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Nueva’s smaller campus community gave Abel a chance to build relationships with his teachers,  get involved in the Associated Student Body (ASB), and make progress toward earning his high school diploma. He now looks forward to graduating this spring and then attending Riverside City College to pursue a career as an automotive technician. 

”When I first got here I had 30 credits, and now I’m on the path to graduate,” Abel said. “I’m looking forward to going to college.”

Abel is just one of Nueva Vista’s many success stories. The school’s innovative programs and successful outcomes resulted in the school being named one of 74 Model Continuation High Schools in the state of California. The designation makes Nueva Vista a standout among the state’s 429 continuation high schools.

“It justifies the incredible work that our staff and community members are a part of,” said Nueva Vista High School Principal James Wandrie.

Nueva Vista serves a student body consisting of mostly juniors and seniors who are behind in credits and at risk of not graduating. Because Nueva Vista is on a quarter system, students can earn credits toward graduation faster and graduate at various points throughout the year.

“We consider ourselves the last line of defense for regular public education,” Mr. Wandrie said.

The school has numerous programs designed to keep students engaged and supported.

“Once they experience that …extra love and care that our staff are so good at providing to our students…they start to realize, ‘hey, I do have something to offer, and I do have some talents and skills.’ Many of our Nueva students rise to the occasion and they’re doing extraordinary work, they’re making great progress,” Mr. Wandrie said.

Special programs also support student success. The school’s two Career Technical Education pathways – IT Service Technician and Distribution and Logistics – allow students to learn marketable skills while earning certifications that can help them gain future employment. Students also can participate in a Dual Enrollment program, allowing them concurrent enrollment in college courses.  

Nueva Vista also has a unique fifth-year program to assist those who need a little longer than the traditional four years to complete high school. 

“In the past, our fifth-year seniors, if they didn’t complete the program within the time they are … given, they would typically just drop out," Mr. Wandrie said. "Our staff had a problem with that. We have a teacher dedicated to just supporting fifth-year seniors. Their schedule is different from everybody else's. They get more one-on-one support.”

Student support is a hallmark of the Nueva Vista program. Abel said connections with teachers and access to important resources made a difference for him.

“The Career Center helped a lot,” he said. “They bring a lot of different programs and colleges and sometimes they even bring the Marines and the Army. They give presentations to us and that’s helped me out a lot and that’s helped me focus more and think about what I really want to do after high school.”

Fellow senior Luis Sanchez plans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps after he graduates this spring. He said the school helped him build confidence and gain important communication and leadership skills. Luis serves as Nueva Vista’s representative to the Board of Education, is active with the Associated Student Body, and is a member of the JUSD Strategic Communications Department’s School Communicators United in Leadership team.

“Being able to help out around the school has helped me out as a person. I feel better for helping out,” Luis said.

Mr. Wandrie said hope is essential to every Nueva Vista student’s success.

“Our students…they’re just experiencing a setback, it doesn’t mean their entire future is dictated,” Mr. Wandrie said. “Setbacks are just a part of life, and we want our students to grow from those experiences and help them to overcome. Once we get them back on track, we want to expose them to endless possibilities.”

“It’s about making sure that our kids feel welcome, making sure that they feel supported, and reminding them that everyone has second, third, and fourth chances," he said. "We just have to take advantage of them when they are presented to us.”