Results & Alumni Pathways
At Bright Star, we believe that every student belongs and is capable of succeeding in higher education with support and determination.
Our alumni are thriving along their higher education pathways. With support from Bright Star's Alumni Support & College Success program, 79% of Bright Star's class of 2020 began their second year of college, compared to 75% of students nationwide. The majority of our alumni are first-generation college-goers.
Higher Education Pathways
Bright Star's graduates find success in two- and four-year colleges and universities, and in alternate higher education pathways. Where our alumni are:
Four-Year Colleges & Universities
- American University
- Aquinas College
- ArtCenter College of Design
- Azusa Pacific University
- Boston College
- California Baptist University
- California Lutheran University
- California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
- California State University, Bakersfield
- California State University, Channel Islands
- California State University, Chico
- California State University, Dominguez Hills
- California State University, East Bay
- California State University, Fresno
- California State University, Fullerton
- California State University, Long Beach
- California State University, Los Angeles
- California State University, Northridge
- California State University, San Bernardino
- California State University, Stanislaus
- Champlain College
- Colby College
- Colorado College
- Dartmouth College
- Dickinson College
- Grand Canyon University
- Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Harvard University
- Haverford College
- Hobart & William Smith College
- Holy Names University
- Humboldt State University
- Kalamazoo College
- Kansas Wesleyan University
- Loyola Marymount University
- Macalester College
- Marquette University
- Middlebury College
- Mills College
- Mt. St. Mary's University
- New York University
- Northern Arizona University
- Northwestern University
- Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law
- Pepperdine University
- Ripon College
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Sacramento State University
- San Diego State University
- San Francisco State University
- San Jose State University
- Sonoma State University
- Stanford University
- Swarthmore College
- Texas A&M International University
- Temple University
- University of Arizona
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Davis
- University of California, Irvine
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of California, Merced
- University of California, Riverside
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of California, San Diego
- University of Chicago
- University of Maryland
- University of Massachusetts, Boston
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- University of Notre Dame
- University of San Francisco
- University of Southern California
- University of the Pacific
- Vanguard University
- Williams College
- Woodbury University
Community Colleges
- Antelope Valley College
- Berkeley Community College
- Cabrillo College
- Cerritos College
- College of Canyons
- Collin County Community College
- East Los Angeles College
- El Camino College
- Glendale Community College
- Grand Rapids Community College
- Irvine Valley College
- Los Angeles City College
- Los Angeles Harbor College
- Los Angeles Mission College
- Los Angeles Pierce College
- Los Angeles Southwest College
- Los Angeles Trade Technical College
- Los Angeles Valley College
- Lone Star Community College
- Long Beach City College
- Modesto Junior College
- Pasadena City College
- Riverside City College
- San Jose City College
- Santa Ana College
- Santa Monica College
- South Seattle Community College
- West Los Angeles College
Career Technical Education
- Concorde College
- Harbor Occupational Center
- Los Angeles Recording/Film School
- Musician's Institute
- North Valley Occupational Center
- North West College
- Paul Mitchell Academy
- Spartan College
- UEI College
- West Coast University
- Western Barber Institute
- Year Up Los Angeles
Alumni Story: Cindy Obregon
Valor Academy High School, Class of 2017
University of California, Riverside, Class of 2021
In June 2021, Cindy Obregon graduated from UC Riverside with a degree in political science and a concentration in international affairs.
As a member of the founding class of Valor Academy Middle School and Valor Academy High School, Cindy says she was well prepared for the hard work that college requires. Now, as she embarks on a career as a research assistant, she’ll continue to have Bright Star in her corner.
Determined to Succeed
Of her college experience, Cindy says, “A mindset I learned from [Bright Star] was grit -- do not give up."
"Sometimes college and life are not easy, but if you stay driven and focus on your goals, you can make it.”
"Together, we can make sure that financial obstacles and other challenges, like wondering if you really belong, dealing with micro-aggressions, or missing your family on the other side of the country, don't prevent first-generation college students from walking across that stage and earning their diploma."
- Lesly Mejia
Associate Scientist, Pfizer
Stella High Charter Academy, Class of 2016
Williams College, Class of 2020