In East San Jose, college is as possible as A-G

11-17-2010

Opinion by Askari Gonzales/Thoughts on Public Education

Askari Gonzalez is a senior at Overfelt High School in San Jose's East Side Union High School District. He wrote this article for this newspaper.

Though it's only November, two months into the school year, I already know that 250 of my 400 classmates at Overfelt High School will not go to college. How can I predict that dismal future? It's simple. I researched the statistics, and I have experienced the uneven school curriculum firsthand. Currently, two-thirds of the graduates from the East Side Union High School District in San Jose do not qualify for a University of California or California State University school. That is too many being told they cannot achieve, and they cannot dream, too many in a community where "no's" are much easier to come by than an encouraging "yes." Did you know that a student can graduate with straight A's from an East Side Union high school and still not be eligible for college? Why? Because they were not enrolled in the right courses. If you are unfamiliar with the "A to G" requirements for college, like so many of the students in the East Side Union High School District, allow me to briefly explain them. (more…)

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In East San Jose, college is as possible as A-G

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