Decision To Close The Charter School Comes After Years Of Declining Enrollment And Financial Struggles
Hesperia, California (Our Hesperia) – Encore High School in Hesperia to Close Doors on January 9, 2025. In a shocking announcement, Encore Junior and Senior High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Hesperia, California, will permanently cease operations on January 9, 2025.
The sudden closure has left parents and students devastated, scrambling to find alternative educational options mid-school year.
Reasons for Closure
The decision to close the charter school comes after years of declining enrollment and financial struggles. Encore’s Board of Directors cited several factors contributing to the closure:
• Enrollment dropped from a peak of 1,288 students in the 2015-16 academic year to just 477 currently.
• Decreased funding due to lower enrollment.
• High operational costs, particularly for arts programs and facilities designed for a much larger student body.
• Unsuccessful attempts to increase enrollment and improve academic performance.
Impact on Students and Families
The abrupt closure has created significant challenges for the Encore community:
• Students must quickly find new schools to continue their education.
• Seniors are particularly affected, as they need to secure remaining credits for graduation.
• Families of students with special needs must ensure proper transfer of IEPs or Section 504 Plans to new schools.
Next Steps for Affected Families
Encore’s administration has outlined several steps to assist with the transition:
- Staff will be available to provide copies of student transcripts and records through January 9, 2025.
- The school will maintain original records until January 31, 2025, after which they will be transferred to the Hesperia Unified School District or the student’s district of residence.
- A Student Transfer Enrollment Informational event is planned for early next week to help families explore their options.
Community Response
The news has been met with distress from the Encore community. Many parents and students attended a rally outside the school, expressing their disappointment and concern about the future.
As the January 9 closure date approaches, local educational institutions, including Excelsior Charter Schools, have stepped up to assist Encore students in finding new academic homes.
The coming days will be crucial for affected families as they navigate this unexpected educational transition.
Hesperia Unified School District posted the following:
HUSD recently learned of the unfortunate closure of Encore Middle/High School. Our staff is eager to assist any Encore families who live within the district boundaries and wish to attend an HUSD school to make this untimely transition as seamless as possible. For more information, we ask parents and students to go to Hesperiausd.org/o/husd/page/enrollment. If parents need help determining which HUSD school services their home address, please contact the HUSD Student Services Department at (760)244-4411 ext. 7233. Current High School seniors wishing to enroll are encouraged to meet with their school site’s counseling office as soon as possible and bring their Encore transcripts. Our middle and high schools have strong music, theater and arts programs.
Families may also go directly to the schools listed below for more information:
Middle Schools:
Cedar Middle School
13565 Cedar St, Hesperia, CA 92344
(760) 244-6093
www.cedarmiddle.org
Hesperia Junior High School
10275 Cypress Ave, Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 244-9386
www.hesperiajrhigh.org
Ranchero Middle School
17607 Ranchero Rd, Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 948-0175
www.rancheromiddle.org
High Schools:
Hesperia High School
9898 Maple Ave, Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 244-9898
hwww.scorpioncountry.com
Oak Hills High School
7625 Cataba Rd, Oak Hills, CA 92344
(760) 244-2283
www.oakhillsbulldogs.com
Sultana High School
17311 Sultana St, Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 947-6777
www.sultanahighschool.com
Alternative Schools:
Canyon Ridge High School
12850 Muscatel St, Hesperia, CA 92344
(760) 244-6530
www.canyonridgehs.org
Mojave High School
16633 Lemon St, Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 948-3999
www.mojavehigh.org
Shadow Ridge Independent Study School
15776 Main Street Ste #5 Hesperia, CA 92345
(760) 949-8267
www.shadowridgehs.org
