Windsor Unified School District

High School Pathways at WUSD

Many Paths, One School District

Windsor High School

A fierce jaguar mascot with the words 'Windsor Jaguars' in black and gold.

Windsor High School (WHS) is our comprehensive high school, featuring our unique core system (starting in 10th grade) allowing students to focus on their future goals and interests while enjoying a classic high school experience. Our cores cover everything from culinary and the trades to advanced placement and the medical field, STEM, the arts and media, and more. Our cores create small learning communities that bring students together and create lasting bonds within the larger WHS framework, preparing students for college, career and beyond.

The Hybrid Core allows students the flexibility to pursue educational experiences outside the high school setting, including college level courses at the local junior college, while still enjoying the experience of a comprehensive high school. Students in the Hybrid Core have a flexible schedule that allows them to balance their high school classes, college courses, and AVID sessions. This structure ensures that students can handle the dual enrollment process and provides opportunities for internships or extracurricular activities that enhance their overall high school experience.

Within the Hybrid Core, WHS will also be offering an Early College Access Program for WHS Students. This program will provide WHS students access to college-level coursework while still in high school, allowing them to earn both high school and college credits. AVID participation is required for freshmen and sophomores to ensure they develop the skills needed to succeed in college, and it is highly recommended that juniors and seniors continue building college readiness. By the time students graduate, they could have earned up to two years of college credits or an associate degree, significantly reducing the time and cost of completing a bachelor’s degree.

Big Picture Learning Windsor

Big Picture Learning Windsor (BPLW) offers two unique tracks for the student who needs something a little different in their learning. Both tracks offer interest-based learning, small group advisory, internships opportunities, a focus on “soft” skills, and a one student at a time approach.

BPLW Classic allows students to pursue learning based on their own interests and goals, including pursuing internships and apprenticeships with mentors in the community. BPLW Classic students are most likely to be interested in pursuing a career or attending a junior college following high school graduation, and the unique Big Picture methodology allows for students to build their learning around their passions. Students participate in Learning Through Internships (LTIs) or community-based projects, which allow them to gain hands-on experience in fields that align with their personal passions. The emphasis is on practical skill-building, entrepreneurship, vocational training, and other pathways suited for students who may not immediately pursue a four-year university.

BPLW Collegiate offers students the unique opportunity to enjoy dual-enrollment at Santa Rosa Junior College, with the goal of students completing their Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) requirements by the time they graduate high school. In most cases (depending on the major) this would allow students to step directly into two years of state college or university immediately to complete a bachelor's degree. Students are provided with one-on-one support throughout their four years, using the nationally recognized AVID tools, to learn how to manage their time, complete assignments, and succeed in higher level classes. BPLW Collegiate is for students who are passionate about getting a jump on their education.

A purple winged panther logo with the text 'Big Picture Learning Windsor'.

Sonoma County Virtual Academy

A silhouette of a person sitting under a tree with a laptop, surrounded by text that reads 'Sonoma County Virtual Academy ~ Where Learning Knows No Bounds'.

Sonoma County Virtual Academy (SoCoVA) is a completely virtual learning environment, with students completing their work online, with regular support from supervising teachers via video conferencing. Students can be fully A-G qualified at the end of their four years. SoCoVA is suited to students who need maximum flexibility to complete their work, but who are self-starters and strongly motivated to complete their work daily. It is well suited to students who are heavily involved in non-school activities such as sports or the arts, or students who struggle with the in-person learning environment. SoCoVA students can enjoy many of the same dual-enrollment opportunities as students at WHS and BPLW Collegiate, while still building a flexible schedule that suits their needs.