Applications for open enrollment accepted early at Salinas Union High School District

Salinas Union High School District has begun accepting applications for district-wide open enrollment. Applications are typically accepted once a year at SUHSD, but this year the district chose to try something new. Communications director with the district, Marcos Cabrera, said the decision to hold an “early enrollment period” was made in preparation for the new high school, Rancho San Juan. The new school will open its doors in Fall 2019.

“The boundaries are shifting and students that traditionally went to one high school in certain neighborhoods — now they’re gonna be attending another high school,” said Cabrera.

Cabrera said the district’s main mission behind building a new high school was to alleviate overcrowding in the current secondary schools. The overflowing number of students is something that parents have taken notice to. “I kind of like the idea of some place maybe a little smaller, because this high school is really huge. It is really crowded,” said parent of a Salinas High freshman, Cathlene Alvarez.

Cabrera noted that Rancho San Juan will not be filled right away. The new high school will only be accepting freshman and sophomores for the first year, which gives parents of current 8th and 9th graders a lot to consider. “It’s brand new. It’s nice. It wouldn’t be as crowded, so that would be kind of exciting,” said Alvarez.

Principal of Rancho San Juan, Anthony Hinton, said not having upperclassman the first year isn’t necessarily a negative. “We will have an opportunity to really dig in and build a community that’s really solid for the classes that come after it. It’ll definitely be a bit of a new experience for anyone that is used to the big high schools,” said Hinton.

Cabrera said the district plans to cap the number of students at the new school between 800 and 900 during the first year, but that this number will double as the new grades come in over the next two years. He said this will ultimately help alleviate some of the overcrowding at the current secondary schools. “It’s no secret — we do have a lot of students. A lot of growth. One way of addressing that is with this new high school,” said Cabrera.

The open enrollment period for SUHSD, including Rancho San Juan, will close on the 30th of November. The second, and final, open enrollment period will open for the month of February. Parents can pick up an application at any SUHSD school.