New School Community Day High School

Our school's story began in 1994 with a clear vision: to provide a fresh start and a supportive learning environment for students in our community. Don Eggleston, our founder and former principal, teamed up with Albino Garcia to establish New School Community Day School at the La Manzana Community Resources Center on Main Street in Watsonville.

Don and Albino recognized that some students needed a different kind of support to thrive academically. They created New School to offer a "second chance" for education in a setting specifically designed to meet the unique needs of young people who might have struggled in larger, more traditional schools. Their goal was to help students regain credits, understand the challenges they faced, and ultimately empower them to succeed. Don Eggleston, in particular, believed that "students aren't supposed to sit still in classrooms for six hours a day," and advocated for engaging, active learning. Albino Garcia, with a background in working with youth and a commitment to community development, was instrumental in shaping this alternative educational approach.

In 2007, our school moved to its current, dedicated location at 165 Harkins Slough Road, behind Landmark Elementary. This move allowed us to further grow and develop our unique programs.

Over the past two years, we've continued to build upon the innovative spirit of our founders. We've transformed our curriculum to a dynamic Project-Based Learning (PBL) environment. This means our students are actively involved in hands-on projects, collaborating, and solving real-world challenges, rather than just learning from textbooks.

This year, we're thrilled to enhance this with a brand-new digital music lab. This exciting addition offers our students a creative outlet to explore music production, learn technical skills, and express themselves through sound.

We've also introduced a CTE (Career Technical Education) Entrepreneurship pathway. This program provides practical skills and a forward-thinking mindset, teaching students how to develop innovative ideas and understand the foundations of creating their own ventures.

Our core mission at New School remains consistent with the vision of our founders: to empower every student with the tools to think creatively and confidently forge their own unique path, no matter what passion they choose to pursue. We strive to be a supportive "family" where everyone is accepted, held to high expectations, and encouraged to grow into the person they want to be.