Middle College High School (MCHS) is a dual enrollment school in partnership with Santa Ana College (SAC). This program allows students to gain a sense of what college life looks like through in-person courses, college campus accessibility and much more. MCHS is among 106 private and public high schools in Orange County, but what makes it different from the rest?
MCHS stands apart from other high schools in the county by blending high school and college into one experience. Students navigate a college environment and build independence. The unique experience from this dual enrollment structure accelerates academic progress, exposing students to the challenges of higher education, setting MCHS apart from the average high school path.
Through its dual enrollment program, MCHS, supports students on their college journey, ensuring they graduate with 30 transferable college units, an AA degree and/or a career-ready certification. With this program, students may engage in-person learning with professors, take online college courses and familiarize themselves with a college campus.
Sophomore Aailah Salado explains what engaging in this dual enrollment program looks like.
“The academic expectations at MCHS are pretty high, but in a good way. Being able to take college classes while still in high school helps you get ahead and be more prepared for the future,” Salado said.
At neighboring high schools, dual enrollment classes aren’t commonly available. Instead, Advanced Placement classes are offered, and college-level placement classes are taken in high school. Through successful completion of an AP exam, students are eligible to receive college credit, unlike at MCHS, where you earn college credits based on the number of credits each course is worth.
Natalie Hernandez, a senior at El Toro High School, tells her experience taking AP classes.
“I would say the kids who have similar or the same classes as me have the same mindset. Everyone knows to pay attention during class. Usually everyone's on task and finishes their work right away,” Hernandez said.
At MCHS, school events consist of dances, pep rallies, assemblies and more. Through ASB-led events students get to enjoy moments outside of the academic setting. The smaller school population allows for an atmosphere of interpersonal connection between teachers and students alike. Although, this small size comes with fewer sport programs and club opportunities.
Sophomore Damian Dominguez explains what attending a small school looks like.
“Many may think a small high school is less fortunate than others that have a bigger campus, bigger sports teams and more space for events, clubs, and etc, but they're completely wrong. Sure we might not have those variables at our school, however we have the commitment to think that it's good enough as it is,” Dominguez said.
Orange County high schools typically offer from 25 to 45 sports programs. ranging from football to lacrosse, offering a wide range of options for students to participate in, MCHS only offers four sports. Student life at other high schools looks like pep rallies, innovative clubs and assemblies, opportunities that you typically find at MCHS, though with smaller class sizes and hands-on activities.
Samantha Pham, a freshman at Rosary Academy, describes the student life at her school.
“I believe student life at Rosary is amazing. We have rallies almost every month celebrating some type of event and when they happen, I feel like a part of something bigger and my friends feel the same,” Pham said.
Attending a dual enrollment school can become challenging. When balancing college-level courses and high school classes, it can be difficult to keep up with the academic pressures. Navigating the two course types is demanding, though rewarding to a student's academic success throughout the high school experience.
Mrs. Quinonez, MCHS’s high school counselor, explains why attending a dual enrollment school can be challenging.
“One challenge is balancing both high school and college expectations, especially when it comes to time management and navigating two systems. Students may also face scheduling conflicts or limited course options. However, with the right support, these challenges become opportunities for growth,” Quinonez said.
Attending a dual enrollment school can change what high school looks and feels like for students. At MCHS, students take college-level courses and follow a schedule that differs from nearby traditional high schools. That difference can affect daily social life, including access to sports, clubs and school-wide events. Although the academic workload can feel intense, they teach students what to expect when entering higher education.
