Creating Culture: Middle College

Senior Tilman Kareht enters his calculus class. Instead of high schoolers, he’s surrounded by college students. Instead of a 30-student classroom, he learns in a lecture auditorium.

That’s because Kareht isn’t a student at Paly. He studies at Palo Alto Middle College.

Middle College students like Kareht take three high school classes: English, history and then either a math or science elective. The rest of their A-G high school requirements are taken as Foothill classes.

Middle College senior Hanu Thakur, who previously attended Paly, said while his initial transition from a traditional high school to Middle College was jarring, it has taught him how to navigate a new environment.

“It’s hard and scary because you’re leaving normal high school, which you’ve been part of for so long,” Thakur said. “Then, you’re going to college 20 minutes away. You don’t always know everyone (but) I got to challenge myself in my courses and meet new people. Learning how to get to make new friends is also a skill that a lot of people forget.”

Chiu said students who struggle to find a community within Gunn or Paly may be better suited for additional educational programs.

“Kids who feel they don’t belong or are lost in the sea of a large high school can (find it) intimidating even though there are incredible programs where you can find your niche,” Chiu said. “There is something about a very different experience, or even a smaller experience of Middle College that I think is very important.”

In a message to the Palo Alto community on Nov. 1, Superintendent Don Austin said the novel learning environment at Middle College also allows students to escape the competitive culture of traditional high schools.

“These students picked courses they wanted to learn about and the pressure to take a class melted away,” Austin said.

Kareht agrees and said the diversity of courses offered at Middle College allows any student to explore their passions and thrive.

“I think any student could really succeed at Middle College,” Kareht said. “One of the benefits of Foothill is there is a super wide range of classes.”

Although Chiu’s daughter initially joined Middle College for academic reasons, Chiu said she loves Middle College for the freedom it provides.

“At the age of 15, she feels that she’s being treated as a young adult,” Chiu said. “She has a lot of choice about where she’s spending time and how she’s organizing her day. She really loves the autonomy and choice that she has at Middle College, and she felt that she had less of that in the larger traditional model.”

Garrison said the partnership between PAUSD and Middle College also gives students access to extensive opportunities outside of the classroom.

“Our students have access to all resources, services, activities and clubs at Foothill,” Garrison said. “There are over 60 clubs and activities that students can be part of. It’s very unique to be a part of two schools, two campuses and two worlds.”

Looking forward, Garrison said Middle College hopes to expand to ninth graders.

However, Austin said some Middle College students oppose this proposal because increasing the number of students in the program could weaken Middle College’s tight-knit community.

“Part of my hope was to expand it pretty rapidly,” Austin said. “What I heard from the students and the staff was, ‘Don’t. An expansion too fast could destroy what’s great about it.’”

Garrison said next year, the school will cap enrollment at 30 students per cohort, with two cohorts per grade.

“I am continually impressed by our students,” Garrison said. “They’re really trying to develop a different kind of culture here that is not about competition. Even though many of our students are very academically driven, our school is really about enjoying the journey.”