Every West Sacramento graduate accepted to Sacramento City College with scholarship

Every graduating high school student in the Washington Unified School District is receiving a college acceptance letter and a scholarship this week, thanks to a first-of-its-kind program in West Sacramento.

The initiative, part of the city of West Sacramento’s Home Run program, guarantees admission to Sacramento City College for all graduates — regardless of whether they applied.

West Sacramento Mayor Christopher Cabaldon, who announced the program during a town hall meeting on Facebook Live, said that an automatic acceptance letter can be transformative for students who thought they’d be unable to attend or afford college.

“That moment can change your life,” Cabaldon said.

The Home Run program, launched in 2017, already provides graduates of River City and Washington Middle College high schools with two fee-free years at Sacramento City College. The program includes initiatives to set up children who complete high-quality preschool with a college savings account and provide other students with paid summer internships.

This year, graduates will receive another scholarship through Home Run: $200 to cover books, transportation and other expenses of life at SCC.

“We know that this can be a daunting time in a young adult’s life,” Superintendent Linda Luna said. “So we hope these measures make it a little easier for our students to achieve their goals.”

This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 5:31 PM.