VVUHSD Students Earn Nearly 2,000 College Acceptance Letters Through District Programs

VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A targeted effort to boost college readiness in the Victor Valley Union High School District is producing major results this spring, with graduating seniors in the district’s Heritage and Legacy programs receiving nearly 2,000 college acceptance letters from universities across the country.

The Heritage Program, which supports Black students, and the Legacy Program, designed for English learners, were created as part of the district’s broader effort to improve college readiness and increase university acceptance rates for all students.

According to the district, more than 80 percent of Heritage seniors and 55 percent of Legacy seniors at Adelanto, Silverado, and Victor Valley high schools are graduating fully A-G college ready, making them eligible for admission to University of California and California State University campuses.

Students in the programs have received acceptance letters from universities including UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Howard University, Pepperdine, UC Santa Barbara, Morehouse College, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, the University of Redlands, the University of La Verne, Tuskegee University, and Louisiana State University.

“These programs are changing the perception of what is possible for students in the High Desert,” VVUHSD Superintendent Carl Coles said. “In addition to increasing college readiness for Black and English-learner students, Heritage and Legacy are helping to raise college readiness districtwide.”

The district said the overall A-G completion rate for all VVUHSD graduating seniors is approximately 59 percent, which could make the district the local leader in college readiness once final numbers are finalized after the school year.

The Heritage Program was first launched at Adelanto High School in 2022, when less than 28 percent of African American seniors at the school were graduating A-G ready. This spring, district officials said 87 percent of Adelanto Heritage seniors achieved A-G completion while earning a combined 601 college acceptance letters.

“It was hard getting it off the ground because we received some push-back in the community and even in the school,” Adelanto High School Heritage Coordinator Dr. Aleka Jackson-Jarrell said. “Some families didn’t understand that the reason we needed the programs was that the data suggested these were the two sub-groups — Black students and English learners — who most needed the help. Everything changes once people see the results. Now they understand the need. Everybody understands that helping one group of students literally helps the whole school. Helping one neighbor can help the whole community do better.”

Following the program’s initial success at Adelanto High School, VVUHSD expanded Heritage to Silverado and Victor Valley high schools and added the Legacy Program at all three campuses. The programs provide support with scholarships, financial aid applications, college applications, graduation and grade checks, A-G completion tracking, college visits, family outreach, and student events.

Silverado Heritage reported that 86 percent of its seniors completed A-G requirements and collectively received 465 college acceptance letters.

Victor Valley High School also saw significant improvement. District officials said only 16 percent of Black graduating seniors at VVHS were A-G ready three years ago. By spring 2026, that number increased to 67 percent.

District officials said California schools have traditionally focused on graduation rates, but many graduates still lack the coursework needed for university admission. Completion of the A-G course sequence — a required set of 15 classes — determines eligibility for UC and CSU admission.

“Our goal is to prepare all of our students to live a life of purpose with unlimited potential,” Coles said. “These programs are part of an audacious goal to make VVUHSD the most college-ready district in San Bernardino County. We must put our resources where our mouth is to help our students succeed and thrive.”

Several students highlighted the impact the programs had on their academic success:

• Cherrish Johnson of Silverado High School, a first-generation college student from a single-parent household, was named co-salutatorian, earned the Gates Scholarship, and secured a full ride to Howard University to study pre-law.

• Alana Chavez of Adelanto High School received the QuestBridge Scholarship, earning a full ride to Pomona College.

• Danyell Skyes of Victor Valley High School used the Heritage Program to improve academically after struggling early in high school and was accepted to Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina.

• Joshua Gonzalez of Silverado High School maintained a GPA above 3.0 while balancing responsibilities as a broadcast producer and culinary lead. He also designed the Legacy yearbook and photographed program events.

• Stacey Solis of Adelanto High School became fully A-G ready after falling behind academically during her sophomore and junior years with assistance from the Legacy Program.

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