HSMC Information
History of the High School at Moorpark College
The High School at Moorpark College (HSMC) is one of the original Middle College high schools in the state of California. It was initially founded in February 2000 funded by a grant received from the California Community College Chancellor's Office. HSMC's founding advisory council was made up of school administrators from several Ventura County school districts including Conejo, Simi Valley, Oak Park, and Las Virgenes. From its founding until the year 2018, HSMC served students in grades 11 and 12. Beginning in fall of 2019, HSMC began adding a 9th grade class so by the 2020-2021 school year HSMC included students in grades 9-12.
Today, the High School at Moorpark College is one of more than sixty-five Early and Middle College High Schools in the state of California. HSMC is a collaborative academic partnership between Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) and Moorpark Unified School District and is located on the Moorpark College campus where it is fully integrated into the community college environment. HSMC merges high school and community college curricula and experience to enhance academic success, empower students, and provide a viable path to improve students’ lives. Students maintain dual enrollment at HSMC and Moorpark College where they earn credit toward a high school diploma and their Associates of Arts degree.
Mission Statement
The High School at Moorpark College provides a safe, nurturing, and innovative experience through interdisciplinary learning and rigorous academic standards that produce responsible citizens demonstrating initiative, integrity, intellect, and interest who are capable of succeeding in a competitive, ever-changing global environment.
About
HSMC students come together from over 25 different public and private schools across Southern California to create a dynamic learning environment. HSMC offers a specialized learning environment that is both positive and rewarding. Students take courses at both the high school and college level, earning dual enrollment credit for their coursework. Benefits of this model include increased grade point averages, transferable college units, and access to the full spectrum of courses available at Moorpark College without having to pay tuition.
Students at the High School at Moorpark College are required to register for at least one Moorpark College course during each term they are enrolled at HSMC and are limited to no more than 11.5 college units at any given time. 9th and 10th grade students attend cohort-based college courses in order to benefit from the support of their cohort members, increased support from the professor, and an extra level of support from the HSMC staff. 11th and 12th grade students choose their own college courses working in consultation with both the high school and college counseling staff to ensure graduation and continued progress toward collegiate goals.
Grades 9 and 10: 9th & 10th grade students attend classes from 8:30am-3:30pm Monday through Friday with high school and college courses interspersed throughout the day. These students take English, Mathematics, Social Science, Physical Education, and Advisory courses from our high school teachers and Laboratory Sciences, World Language, Visual/Performing Arts, Health, and Humanities courses at the college level. This dual enrollment process allows students to graduate high school with two or more years of college credits and the potential to earn an Associates (AA) Degree simultaneous with their high school graduation. College units are CSU/UC transferable.
Grades 11 and 12: 11th & 12th grade students attend high school courses from 12:30pm-4:30pm Monday through Thursday and from 9:30am-12:30pm on Friday. 11th & 12th grade students take college courses in their areas of interest outside of the high school day. These students take English, Social Science, and elective courses from our high school teachers. Their college courses must include one semester each of Mathematics and Sciences, to fulfill high school graduation requirements, other areas of interest, and courses that count toward an Associates (AA) Degree, college major, certificate program, or transfer to a 4-year university.
Our Students Have Access To The Full Range Of Moorpark College's Student Services
Moorpark College also provides a full range of student services and developmental programs to meet the needs of HSMC students, including foundational services such as admissions and records, articulation, counseling, health center, financial aid, Learning Center, Writing Center, and ACCESS for students with disabilities. The college also provides support through student activities and clubs, Women’s Center, the music program, and student government.
ALUMNI SUCCESS
After graduation, many of our students go directly to a four-year university, while others finish their general education requirements at Moorpark College before transferring.
HSMC graduates have gone on to attend many prestigious colleges and universities, including UC Berkeley, NYU, USC, UCLA, George Washington University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Sussex (England), Cal Poly, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, University of San Francisco, UC Santa Cruz, Loyola Marymount University, University of Oregon, University of Colorado, University of North Dakota, and California Lutheran University, and many others.
The High School at Moorpark College students will demonstrate:
- Academic Integrity: Students will have the opportunity to develop the four I’s: Interest, Initiative, Integrity and Intellect
- Communication Skills: Students will become effective communicators in verbal, written, and technological modalities
- Critical Thinking: Students will develop critical thinking skills
- Global, Community and Personal Awareness: Students will have opportunities to develop awareness of other cultures, including their own
- College and Career Readiness: Students will gain real world experience, preparing them to enter the College and/or Career environment successfully
Student Requirements/Expectations
While attending HSMC, students will:
- Participate in discussion, presentations, and seminars
- Apply classroom knowledge to the “real world”
- Learn to integrate knowledge from multiple sources
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Demonstrate respect for themselves and others
- Become effective communicators
- Have a post-graduation academic plan
- Devote the necessary time to academic work
- Attend classes regularly and on time
- Submit assignments regularly and on time
- Follow all school rules
- Enroll in at least one college course per semester
- Demonstrate integrity, interest, initiative, and intellect
Requirements for Program Admission
- Demonstrate a history of leadership skills
- Demonstrate academic and interpersonal maturity
- Demonstrate interest in heightened academic rigor
- Demonstrate personal motivation
- Demonstrate creativity
- Demonstrate readiness for honors-level coursework
- Demonstrate readiness for college-level coursework
- Be on track for high school graduation
- Be on track for A-G completion