Our Students

In order to be accepted to Middle College, all students must be enrolled in one of the following high schools:

What the Program Offers

  • A chance to complete high school graduation requirements by taking community college courses and high school courses concurrently.
  • A serious learning environment where students must take control of their own education.
  • A chance for exploring individual interests through more diversified course offerings.
  • A small school setting where students have greater opportunities for guidance and improvement.

The High School Alternative

The Middle College is an alternative high school program for juniors and seniors located at Foothill Community College in Los Altos Hills, California. The coordinators of the Middle College Program understand that not all students fit the mold of the "traditional high school student."

Although these students may be just as capable of succeeding, they have been turned off to education. It is the goal of the Middle College to rekindle the desire to learn by offering an alternative academic program that better meets the needs of these students.

Middle College History

The idea of Middle College has been around for 25 years and was first developed in La Guardia Community College in New York. Middle College Programs across the country and particularly in the Bay Area are becoming more popular and more nationally recognized.

Foothill Middle College began in 1993 as a collaborative effort between Foothill College, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District, and the Palo Alto Unified District.

The founders of the program, Principal Bill McClintock and Foothill President Bernadine Fong, wanted to create a true academic alternative that would keep bright, struggling students interested in school and help them transition into the college setting.