Encore High School for the Arts in Hesperia, California, officially closed its doors on January 9, 2025. After years of financial struggles and declining enrollment, the school is forcing its 500 students to seek education elsewhere. Many of these students are transferring to nearby schools like Sultana High School, as the Victor Valley region braces for an additional influx of students from Los Angeles moving to the area for the second semester.
Mark Nakata, Head Counselor at Sultana High School, addressed key concerns about the transition process for incoming students. Regarding how many students transferred, Nakata explained, “We didn’t know how many students to expect because the reports of student attendance ranged from 300-800 students. We received a handful of students, but nothing that Sultana wasn’t able to happily receive and accommodate.”
Sultana’s counseling team is working diligently to support the transition, Nakata says, “As with all students who transfer to Sultana, the Counseling team makes every effort to match students’ classes from previous schools to help ease the transition.” Nakata emphasized that all courses and grades from Encore would transfer seamlessly, noting, “Any course we receive a transfer grade is provided to the Sultana teacher and it is factored into their starting grade with SHS.”
The closure of Encore High School leaves many unanswered questions, but for the 500 students affected, nearby schools like Sultana High School are working to ensure a smooth transition. As the Victor Valley braces for more students, the focus remains on providing support and stability during this challenging time.
