Officials, students and their mascot, a colt, of the San Diego Unified School District rang in the new school year Monday morning at Crawford High School in the community of El Cerritos.
August 12 may seem earlier than usual. According to Dr. Erin Richison, SDUSD district superintendent of high schools, this decision has been three years in the making. By moving the academic calendar forward, the district hopes to support students enrolled in both the high school and neighboring colleges. This will allow school breaks to be timed to give students a much-needed break between the two semesters and give them more time to practice and study for AP exams.
This is just one way Crawford High School is working to prepare its students for the transition from high school. The new school year brings with it new career education programs and a new agreement with California State University San Marcos that guarantees guaranteed enrollment.
The new admissions agreement, similar to the one Sweetwater Union High School District has with San Diego State University, guarantees admission for qualified high school graduates and provides college preparatory opportunities starting in middle school. For the diverse community Crawford High serves, admission will be a game-changer for students.
“Many immigrant families find Crawford to be a home for their students. They feel very welcome and included because they belong here. But with 40 different countries represented… 35 languages, 72 dialects, some things get lost in translation, like how to apply to college and how to pay for college,” said Dr. Reashon Villery, principal of Crawford High School.
“We want our students to know that not only can they be accepted to a college and automatically admitted, but they also have a variety of financial aid options available to them.”
Crawford’s students can also participate in a number of programs this year. The latest additions are the paramedic training pathway and a student swimming course, alongside the existing legal academy, automotive course and health care career training pathway with Rady Children’s Hospital.
The EMT course allows students to choose an alternative to a traditional four-year degree after high school while still gaining access to medical careers. The goal is for students to receive either a certificate or enough college credits at the end of high school to begin a career as an EMT.
Not only does the swimming course teach students water safety and offer them a new activity, but there is also the opportunity to become a junior lifeguard after the 24-week course.
One of the leading high school programs is the Crawford Academy of Law, founded in 2011. Through a state scholarship, students in grades 10 to 12 can learn about careers in the legal field and gain professional experience in courts and law firms.
One of the highlights of the course is the wooden podium-lined classroom with judge and jury boxes that simulate a real courtroom. For the first time since the pandemic began, students will work with the newly established San Diego Teen Court to receive training in restorative justice using real cases involving juvenile offenders. Students will be mentored by a judge or attorney who will supervise them while they handle the questioning and decision-making themselves, says program coordinator Ray Beattie.
In addition to the hands-on experience, students also benefit from the Crawford Academy of Law Foundation, which awards scholarships to those who participate in mock trials, complete the bar program and are aspiring leaders. According to Beattie, the foundation awarded about $20,000 in scholarships to second-, third- and fourth-year students at the Academy Awards in May.
Reashon Villery, principal of Crawford High School, said she is proud to be part of the high school’s vision.
“There are a lot of great programs here at Crawford, besides sports and all the wonderful clubs. I’m just honored to be lucky enough to lead such a wonderful school community,” Villery said.
