Lompoc Unified School District (LUSD) has been commended as one of five districts across the nation with the largest number of National Education Equity Lab (Ed Equity Lab) Honor Society Scholars recognized in spring 2024.

The scholars, who come from 51 school districts across 24 states, performed in the top 20% of all the students who take Ed Equity Lab courses.

Of the 900 total Ed Equity Lab Honor Society Scholars recognized, 21 were from Lompoc High School (LHS), making LUSD one of the top five districts with the largest group of scholars, behind large urban districts like New York City Department of Education and Los Angeles Unified School District.

LUSD congratulates the following spring 2024 LHS Ed Equity Lab Honor Society Scholars:

Citlaly Leon Sanchez; Mauri Islas Zambrano; Clara Ainsworth (two courses); Emily Castillo; Emmet Anderson (two courses); Halee Sager; Isabelle Morales; Josue Robles; Kellon Flaherty; Keyana Royster; Landon Gaspar; Maya Pacheco Caudillo; Michael Polk; Myra Tabin; Nathaly Mendoza-Alvarez; Nikao Taylor; Nomar Nunez; Sebastian Bravo; and Sophia Rivera.

“This is a great accomplishment for our district,” said LUSD Superintendent Clara Finneran. “Our vision is for every student to graduate from high school ready to meet the challenges of post-secondary education and the demands of a successful career.

“This is one great example of the work all of our schools are doing to promote college and career readiness for every student. I am so proud of the Lompoc High School team for bringing this innovative program to our students.”

Since 2022-23, students at LHS have participated in Ed Equity Lab courses. They have an opportunity to take college courses from Cornell University, Howard University, Morehouse University, and Arizona State University.

Course offerings include: College Algebra, Statistical Foundation, Climate Change and You: The Engineer, Environmental Science: Earthquakes, Poetry in America: The City from Whitman to Hip Hop, and Poetry in America: Foundations of American Literature & Culture.

LHS Principal Celeste Pico describes the program as a “game-changer” for the 152 students who have completed these courses to date.

“The Ed Equity Lab is part of our larger strategy to increase early access to colleges and universities through concurrent enrollment,” she said. “We also have thriving partnerships with Allan Hancock College and Taft College.

“Preparing students for college has never been more competitive, and these concurrent enrollment programs make a huge difference for college preparation and admissions.”

Students enrolled in the Ed Equity Lab programs graduate from LHS with anywhere from one semester to two years of college credits. Some even graduate with associates degrees.

As part of the graduation ceremony, LHS honors all students with 24 or more college credits.

“As someone who has taken Hancock classes in the past, I can appreciate the high level content that was offered in my Ed Equity Lab courses,” said Lompoc High senior Clara Ainsworth.

“The hybrid nature of the classes gave me insight into the independent responsibility one holds as a college student, as well as the quality of lecture one is expected to analyze and understand,” she said.

“I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to partake in an elite university level course, and I came away from that experience with a foundation of confidence that I hope every student has the opportunity to obtain. Anyone who works hard in these classes and communicates with their TA can absolutely be successful.”

The nonprofit National Education Equity Lab partners with top colleges and universities to deliver and support college credit-bearing courses in teacher-led, Title I high school classrooms across the country at no cost to students.

Participating students can take rigorous college courses from top professors, with weekly live discussions led by university teaching fellows, co-taught by teachers at their high schools.

Scholars earn widely transferable college credits and a transcript from the offering institution upon successful completion.