Civic Learning Award: Pacifica High School

Pacifica High School 

 
County of: Orange
Civic Learning Award of: Excellence
Recognized for: Their long standing programs that prepare students for civic participation outside the classroom.

Civic Learning Description

Pacifica High School has a long history of developing students’ interest in civics. The Service Learning Project, now in its 12th year, requires students to apply their civic knowledge to different community organizations outside the classroom. Programs like the Mariner Mentors, now it its 6th year, trains upperclassmen to become leaders and mentor freshmen students in navigating high school, and preparing for digital literacy. 

Research-Based Civic Education Practices

This school demonstrates the following research-based best practices in civic education:

• Provide instruction in government, history, law and democracy, and avoid teaching only rote facts about dry procedures.
• Discuss current local, national and international issues and events in the classroom, particularly those that young people view as important to their lives.
• Offer extracurricular activities that provide opportunities for young people to get involved in their schools or communities.
• Encourage student participation in school governance.
• Encourage students’ participation in simulations of democratic process and procedures such as voting, trials, legislative deliberation, and diplomacy.

 For more information on research-based best practices, visit the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools website

Contact Information

Mr. Adam Wemmer
awemmer@ggusd.us
(714) 663-6515