High school program showcase gives 8th graders choices to consider
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Eighth graders used to just go to the high school closest to their home.
These days they have more choices.
That is why Santa Barbara Unified invited families to its High School Program Showcase.
Dos Pueblos High School Chargers, San Marcos High School Lions, Santa Barbara High School Dons and Alta Vista Middle College showed off their programs at the Earl Warren Showgrounds on Wednesday.
Some eighth graders attended the event during the day on field trips.
Others came with their parents in the evening.
Students learned they a priority window for the Intradistrict Transfer begins on Friday, Dec. 1.
It will be open until January 6th.
The regular intradistrict transfer application window is from January 27-June 30, 2024.
"Get it in soon, get it early, "said Asst. Superintendent of Student Services Shakenya Edison, "And if they're applying for academies, they will be set for the next school year because their transfer will be in."
The transfer is based on space availability and the time the application is received.
Students and their parents seemed to enjoy making the rounds to check it all out.
"I'm really interested in sport medicine so that is interest ed to me and i am also really interested in the health academy right there," said Maddie Dodgin.
Her father Dustin liked seeing the older kids interact with the younger ones.
"There are a lot kids here to answer questions is Nice there are kids in the program that give the feedback and say the experience i have had," said Dustin Dodgin.
A map given to students showed them where to find culinary arts, computer science, engineering, theatre, and, choir, dance, music, construction, and more.
Dos Pueblos High School students had an area showing off their student run newscasts on a former KEYT set.
"This is a picture of the old KEYT desk, "said their instructor Doug Cains, "We were blessed to come out and break down the old set and hall it over to DP."
He said his student are like a team.
"I am a coach and morning broadcast journalism is just like a sport team."
Student journalist Aspen Newhouse said she enjoyed talking to the students interested in her experience.
"I Always find it really helpful to be able to talk to people about journalism, considering how involved I am with the program."
All the schools have plenty of programs to choose from whether students choose go to the closest school or the one across town.
Educators consider the showcase a reminder of all the pathways students can pursue.
It may also inspire them to study hard while they are in junior high school, too.
For more information visit https://www.sbunified.org
