Credits and good grades no longer suffice; At least 64 Mt.
Madonna seniors still need to pass the test
Gilroy – For some teens earning a diploma has as much to do with babies and foster families as it does with algebra, essays and literacy.
And Saul Cardoza, Maria Garcia, Janet Lopez, Janeth Palomera and Valerie Zamaripa fit neatly into those categories.
The Mt. Madonna High School seniors are on their way to earning degrees and beginning their real-world lives, but as they hurdle those multiple home-based barriers, yet another one stands in the way: the California High School Exit Exam.
Credits and good grades no longer suffice in California now that seniors graduating in June must pass the basic math and English exam to graduate. At least 64 Mt. Madonna seniors still need to pass.
While the five seniors await the results from the November test, each is enrolled in a CAHSEE intervention class. They’ll have one more chance to take the test in February. If they fail again they won’t be donning a cap and gown in June.
But Sergio Montenegro isn’t focusing on the “what ifs.” The Mt. Madonna High School principal refuses to bring that notion up to students.
Some of his students may not pass the CAHSEE but if he lays out the options, they might just latch on. Instead, Montenegro has opened up his school to the press, giving the community a sneak preview of students roaming the Hirasaki Court campus.
Mt. Madonna students are often brushed aside, forgotten, when locals speak of education in Gilroy, said Montenegro. And, as these five students reveal their personal lives, the public may realize that the CAHSEE “is deeper and wider than pass/no pass,” he said.
For Lopez and Zamaripa, passing the test is just one more responsibility of days filled with daycare, baby’s doctor’s appointments, homework and studying. The two teens drop their babies off at the Mt. Madonna daycare every morning before class.
Zamaripa splits her time between two jobs at the Gap and The Children’s Place at the Gilroy Premium Outlets, and caring for her 3-month-old and school.
Lopez fell behind on her studies when she ran away from home at 15 and spent three years in Las Vegas with her boyfriend. Cardoza has bounced in and out of group homes and foster families.
He spent a month in juvenile hall for stealing his grandfather’s shotgun. Garcia has attended an array of high schools because she couldn’t manage to show up. And English is Palomera’s second language.
“Some of these kids are not going to pass the CAHSEE,” said Marina Campos, referring to all Mt. Madonna students who haven’t passed the test. She teaches CAHSEE intervention classes and heads the Mt. Madonna journalism program.
Campos said many students are working far below grade level and they may never acquire the skills to pass the exit exam.She’s particularly concerned about special education students.
The teens are worried about not passing too, so Campos counsels them, letting them know there are other options, such as vocational education programs.
“Their life doesn’t stop here because they didn’t pass the CAHSEE,” she said.
Valerie Zamaripa
Age: 17
Born: Gilroy
Motivation: Didn’t understand importance before so she just filled in answers. “This time I really tried my best. I slept the whole night before.”
Confidence Level: “For sure I passed the English. I don’t do too well on math but I tried my best.”
School history: Brownell Middle School; Bridge Academy High School in San Jose; transferred to Mt. Madonna.
Children: Three-month-old girl, Alynna Hernandez
Hurdles: When she found out she was pregnant, was distraught. “I didn’t know what
to do. I was debating what’s gonna be the good and
the bad.”
Supportive home: She and her boyfriend live with her parents. He’s very supportive and watches the baby while Zamaripa is working or studying. “If I didn’t have him, I don’t know where I’d be.” Her parents also help her out.
Juggling studying and daycare: Works at The Children’s Place and Gap outlets.
Goals: Juvenile lawyer.
Janeth Palomera
Age: 17
Born: Jalisco, Mexico
Motivation: The CAHSEE intervention class helps and Mt. Madonna staff gives more guidance than other schools she’s attended. “In this school they help you more.” She wants to pass and graduate.
Confidence Level: Thinks she will have to take it again.
High school history: Attended El Portal Charter School. Transferred to Mt. Madonna because her boyfriend was going to school there at the time.
Hurdles: Moved to the U.S. when she was 11 and lives in a Spanish-speaking household. The CAHSEE English section, particularly the essay portion, was difficult. “I don’t really know how to organize.”
Support at home: Parents don’t know English well but her boyfriend helps her study for exit exam.
CAHSEE requirement: It’s
difficult knowing that her boyfriend earned his
degree without having to
pass the exam. “That’s hard but my boyfriend has helped me a lot.”
Maria Garcia
Age: 17
Born: Oxnard
Motivation: “That’s the only way I can get out of high school. That’s why it’s important.”
Confidence Level: “I think I’m gonna pass it. The math side.”
Hurdles: “I think it’s just the test. It’s the test that’s holding me back.” Parents are divorced. Biological dad’s out of the picture. Close to mom and stepfather. Hasn’t told her parents about the CAHSEE.
School history: Moved to Gilroy at 6. Attended GHS, C.O.R.E High School in Los Banos (a continuation school) and transferred to Mt. Madonna last year.
Attitude adjustment: She wasn’t going to class because she hated school before coming to Mt. Madonna. “I just didn’t like school. I didn’t like having to go to school all the time. I was just lazy about it. At Mt. Madonna the teacher’s just help you a lot and you can talk to them … Now I pay attention.”
Goals: Attend a culinary school in San Francisco and become wedding planner.
Saul Cardoza
Age: 18
Born: San Jose
Confidence Level: “I think I passed it. I’m just waiting for the results.”
What changed: The CAHSEE intervention class he’s taking at Mt. Madonna has helped.
Hurdles: Moved to Gilroy summer 2004 after spending a month in juvenile hall. Cardoza stole a shotgun from his grandfather’s house and was going to sell it to buy some new band equipment. Now lives with foster family. Has bounced around from foster and group homes after social services yanked him from his mother’s home due to drug abuse and her abusive boyfriend.
High school history: Attended Overfelt High School in San Jose, then Gilroy High School. Had to transfer to Mt. Madonna from GHS this year because he was behind and failing.
Real world approach: Now that he’s a senior his attitude about school has changed. “Now I’m more focused to graduate.”
Goal: Study marine biology
Janet Lopez
Age: 18
Born: Santa Maria
Motivation: Wants to earn degree because most jobs require a diploma and she wants to land a job so she can move into her own place.
Confidence Level: “I don’t have no idea. I’m not sure.”
Children: Ivan Pablo, 1.
Hurdles: Ran away from home with her ex-boyfriend to Las Vegas when she was 15. Lost contact with parents for about a month. Moved back to Gilroy in February. Baby’s father still lives in Las Vegas. Has language issues because her boyfriend only speaks Spanish so she rarely spoke English for three years. Fell behind on her studies while in Las Vegas.
High school history: Attended adult education classes in Las Vegas. Admitted to Mt. Madonna in May.
Leaving Las Vegas: “I wanted to start all over again. Go to school.”
Goals: Attend Gavilan College and study to become interior designer.
