Many people wish they had a second chance in their life; the students at Palo Alto College’s Gateway to College are being given this glorious chance.

This program allows students who where at risk of dropping out or have already dropped out of high school an opportunity to earn dual credit for both high school and college at the same time.

A group of people concerned about the high dropout rates and late graduates in their high schools started the Gateway program in Portland, Oregon. Palo Alto faculty and staff set up a Gateway to College here in 2005, the first site in Texas for this program.

Students must be between 16 to 20 years old, and students who wish to be active in the program must have no more than 17 credits required for high school graduation.

If they have more than 17 credits and the credits are not toward graduation, this makes the student at risk for dropout and qualified for enrollment. Currently, 102 students are enrolled in the Gateway program at Palo Alto College. Learning cohorts of 20 to 25 students are formed.

“It’s an awesome opportunity if you can’t afford college,” said Brooke Treunor, a dual-credit freshman at Gateway to College. The cost of tuition, books and any other fees are all provided for. This is a value of more than $1,000.

Classroom size is also more personal with an average of 20 to 25 students, less than most high school classes of 30 or more. In their foundation (beginning) term, students take English, Reading, Math, SDEV (Strategies for Succeeding in College or Career and Life Planning) and Learning Frameworks. In their transition or comprehensive terms, students are enrolled 100 percent at Palo Alto. Each student’s program is totally individualized based on their credits earned and their Accuplacer scores.

At 7:50 a.m., it is a peaceful morning at Gateway, and the classrooms are well cared for. Hardly any distractions are present and everyone that walks by seems to know each other. This could be one of their mottos.

In such a small setting that houses inside the Ozuna Center, Room 126, at Palo Alto College, success is pouring out, allowing drop outs or potential drop outs to receive a college education. Students have the upper hand with this close-knit environment. When one is falling, the rest are witnesses and are keeping them honest in their grades and lifestyles.

“It’s pretty cool,” said Arthur Melendez, a dual credit freshman.

Rachel Sakai, director of Gateway to College, said, “This innovative program truly gives students a second chance to fulfill their dreams and create a brighter future for them and our entire community. As in the African proverb, we are ‘the village’ for our students!”

Most recently, nine out of 11 students graduated. Of the two who did not graduate, one decided to go back to their original high school and continue there, while the other was not able to finish the curriculum within the designated time limit.

Gateway to College is currently offered to high school students in eight school districts including San Antonio, South San, Southwest, Edgewood, East Central, Poteet, Harlandale and Southside.

Sabina Cerda, the English Department’s senior secretary, is more than ready to tell how Gateway to College has dramatically changed her daughter’s life. Sabina beamed with joy when showing a picture of her daughter and telling about how she is now enrolled in Gateway to College after a circuitous path.

From Harlandale High School to an alternative school back to Harlandale High School, the Cerda family seemed to be running out of options for Evelyn when Gateway to College appeared. Evelyn, a dual credit freshman, has now switched roles with her mother and is reminding her mom that she needs to be at the library early in the morning the next day.

Evelyn Cerda’s life seems to be doing a complete turn around, not only scholastically but also financially. She has a job at Maverick Cleaners, which allows a work schedule that fits with her school schedule. A typical school day for most students is 9 a.m. until 2:20 p.m.

“It’s turned her life around,” said Sabina. Another perk Sabina mentioned is that they are now both on Palo Alto’s campus. Whenever Evelyn wants to see her mom just to say hello or maybe to ask for change to buy a soda, she can just walk right over to the English Department. This gives school a homier feel.

One student is using his second chance to transfer to Baylor for their Criminal Justice program with a concentration in Forensics. The nine students who graduated from this program and have gone on to continue their educations are living proof that Gateway to College is a successful “second chance” high school.

For more information, call (210) 921-5589 or drop by Ozuna, Room 126.