Verdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 1

Verdugo Hills High School WASC/CDE Self-Study Reportuse various forms of technology as being extremely important for allstudents and a strong motivator to keep the students captivated withlearning.COUNSELINGStudents at VHHS are engaged in challenging learning experiences in orderto achieve academic standards and the expected schoolwide learning results.A critical piece of this begins in the counseling office by programmingstudents into the appropriate classes, whether it is regular grade-levelclasses, Honors or AP classes, or sheltered classes with SDAIE instruction.VHHS is divided up into three small learning communities and one magnet,each having approximately 400 students. This is one way to help ensure amore personalized experience for each child and better communicationbetween teacher, parent, and student. Students select the SLC of theirchoice and remain in that SLC for four years, thereby staying connected withthe same counselor and teaching staff for four years. Beginning in the 9thgrade, counselors look at students’ grades in the 8th grade, their CST testand other test scores, and visit the feeder middle school, Mt. Gleason, todiscuss high school, A-G requirements for university admission and classofferings.At the freshman level, counselors meet with students to provide assistancein creating a four-year academic plan for graduation and a post-high schoolplan. They are provided with strategies to assist them in a successful highschool career and beyond. In the 10 th and 11 th grades, counselors continueto build a foundation to prepare students for college by meeting with themone on one and in small groups. At these meetings, counselors check creditsto make sure students are on track to graduate and re-emphasize student’spersonal goals and their chosen career and educational paths.At the beginning of the school year, counselors call in 12th grade students toreview their course load and class selection in order to make sure they areon track to graduate and that they are also being challenged academically.Discussions regarding post-high school and other options take place in thebeginning of the first term.In support of the special education students, teachers and assistants analyzeVerdugo Hills High School WASC Self-Study Page 117