with the Los Angeles Community College District.