The Unconditional Education (UE) Heart program is excited to highlight our thriving partnership with Anthony Ochoa Middle School! Located in Hayward, CA, Ochoa is a vibrant community dedicated to fostering “High Expectations and High Support” for every student on campus. Seneca’s partnership with Ochoa is a powerful example of how integrated support leads to statewide excellence. We are thrilled to share that Ochoa was recently designated as 2026 California School to Watch. This prestigious honor is awarded to middle schools that serve as models for academic excellence, social equity, and responsiveness to the unique needs of young adolescents.

At the heart of our collaboration is the Counseling Enriched Classroom (CEC), which provides intensive social-emotional and academic support. A true highlight of the “Schools to Watch” evaluation process was seeing a student from our CEC program represent the school on the official student interview panel. Having a CEC student share their experience directly with state evaluators is a testament to the inclusive culture Ochoa has built – where every student is empowered to lead.

RELATED | Counseling Enriched Classroom at Grant Elementary

This school year, we continue to collaborate with the Ochoa leadership team to ensure our supports are deeply integrated into the school’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). By aligning our specialized CEC services with the school’s broader mission of equity, we are ensuring that students receive the individualized, intensive intervention they need to thrive within a high-performing school environment.

The Hayward Unified School District Board of Education recently recognized the Ochoa community for this incredible achievement. You can view the official presentation and data shared with the community here.