Parents, Help Your Kids Be College-Bound

Parents of eighth graders are probably thinking about how they'll keep their teens occupied this summer and what school supplies are needed for the first day of high school, not college.

But Pajaro Valley Unified School District administrators believe parents should be thinking about their children's higher education, and hope to make that point at , a meeting for parents of incoming ninth graders Wednedsay evening at the Mello Center.

"As students enter high school all doors to colleges are open," PVUSD Assistant Superintendent Murry Schekman said is a prepared statement. "The intent of the presentation is to share provide timely info about what needs to be done each year in high school to ensure that all doors to college."

Almost three-quarters of graduates from Watsonville and Pajaro Valley high schools attend four-year universities, two-year community colleges or trade/technical schools, following their first year after high school, according to National Clearinghouse. That's on-par with the state average: 75 percent of high school graduates go on to higher education.

Nationwide, 68.3 percent of 2011 high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities last October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But recent high school graduates not enrolled in college were almost twice as likely than enrolled graduates to be working or looking for work.

Local figures for high school graduates moving onto college or technical school have fallen slightly since 2008. PVUSD officials want to encourage parents to help their kids be prepared for higher education once they finish high school, and that's what Wednesday's meeting is all about.

Rosie Cid-Castro, the district’s Scholarship and College Pathways Coordinator,  and Daisy Villacaña, Lead College Facilitator for the UCSC Ed Partnership Center will present information along with Schekman. Two college-bound graduating seniors also will provide their ideas and perspective.

In addition, general information about scholarships and financial aid will be presented.  

This workshop for parents will take place at the at Watsonville High School from 7-8:15 p.m. Wednesday. For information, call the PVUSD Secondary Education Department at 786-2100 x 2395.