High School and College Readiness
Palms helps students prepare not just for completion of middle school but for what comes next: high school and college. The counselors and Magnet Coordinator provide information for High School Readiness. The College and Career Readiness Coach provides information for College Readiness.
Click or tap the menu items at the right to explore the events and information provided at Palms.
Summer 2025 for Current 8th Graders
Current 8th graders should speak to 8th grade counselor Ms. Gauthier if they are interested in any of these programs:
You can learn more by attending this parent meeting:
Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Topic: Summer School Enrollment to Get Ready for High School
Zoom link
Download flyer
1. LAUSD's Rising Freshman Success summer program
This program takes place on a high school campus.
2. Community College District classes
Available courses include:
- Principles of Healful Living
- Spanish 1
- American Sign Language 1
- African American in the History of the U.S. 1
- Mexican-American in the History of the U.S. 1
- Mexican-American in the History of the U.S. 2
- College 101: Navigating Your Path Through College to Career
College 101 lets students explore career pathways, identify their college readiness strengths and needs, and expand their personal toolkit for academic success.
Students may earn both high school and college credits.
3. International Newcomer Enrichment Program
This summer program is for foreign-born students who have enrolled in U.S. schools within the last 3 years. The program offers up to ten elective credits toward college A-G requirements.
Students will receive academic language development support, wraparound services, and participate in weekly enrichment field trips. The program focuses on enhancing English language skills through listening, speaking, reading, and writing while incorporating guest and student speaker panels, college and career readiness activities, and strategies to support success in A-G courses.
Hamilton High School Open House
Thursday, March 20, 2025, 5:00pm to 7:00pm.
Where to get High School Information
See: High School Facts and High School Information Night.
In some past years, the Palms-Rancho Park Library held a Middle and High School Fair, with over 30 middle and high schools represented, including private, public, charter, magnet, and independent schools.
ACT Explore Test and PSAT
8th grade students are encouraged to take the ACT EXPLORE Test. LAUSD provides this opportunity to all 8th and 9th graders to help them as they start thinking about future educational and career opportunities. The test is administered at Palms. For details, contact your counselor.
Interested students can also take the PSAT in October.
See also: Testing Summary
Determined To Succeed
Determined to Succeed is a program for 8th grade students from low-income families who will be attending Hamilton High School in the Fall.
The 3 or 4-week summer program provides each student with an advisor, a health and wellness director, a testing specialist, a college counselor, school supplies, tutoring, a quiet place to study Monday to Saturday, and even food.
Palms has been associated with the program for many years.
Palms Graduates Attend Dozens of Top Universities and Colleges
Students who get their middle school education at Palms move on to high school, and many then go to highly ranked universities and colleges. Former Palms students are found to be attending 40% to 50% of the top-ranked universities in each category in the U.S. News and World Report rankings for 2017.
PDFs