Originally published on 14 May 2015 in the Pasadena Independent, Arcadia Weekly, Monrovia Weekly, and Sierra Madre Weekly

The distinct letter “A” etched on the side of the San Gabriel mountains can be seen for several miles as one drives along the 210 freeway. It stands for Azusa, a city about ten square miles in area, and is home to 12 elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools, as well as to Azusa Pacific University.

For Dr. Linda Kaminski, district superintendent, that letter “A” might as well stand for the grade she would give the excellent students the area schools graduate every year. This past June, over 650 AUSD seniors received their high school diplomas and earned more than $1.6 million in scholarships. Approximately 75 percent of graduates will be attending two- or four-year institutions, some of them going to highly selective schools like the University of Notre Dame, New York University, Occidental College, Harvey Mudd, Whittier College, as well as 18 Cal State universities and eight UC campuses.

“The district has made it a priority to ensure that we provide our students the training and programs that lead them into courses and careers that will be in demand when they finish their education,” states Kaminski. “This means that the state budget increase we received is used to give the best opportunities to kids in school.”

Some of these opportunities include the incorporation of challenging and rigorous courses in their curriculum. According to Kaminski AUSD high schools offer 19 AP classes with very high enrollment. Azusa High, an International Baccalaureate Candidate School, is one of a few schools in the San Gabriel Valley offering Human Geology beginning in 9^th grade with students taking the AP exams for it.       

Furthermore, beginning as early as kindergarten and all the way to 12^th grade, students in the district have access to programs geared towards certain specialties. At Azusa High School it is Engineering, where a dedicated pathway was introduced, and with it a lab and 3D printer. A partnership with Northrop Grumman provides STEM students hand-on training alongside professionals. 

Northrop established the High School Involvement Partnership (HIP) program to attract students

to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields as college courses. Each year STEM students build, program, and trouble-shoot their robots as they prepare for a robotics competition. 

On May 19, junior and senior AUSD students competed in Northrop Grumman’s robotics competition . They displayed their newly acquired engineering skills as they maneuvered their remote-controlled robots through pegs and cubes. Four seniors from Gladstone High and another four seniors from Azusa High who have committed to careers in physics, math, computer science and engineering were awarded $20,000 in scholarships from Northrop Grumman.  

Image taken from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune

Azusa High principal, Dr. Ramiro Rubalcaba, sees this program as the students’ preparation for college and beyond. He says “Learning the skills to collaborate, to communicate and to think critically – these skills transfer to any walk of life. Not only are the students acquiring great knowledge, they have the confidence to work together to solve problems.” 

Meanwhile, Gladstone High recently launched a new academic program that will allow students to graduate from 12^th grade with a full year of college credits under their belt, while meeting high school graduation requirements and the standard A-G coursework needed for admission to a UC or CSU school. The Early College Program, administered by the Azusa Unified School District and taught by Citrus College instructors on the GHS campus, begins when students enter their junior year.  Over the course of the next two years, they will earn 41 general education college credits, which can then be transferred to a community, Cal State or UC school. The program launched with its first class of 33 students this summer.

Gladstone High School also introduced the medical academy this past school year. The four-year program gives students the opportunity to learn about different medical careers and procedures, and at the same time integrating relevant curriculum into their regular courses like biology, anatomy and English. Successful completion of the four-year course earns students medical certificates they can apply to future professions.

The district has partnered with Mt. San Antonio College and the University of Health Science to implement the medical pathway. Through it, Gladstone High School learners can earn college credits, attend expositions, and observe college students in cancer research and anatomy labs. They even have the opportunity to watch human cadaver dissections.

This year, Slauson and Center Middle Schools are incorporating STEM electives to prepare students to continue in medical/engineering pathways at the high schools. Foothill Middle School has implemented a Pre-IB program.

Sierra High, meanwhile, once again earned recognition as a state Model Continuation School, a distinction it has held from 2005 to 2015. The school’s graduates received over $7,000 in scholarships from donors, including the Extended Slauson Family and the United Mexican American Youth Association. In its graduating class of 59 students, a third were recognized for Honors, High Honors, or academic achievements.   

Susan Brosche, Director of College and Career Pathways at AUSD, has every reason to be jubilant with what they have achieved. As one of the districts that has the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program, which prepares learners who are traditionally under-represented in college education, their students are more than ready for college, they are ready for life. As teachers and counselors hold college application workshops for seniors and Cash for College workshops for students and parents to help them apply for financial aid and scholarships, Azusa Pacific University holds a College and Career Day for the district’s three high schools. 

In fact, according to Arturo Ortega, AUSD Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services, they hold the best College Night in the San Gabriel Valley. He says, “During College Night, the long lines of students waiting for their chance to meet admissions officers rival those at Disneyland. Students and parents from all over the Los Angeles area, not just Azusa, come to meet representatives from 60 colleges and universities.”

Ortega reports that graduates from AUSD high schools have received unprecedented scholarships, including one full ride to the University of Notre Dame through Quest Bridge. Another notable scholarship, the Horatio Alger National Scholarship was awarded to one senior, and was matched by Carleton College in Minnesota, where she will be studying math and physics in the fall. Their students are also beginning to look outside the country as they pursue higher education. One student announced that he would be going to a university in Puerto Rico.

All these accomplishments are music to Kaminski’s ears. While she is justifiably proud that AUSD students are high achievers, that prestigious universities around the country also recognize them as such, is empirical evidence that it is an established fact.

“Azusa Unified holds high expectations for all students and promotes a college-going culture at every level,” Kaminski says. “The importance of higher education – whether it is career technical training or a four-year-degree – is emphasized not only to students, but to our entire community.”

The district collaborates with staff, parents and community to help students reach their college and career goals, while constantly incorporating new programs and expanding existing ones that have proven successful in enhancing the rigorous instruction and support available for every student.

In addition, AUSD provides ongoing training and resources for parents so that they are aware of the college application process, how they can help their children access scholarships and grants and what is required at every step of the process.

Kaminski leads a district with admirable school administrators, outstanding teachers, engaged parents, generous area businesses, and caring government agencies – educational partners all – who ensure that all their students successfully accomplish their goals and achieve their dreams. Every single one of them richly deserves an “A”.