Ventura Unified School District allows for summer credit recovery

The summer program at Ventura High School has begun its June session, which will take place between June 20 and 30 (8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.). There is a July session as well, which will be held between July 5 and 29, with morning sessions taking place between 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. and afternoon sessions between 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. The June session is entirely held at VHS, while July session VHS students are instructed at either VHS or Buena High School.

VUSD Executive Director of Educational Services Greg Bayless said, “Credit Recovery [is] for students who need additional credits to get back on track for on-time graduation, grade remediation [is] for students who passed an A-G class with a ‘D’ grade and need at least a ‘C’ to be eligible to apply for college and for students who are taking initial credit courses to free up space in their schedule the following year for additional electives.”

The June session is primarily designed for graduated seniors (class of 2022) who are deficient in five graduation credits. However, if space is available, non-graduates who are deficient in more than 10 credits (the maximum amount of recoverable credits in July) can also attend. Registration for the July session is closed, but spots are potentially available if a student comes to school on the first day (July 5). June session registration is only available through counselor approval.

Bayless said, “If an outgoing senior needed more than 5 credits, they were not eligible [for the June session] and were sent to Ventura Adult and Continuing Education (VACE) to work on their credits to earn a high school diploma.”

Approximately 1,200 VHS students are enrolled in the June and July sessions combined. The July session population is evenly split between the VHS and BHS campuses. Principal Marissa Cervantes serves as VHS summer school principal, while Assistant Principal Mera Clobes serves as BHS summer school principal.

Sofia Hallahan ‘23, who will be attending the July session, said, “I feel like it is super unorganized because whenever I asked a question about it no teacher or counselor could give me an answer. Information was really hard to get about if it was in person or when it started.”

Summer classes are taught differently according to their purpose. June credit recovery classes are held in person but are instructed using Edgenuity. July credit recovery classes are also taught in-person, but use a mixture of Edgenuity and traditional classroom instruction. Initial credit classes are taught online with the exceptions of art and driver’s education.

Alyssa Loffelmann ‘24, who will be attending the July morning session, said, “I think summer school is fine. It’s something I decided to do because I’m missing credits from freshman year because of my poor performance during online school.”

Among the available initial credit classes are world history, U.S. history, American democracy, economics, art and driver’s education. Health and college & career seminar are also available for incoming freshmen. Advanced Placement (AP) and foreign language classes are not offered during the summer program.

Alex Saenz ‘24, who will be attending the July session, said, “I’m very pleased that VUSD offers summer school because I have friends in other cities and states who do not have the option of summer school.”

An alternative to summer school at VHS is dual enrollment classes at a Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD) college; Ventura College, Oxnard College or Moorpark College. VCCCD classes are equivalent in credits to an initial credit or school-year classes. VCCCD classes that count for VHS credit can be found here.