TARGETED PUPILS EXPECTED TO SOAR WITH JOINT CAMPUS.

Byline: JIM SKEEN Staff Writer

LANCASTER -- Teenagers who might not consider college as an option are being recruited for a new high school that will blend college course work with normal high school classes.

The Students On the Academic Rise (SOAR) High School, a joint program by the Antelope Valley Union High School District and Antelope Valley College, is aimed at boosting teens on their way to four-year degrees.

``The purpose is to get their AA (Associate of Arts) degree and move onto a four-year institution,'' said Jill Zimmerman, AVC's dean of student services. ``We are integrating high school students into a college environment. They will be AVC students from the very first day and SOAR High School students.''

Officials are recruiting graduating eighth-grade students who come from families with no college background, low socioeconomic status, under-represented minorities, or who are underperforming in a traditional setting.

Students will spend part of their class days in their own classroom with high school teachers. They will also take some college work through the college's regular courses offerings. As they progress, they will spend more of their time in subsequent years in college courses.

SOAR High School will emphasize mathematics, science and engineering education.

At the end of their fourth year, the students will have a high school diploma. At the end of their fifth year, they will have an AA degree and will be able to transfer to a four-year college or university.

SOAR High School is supported by a $400,000 grant from the Foundation for California Community Colleges, with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Ford Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The grant is expected to cover the first four years of operation and officials expect to be able to land additional grants.

Officials expect about 70 ninth graders to enroll in the first class of SOAR High School when school opens in August.

To be eligible for the program, students must score at or above the basic levels on the California State Test in Language Arts and Math; have at least a B in pre-algebra or a C or better in algebra; have a C or better in language arts courses; and have an overall 2.0 grade point average or higher in the first semester or second trimester of the eighth grade.

In addition, students will need to complete an AVC assessment and, if accepted, provide their own transportation to SOAR High School. Parents will be expected to be actively involved in supporting their children in the program.

A series of informational meetings are being held this month for interested families. Meeting dates and locations include:

Today, 6:30 p.m. New Vista School, 753 E. Ave. K-2, Lancaster.

Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., Cactus Middle School, 38060 20th St. E., Palmdale.

June 26, 6:30 p.m., Antelope Valley College, 3041 W. Ave. K, Room SSV 151, Lancaster.

Deadline for applications is July 12. For more details call [phone].

james.skeen(at)dailynews

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