Our Philosophy

At Dual School, we believe a great academic program should do more than help students graduate - it should help them excel, stand out, and move forward with purpose. That's why we've reimagined high school as a launchpad: blending rigorous college coursework with personalized support, modern tools, and meaningful flexibility. Our students don't just keep up - they have the option to leap ahead.

The 3 + 1 Model

3 Years of High School + 1 Year of Community College

At Dual School, the core curriculum is carefully designed to be a blend of high school and college classes every semester. To preserve the UC guarantee, in Year 3, students technically graduate from high school. In Year 4, students are full-time college students and finish their AA degree - securing guaranteed admission to the UC system through California's Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).

What is TAG?

TAG stands for Transfer Admission Guarantee - and it's one of California's best-kept secrets.

Through the TAG program, students who complete an AA degree and meet specific course and GPA requirements are guaranteed admission to their choice of one of six University of California campuses: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz.

At Dual School, every student is expected to meet the exact TAG requirements for their chosen major and campus - turning a once-uncertain college application process into a secure, streamlined pathway.

TAG provides a secure foundation, but not a ceiling. Students can still apply to any out of state or private college while knowing they have guaranteed admission to a strong UC campus if needed.

Two Chances at College Admissions

At Dual School, students get something rare - two chances to get in to their dream college.

• Year 3 → First, students apply to colleges as high school seniors in the fall of Year 3. If they get in, they can skip the fourth year of Dual School and go straight to the college of their dreams. They would be considered a "Freshman Applicant" so while transferability of the college courses taken to date would be up to the transferee university, we help provide the credentialling and support to obtain maximum transferability.
• Year 4 → Then, they apply again in the fall of Year 4, as transfer students after Year 4, with an AA degree in hand and guaranteed UC admission through TAG as their safety net.

With a top 50 university already guaranteed as the "safety school," we encourage every student to aim high in both rounds, and we provide admissions guidance and application support to get the best results possible in every individualized case.

Standing Out and Differentiating Yourself

At Dual School, we do more than help students meet requirements - we help them stand out.

We build in the time, flexibility, and support for students to differentiate themselves through meaningful, real-world experiences - tailored to their goals. Dual School is designed to help students identify their unique strengths, craft a powerful narrative, and develop a college-ready portfolio that reflects who they really are.

College admissions are about more than checking boxes - they're about showing who you are. We give students the tools and time to do exactly that.

Embracing Technology in Education

Most schools fear emerging tech. We teach students to master it.

At Dual School, we integrate technology not as a shortcut - but as a catalyst for deeper learning, independence, and ability. From AI tutors to planning tools, students learn to use modern tools with wisdom and purpose.

How We Use Technology

• AI Learning Experiences → To prompt deeper thinking - not just give answers.
• Remote-First Model → For flexible, high-quality learning
• Innovative Planning Tools → For goal setting, pathway planning, course tracking, and reflection.

Learn More About Academic Life at Dual School