PSUSD bringing New Middle College High School to valley

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. (KESQ)- Palm Springs Unified and College of the Desert is announcing the first Middle College High School in the valley launching in the 2027-28 school year.

This is the first middle college high school in the Coachella Valley, expanding local access to dual-enrollment opportunities and potentially helping students save time and money on college while preparing for future.

Students will be able to earn both high school and college credits at the same time with classes being held at the new College of the Desert Palm Springs campus. With the goal to give students a head start on college while completing high school.

The school’s principal will be Kim Ballard, who was appointed at Tuesdays PSUSD Board meeting.

Marcus Funchess, the Superintendent at Palm Springs Unified School District said "Our scholars are not only enrolled in our high school and attend school on a daily basis on our campus, but they will have an opportunity to walk right next door to College of the desert campus."

The school will be right next to the College of the Deserts new Palm Springs campus, this makes it easy for students to move between high school and college classes daily.

District leaders are not sure exactly who will be able to attend and how they select students, but they say "we want to start with our ninth grade scholars, so that they can begin to get prepared for college and career with this opportunity," said Funchess.

Kim Ballard, the Principal of Middle College High School and Career Innovation said "This is an opportunity for them to learn, grow, discover themselves, get some independence, but also just really become themselves."

Val Martinez Garcia, serving as Superintendent/President of College of the Desert said, "There's only a few across the state of California that have this partnership where the high school holds the middle college and the college actually supports the high school's efforts."

The district says more information about the application process will be released as plans are finalized.