An Overview

Westview was established in August 2002 with a freshman and sophomore student body.

It is a thriving, comprehensive learning community, the newest of four comprehensive high schools in the Poway Unified School District. This profile should aid in the evaluation of transcripts and records, as well as inform the community of relevant facts regarding the school.

General Information

Community

Description:  The Poway Unified School District is located in a suburban community 15 miles northeast of San Diego. It is a primarily middle to upper-middle income residential community.

Population:  The population of the area is approximately 165,419 with a Poway Unified School District population of approximately 32,754 students in grades K-12. The student enrollment of Westview comes from the communities of Rancho de los Penasquitos and Torrey Highlands.

SCHOOL

Description:  A comprehensive, four-year secondary school, Westview operates on a “4 x 4” block schedule in which students attend three or four classes each day. Each class meets an average of 82 minutes per day. There are two 18-week terms, which are divided into four 9-week quarters. Four days each week, students attend a 20-minute homeroom period, and two days each week students may attend a 28-minute tutorial period. Upon graduation, students who enter as freshmen can earn 320 credits over four years. In order to earn credits in a class, students must first pass the State and district standards identified for the class. Freshmen, sophomores and juniors are required to carry 60 credits per year. The “4 x 4” block schedule allows Westview students to enroll in a wide array of academic and elective courses.

Enrollment: Approximately 2,402 students are enrolled in grades 9, 10, 11, or 12.  Westview presented its first graduating class in the 2008-2009 school year.

Accreditation: Westview is fully accredited by the Schools Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Staff: Westview staff consists of 85 teachers, 4 administrators, 3 counselors, 1 librarian, 1 school psychologist, and 39 support staff. Of the 92 credentialed faculty (teachers, administrators and counselors), 50 faculty members hold advanced degrees.

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS

Grade Point Average & Class Rank: The computation is based on a marking system of A, B, C, F with point values of 4, 3, 2, 0, with the exception of one Honors course and Advanced Placement courses, which are assigned point values of 5, 4, 3, 0. AP grades reflect class work as well as AP test scores. Physical education, school services, and planning and leadership grades are excluded from the computation. The college recommending mark is C or above. The passing grade is C. More than one student may possess a certain rank in class; therefore, the school provides deciles ranking.

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Academic Information

Curriculum:  All students are encouraged to complete the A-G pattern of classes recommended by the California State University, the University of California, and other public and private colleges and universities.

Selective Universities: Students generally take four years of higher math (algebra-calculus), three to four years of science, four years of English, three to five years of foreign language, three years of social science and history, one year of visual and performing arts, plus additional electives.

Less-Selective Universities & Colleges:  Students generally take three years of higher math (algebra, geometry, advanced algebra), two years of science, four years of English, two years of foreign language (French and Spanish offered at Westview), three years of social science and history, one year of visual and performing arts, plus additional electives.

High School Graduation: Students take required graduation courses and are encouraged to take electives appropriate to their career interests.

Elective Courses: Courses are offered in Art, AVID, business, computers, drama, journalism, music (instrumental and choral), physical education, school services (academic tutor, and planning and leadership), and yearbook.

OTHER PROGRAMS

Honors (H): Courses are offered in English, foreign language, mathematics, and science at all grade levels.

Advanced Placement (AP): Courses are offered in English, biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, French, Spanish, European civilizations, U.S. history, U.S. Government and studio art.

Remedial Courses: Courses are available to students needing remediation in English and mathematics.  Common assessments in all academic areas permit students to remediate at any level and repeat assessments until standards that demonstrate proficiency are met.

English Language Learner (ELL): Courses for students learning to speak, read, and write English include language acquisition, developmental reading and writing, and sheltered English classes.

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID): A program designed to help qualifying students with average to high standardized test scores prepare for college.

Special Education: Special instruction is provided for students with more severe learning challenges by participation in either a Special Day Class or Resource Specialist Program.

Regional Occupational Program (ROP): Vocational training classes are offered through ROP in photography, Java Programming, and Computer Applications.

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Graduation Requirements

Class of 2009

Credits – 230 credits are required for graduation with 5 credits earned for each quarter course completed with a grade of “C” or better. Honors and AP courses that are taught concurrently for a full year receive 5 credits each at the end of each term (2 quarters).  Students must meet the course requirements as well as show proficiency in all standards in order to earn a passing grade.

Competency – Students must pass the CAHSEE or district proficiency tests in reading, writing, and math to receive a diploma.

Subject Requirements

English  Social Science Mathematics  Physical Science  Biological Science Health*  Physical Education* Fine Arts  Practical Arts  Computer literacy Electives  Total . . . . . . . . . . . . .	4 terms (40 credits)  3 terms (30 credits) 2 terms (20 credits) 1 term  (10 credits) 1 term  (10 credits) 0.5 term  (5 credits) 2 terms (20 credits) 1 term   (10 credits) 0.5 term  (5 credits) ** 8 terms (80 credits) 230 Credits
*   ENS 1-2 earns 5 credits of Health and 5 credits of PE. ENS 3-4 earns 10 credits of PE. ** Demonstration of proficiency or computer class that also fulfills Practical Arts requirement

Classes identified as college preparatory are coded “P”, honors classes are coded “H”, and honors and advanced placement (AP) classes graded on a 5-point scale are coded “HH” and “AH”, respectively, on student transcripts.

Academic Recognition

Advanced Placement Results
With a population of only Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors for the 2003-2004 school year, 305 of 1496 students took 491 AP Exams, with a 76% pass rate of 3 or higher.

North County Academic League & Science Olympiad
Westview students participate in the San Diego County competitions.

SAT & ACT
CEEB SCHOOL CODE #052-986

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Administration