Posted by Thomas M. Pamilla, a resident of the Castro City neighborhood, on Jun 7, 2012 at 3:08 pm

Congratulations to Principal bill Pierce, and to all of the outstanding teachers, counselors and volunteers at Alta Vista, and especially to all of the graduates who are such role models for all of us. You should all be so proud of your achievement.

Posted by Realist, a resident of the Whisman Station neighborhood, on Jun 8, 2012 at 8:53 am

It would be better to keep these kids in the regular school system. This program is just designed to exclude these children from the right to the mainstream high schools. The expectations are much lower at Alta Vista.

I know several former Alta Vista grads. One is in jail. Another just had her third child out of wedlock and is living on welfare. A few I know started college courses, but never finished with a degree of any sort. One is left wondering if they would have had a better chance in life if they were never kicked out of the regular schools.

Posted by Steven Nelson, a resident of the Cuesta Park neighborhood, on Jun 9, 2012 at 10:27 am

Sorry Realist, most of these students did not want to be in "regular school". If you have taught in "regular school" at the middle and high school level recently ( I have 4 years), you know that some kids and families don't 'get it'. Special teachers and principals allow them a second chance to try. But they don't have to try in a type of environment that they don't like, with peers who have a different mind-set.

The high school District's Middle College and Freestyle also allow kids/families with a slightly different mind-set to get educated through high school diploma level. Even the GED high-school equivalency program allows a few, after they drop out, to change their minds and graduate [3rd chance]

Alta Vista High is a model program and it's recognized throughout the state as such.