SAN DIEGO — An unknown high school in Rancho Bernardo is making some noise.
In this Zevely Zone, I visited the high school you've probably never heard of.
Well-known schools like RB High and Poway High roll off the tongue, but that's not the case for Poway to Palomar Middle College High School.
For 17-year-old Sami Smith. she says she just didn't fit in at her old high school. "I struggled socially with maintaining friendships and just finding a place at my old schools," said Sami.
So last year, she transferred to Poway to Palomar Middle College. "I made friends very quickly which was surprising for me," said Sami. On this campus, she takes both high school classes and college classes. "The college classes I take here also count for my high school diploma so I'm like double dipping my classes," said Sami.
Any Poway Unified School District high school junior or senior can attend this school. "We are like one big family honestly," said Taha Aatif. The high school junior was an A and B student until he attended a large high school. "It was stressful definitely, I was struggling with a lot of anxiety and some depression you know," said Taha who told us smaller class sizes and independence have him back on track to become a lawyer or doctor. "I really appreciate it, like truly from the bottom of my heart, I could not have done it without them," said Taha.
"It pulls on my heartstrings to see students who struggle," said teacher Janna Talbot. She was a teacher at RB High for 24 years and loved her time there. "But I've never felt the award so immediately as I do at this school and I think it's just from those students who needed more support," said Janna.
As for Sami, high school finally feels right. She showed us pictures of her happy life. "That's just me playing softball. This is me first week of school. This is me with my friends was at homecoming," said Sami. One of her new friends is IO Sieck. I asked IO if people get confused by what school she attends. "All of the time. All of the time, ha, ha," said IO.
Sami's experience has been so positive, she wants to make others feel just as welcome in the future. She wants to become a teacher. Now if could we just get the name of the school to roll off your tongue. "Poway to Palomar Middle College High School," laughed Janna. Some people just call the school PPMC. The school opened two years ago. For more information click here.