Bright Star Student Earns High School Diploma and Two Associates Degrees in Same Week, Featured in La Opinión

Elias Cruz’s remarkable journey to earn his high school diploma and two associates degrees in the same week is a testament to his dedication, determination, and the robust support of the Bright Star Schools community.

Recently featured in La Opinión, Elias graduated from Stella High Charter Academy this June. As a student, he also took advantage of Stella High’s free dual enrollment program with Los Angeles Southwest College. He tackled high school coursework and college coursework simultaneously, and with the support of Stella High’s staff, earned two associate degrees the same week as his high school diploma.

This fall, Elias will attend UCLA and become the first in his family to attend college. His story is a beacon of hope, proving that with hard work and community support, any dream is within reach.

Read the full story on La Opinión

At Bright Star Schools, we support all of our students to access and succeed in higher education.

Our goal is for 100% of our graduates to have a higher education plan, and we provide up to six years of free, individualized higher education support for all of our alumni through the Alumni Support and College Success program.

Bright Star students have access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses to earn college credit during high school, and our high schools – Stella High Charter Academy, Rise Kohyang High School, and Valor Academy High School – all have dual-enrollment programs with local colleges so our students can earn college credit and even associate’s degrees.

Notably, all of Bright Star’s graduates (100%) are eligible for admissions to Cal State and UC schools, compared to just 51% of students statewide.