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Sweetwater to open Options Middle College at Southwestern College in August; district details enrollment, cohort supports
Summary
Sweetwater trustees heard details about Options Middle College High School, a dual‑enrollment program opening Aug. 12 on Southwestern College’s Chula Vista campus. Staff said the program will start with about 55 students and use small cohorts, anchor teachers and college onboarding supports.
Sweetwater Union High School District staff and students told the board June 9 that the district will open Options Middle College High School on the Southwestern College main campus this August, offering a no‑cost dual‑enrollment pathway for high-school students.
Principal-designate and program staff said the school will relocate the existing Options secondary program to Southwestern’s Chula Vista campus and will begin Aug. 12. “We will be located on the campus of Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista,” a district presenter said. Staff described the model as a small‑school approach with planned class sizes of roughly 21:1, anchor teachers to support cohorts, and an introductory PD/100 college‑onboarding course that teaches campus navigation and college communication skills. The presenters said the program aims to allow students to earn college credits while completing a high‑school diploma at no cost to students.
Staff reported current initial enrollment of 30 returning Options students plus 25 incoming ninth‑grade students “and counting.” The program’s stated maximum capacity is 250 once fully phased in; initial classes will move as cohorts with additional supports including school and college counselors and anchor teachers.
Trustees asked about transportation and extracurricular participation. Staff said the district is not providing regular district bus transportation for the program at opening; staff said they will help students with public‑transportation passes (Pronto) and will provide onboarding information for families. Regarding extracurriculars and athletics, staff said students may continue to participate where they previously had eligibility (for example, remaining at their home site) or may participate at an assigned comprehensive site consistent with CIF and district agreements; the presenters said a memorandum of understanding sets out those eligibility arrangements.
Two students who will attend the program spoke to trustees, thanking staff and the college for the opportunity. Staff said they will schedule community launch events and orientations for students and parents before classes start and will provide the board with dates for those events.
Board members were invited to attend the orientation and launch once dates are finalized.
