The High School at Moorpark College (HSMC) is seeking to expand its classes and enroll more students who are looking for a high school experience with the perks of being on a college campus.

The high school, which is located in the trailers behind parking lot G-1, provides both high school and undergraduate college credits at no tuition costs to the student.

Principal and counselor of HSMC, Ruby Delery, is looking for mature and forward-thinking students who are the right fit for this school.

“We’re looking for students who are motivated and who want something different,” Delery said. “They knew that they’re on a path where they’re going to go to college, or they know that they want to be college and career ready, so we’re looking for students who want to do that.”

There are many perks of being a student at a high school located on a college campus, according to Delery. Taking college classes alongside high school classes is a good way to begin gathering credits toward a degree. The freedom that comes with picking college classes and deciding their own schedules is also a good way for students to prepare for the adult world. The high school-level classes also provide a hands-on learning experience and a head start for the future.

“Our students do a lot of project-based learning,” Delery said. “What we don’t have is a lot of fill-in-the-blank things. Students do a lot of writing, a lot of discussions, a lot of projects and so we try to go in-depth.”

Ramnik Riat, a senior at HSMC, enjoys the teaching style that the curriculum provides.

“I like that it’s not just you doing busy work in classes,” he said. “It’s all lecturing and you’re taking notes and I actually feel like I’m learning stuff instead of doing assignments that I could just do for homework.”

Moorpark College President Luis Sanchez said he would recommend it to any mature and self-directed student.

“Their students have a kind of unique opportunity to take high school and college courses at the same time,” Sanchez said. “They do really well, generally speaking, and if my own kids were looking for a high school to attend, I would definitely encourage them to attend High School at Moorpark.”

Though the school is small, it still manages to involve students in many fun events that would be expected from a public high school, such as prom and talent shows. Students also participate in fundraisers and charities, all of which they decide upon and organize themselves.

Delery emphasizes the community that is built between the students based on communication and independence.

“The first semester is about building community, changing habits of mind, teaching students how to think, and teaching students how to agree or disagree,” Delery said.

Riat said that the other students at the high school are very friendly and he enjoys the relationships he has with many of them.

“People were really open to me, so I made friends easily,” he said.

Delery has worked at HSMC for three years, which is currently made up of about 100 juniors and seniors, and looks forward to expanding the student body.

“I really think this is the place to be,” Delery said. “It really represents how high school should be.”

Interested students, parents or guardians can visit the Information Night on March 16 or call (805) 378-1444 for learn more about HSMC. The event will be held at the Academic Center building, room 110, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.