High School Information for Students and Parents

Overview
Schools Served
Services
Information for Parents
Resources
High School CPA Profile
How to Request Services
Joining Our Program

Overview

The target populations that the Long Beach Regional Cal-SOAP program serves are 11th and 12th grade students who are on track for high school graduation and are community college bound and/or undecided about postsecondary options. We outreach to 15 high schools in the ABC, Long Beach, Compton and Whittier unified school district, 7 of which are considered High Priority and 8 as General.

High Priority High Schools

Cabrillo High School
Centennial High School
Compton High School
Dominguez High School
Jordan High School
Pioneer High School
Whittier High School

Schools designated as High Priority are chosen through a formula that includes their college-going rates, API index, and the number of students participating in the Reduced and Free Lunch program. Each school has a College Peer Advisor working onsite to serve as a role model and work with the students in an individual basis as well as in small groups. Success is measured by examining the college-going rates of high school seniors we work with intensively.

General High Schools

Artesia High School
California High School
La Serna High School
Lakewood High School
Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Millikan High School
Renaissance High School
Santa Fe High School
Wilson High School

College Peer Advisors and Academic Coaches work in teams to provide intensive classroom workshops, general classroom presentations and small group activities that provide students with important college awareness and academic preparation information.

Youth Opportunity Center

Schools Served
District	School Name	Contact Person	Intensive Goal	General Goal	College Peer Advisors
ABC Unified School District	Artesia High School	Sarah Halili/ Camille Jack (Counselors)	N/A	100	N/A
Compton Unified School District	Centennial High School *	Ms. Michels, Counselor	75	300	Arturo Palos-Chavez
	Compton High School *	Bonita Bradshaw, (Counselor)	75	300	Antoinette Yarbrough
	Dominguez High School *	Ken Dawkins, (Counselor)	75	300	Giselle Gamino
Long Beach Unified School District	Cabrillo High School *	Gloria Archer, Career Center Supervisor	75	300	Courtney Odom
	Jordan High School *	Steve Rockenbach, (Counselor)	75	300	Michelle Ogata
	Lakewood High School	Jenny Gildon, (Career Center Supervisor)	N/A	100	N/A
	Long Beach Polytechnic High School	Vacant	N/A	100	N/A
	Millikan High School	Michelle Ponce, (Career Center Supervisor)	N/A	100	N/A
	Renaissance High School	Ana Juarez, (Career Center Supervisor)	N/A	60	N/A
	Wilson High School	Laura Marini/ Gayle Mashburn, (Counselors)	N/A	100	N/A
Whittier Union High School District	California High School	Cindy Patricio, (Counselor)	N/A	100	N/A
	La Serna High School	Karen Lantz, College Counselor	N/A	100	N/A
	Pioneer High School *	Victoria Cuevas, Expanded Horizons Director	75	300	Crystal Bobadilla
	Santa Fe High School	Marlen Martinez, College Advisor	N/A	100	N/A
	Whittier High School *	Christina Cortez, New Horizons Director	75	300	Damien Guerra
City of Long Beach	Youth Opportunity Center	Rick Gonzalez, Coordinator	20	60	Vacant

Notes: * High Priority School

Services

Academic & College Preparation

Cal-SOAP advisors will help motivate students to pursue an education beyond high school and provide them with assistance in college and career planning including: college applications and entrance exam preparation, individualized education planning, research different college majors and programs of studies, understand different higher education systems and getting financial assistance as well as scholarship monies.

Classroom Workshops

Presentations and workshops are available to any teacher interested in scheduling one for their students. Any of the following can be done individually or in a series of three consecutive workshops delivered by a team of trained advisors where students are divided into small groups of 2-10 each.

Beyond High School series: The Four College Systems, A-G Requirements, Career Trends, Financial Aid
Community College series: Overview & Registration, University Transfer Pathways, Vocational & Career Technical Training Options
Study Skills series: Study Skills & Memory Tips, Time & Stress Management, Test-taking Techniques
Supplemental topics: Scholarship Searches & Essay Writing, FAFSA & Cal-Grant Applications, Applying to College, High-School vs. College, & Succeeding in College

College Making It Happen’

An evening event where parents and families are provided with information through workshops on college options, career opportunities and financial aid information in a small group forum or as a larger venue in an auditorium. In addition to the Cal-SOAP program, representatives from various local college institutions are invited to attend to assist parents by sharing information about their particular campuses.

Financial Aid

Financial aid information is disseminated throughout the academic year but a greater emphasis occurs during the priority filing period from January 1st through March 1st.

Classroom – advisors will conduct financial aid workshops inside the classroom on the different types of financial aid, Cal Grants and instructions on how to fill out the FAFSA application.
General financial aid nights – presentations can be conducted in English and Spanish on the different types of financial aid, Cal Grants and instructions on how to fill out the FAFSA application to parents and students.
Cash For College – financial aid presentations made to parents and students to explain the FAFSA application line-by-line and on completing Cal Grant Verification process usually in the evenings or Saturdays. At each school that participates in the Cash for College workshops, one winner will be selected for a $1000 scholarship.

Parent Education

Cal-SOAP will work in partnership with its Consortium members and school districts to provide Parent Conferences and College Fairs in each of our three school districts. Parent Forums are offered at each of our school sites to allow PTSA, PTA and other parent organizations to sponsor smaller discussions about college options, financial aid and how to better support their children in preparing for college at an early age. In addition, Cal-SOAP through the Educational Opportunity Center provides parents with information and resources on parent educational opportunities as well.

Transfer Day fieldtrips

In collaboration with its Consortium members, Cal-SOAP will help bring a designated group of high school juniors and seniors to visit a community college and a four-year university on the same day. Students will hear presentations about the college/university, get a campus tour and get a first-hand understanding of the transfer process from a community college to a four-year university.

Resources

CPA Profile

How to Request Services:

Counselors/Teachers in the Cal-SOAP program

Workshop presentations and/or materials can be requested by contacting our office for the scheduling form. Please submit the scheduling form 4 weeks prior to the actual workshop date(s) to allow time for accommodations to be arranged. The availability of Cal-SOAP advisors to conduct presentations comes on a “first come, first served” basis. In the event that we are not available to do workshops on the requested day, we will be happy to share our materials for counselors/teachers to do the workshops.

Please call (562) 985-9115.

School Staff/Counselors/Teachers NOT in the Cal-SOAP program

Due to the limited number of staff and advisors, we are not able to do workshops at schools that are not currently part of the Cal-SOAP program. We will be happy to share our materials for counselors/teachers to do the workshops.

Please call (562) 985-9115.

Joining Our Program

If your school is currently not part of the Cal-SOAP program but you would like to be, please have your school principal contact our Executive Director to explore the possibilities of joining our consortium of schools and colleges .