The students at Herbert Hoover High understand that they need to read to succeed. That’s because literacy is a focal point at the school where the students speak close to 40 languages. The school is part of the City Heights Education Pilot, a consortium of feeder schools and foundation schools that comprise a K-16 continuum in a partnership with San Diego State University. Hoover is a large Title I school with 2,296 students – more than half are minority and 40 percent are eligible for free- and reduced-price lunch. The school runs on a “four by four" schedule, which allows students to take a full year of a course in only one semester, and to take only four classes each semester.

The school strives to be a stepping stone to success, emphasizing literacy and college preparation. All students are assessed in reading three times per school year, and those who are one-and-one-half years behind in reading must take an additional reading development class. Once students reach grade level, they may substitute reading development classes for other curricular options. Other efforts to improve literacy and student performance include: tutorials, where 10 teachers are responsible for 100 students; off-campus reading centers at the SDSU; a reading lab on campus; a state-of-the-art library; student incentives; “attendance advocates,” an extended school day, major stakeholder meetings, common standards-based assessments, and on-campus teacher training.

Hoover also hosts AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a four-year elective college preparatory program for minorities with academic potential. The program offers tutors, guest speakers, college visitation guidance and information about post-secondary education. AVID students take the PSAT, SAT, PACT, and ACT and participate in two AVID tutorials each week, where they work on writing skills.

Contact: 

Herbert Hoover High
4474 El Cajun Blvd
San Diego, CA 92115

Phone: (619) 283-6281