Overview
College Advantage at West Valley College is a joint program with Campbell Union High School District and Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District that offers an opportunity for 12th grade students seeking a more challenging and rigorous academic pathway. College Advantage students have the maturity and academic skills to be successful in taking all college level classes for their senior year.
The program offers students a rigorous, academically focused environment. The program is housed entirely on the West Valley College campus. With a wide selection of clubs and athletic teams, students are actively involved in the extracurricular life at the college. Students can also participate in extracurricular activities at their home high school. They receive a diploma from their home high school and participate in their home school graduation ceremonies.
Under the guidance of their high school College Advantage counselor, along with a West Valley College counselor, students select classes that meet high school graduation requirements while having access to a wider selection of electives. These classes could be credited towards their college degree and transferred to UC, CSU or private schools.
College Advantage is a Dual Enrollment program for high school students residing in the Campbell Union High School District or Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District. Tuition and fees for this program are free.
For more information about applying to the College Advantage program, please visit your respective high school district website:
2025-2026 Application Dates and Deadlines
| Event | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Advantage Mandatory Information Session | Wednesday, February 12, 2025 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Zoom |
| Application Opens | Wednesday, February 12, 2025 | 7:30 PM | |
| Application Closes | Tuesday, March 4, 2025 | 5:00 PM |
For a full, detailed application timeline, please go to your High School District website:
Contacts
| Name | Position | Phone Number | Email Address | Office | Area of Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Jones | Counselor | (408) 741-2009 Ext. 2608 |
[email protected] | SSC 201Y | College Support & Requirements |
| Erin Reyes | High School Counselor (CUHSD) | (408) 371-0960 Ext. 2073 |
[email protected] | SSC 201Y or Campbell Union High School District Office | HS Graduation Requirements |
| Mary Carol Bernal | High School Counselor (CUHSD) | (408) 402-6373 | [email protected] | LG/SHS District Office | HS Graduation Requirements |
| Mark Manrose | Director School of Continuing Education | (408) 741-2469 | mark.manroseFREEWEST_VALLEY | FOX 206 | Middle College Administrator |
| Emily Hanson | Director of Curriculum & Instruction, CUHSD | (408) 371-0960 | [email protected] | Campbell Union High School District Office | Middle College Administrator |
High School students with disabilities who are enrolled in college courses may register with the West Valley College Disability and Educational Support Program (DESP) to request reasonable accommodations for their college course by following the steps below. If college courses are offered at locations other than the main campus, accommodations may be arranged directly with the instructor. DESP counselors will discuss options with students during their intake meeting.
Steps
- Complete DESP online registration application.
- Upload documentation of disability, eg IEP, 504, physician’s verification.
- Make an appointment with a DESP counselor to complete program registration via despFREEWEST_VALLEY or (408) 741-2010.
- Following registration with DESP, request approved accommodations for your course at DESP Online Services.
- If there is an agreement between the student and instructor to take exams in the DESP Test Center, the student will need to schedule the test on DESP Online Services. Certain accommodations such as alternative testing may require that the student log on to DESP Online Services to schedule quizzes and tests.
- This is done every semester in which students are enrolled in West Valley College courses.
- Instructors are then notified of their students’ approved accommodations.