• Embrace and celebrate the diversity and strengths of Harbor High, all of its students, its faculty and our Newport Mesa community
• Empower every child as an individual, as a student, as a graduate and as a member of our community
• Equip Harbor High and its faculty with the funding, resources and programs needed to maximize achievement in students of all abilities

Supporting Our Diversity and Need
Our Newport Mesa school community is a surprisingly diverse blend of Newport Beach and Costa Mesa. Harbor High students come from a wide range of socioeconomic levels and from many ethnic backgrounds. Over 30% of Harbor’s students represent racial minorities, with Latinos constituting the largest minority group at 23%. Sadly, 19% of Harbor’s population live at or below the poverty level and qualify for the federal free lunch program.

Harbor High has some of the highest achieving students in Orange County as well as some of the neediest. The Federal No Child Left Behind initiative mandates academic progress for all students, but provides very limited funding to NHHS to support its needy and at-risk students and their diverse range of academic needs. The Foundation is committed to recognizing the diversity of our school and community, maximizing its strengths and supporting its needs.

Our Students, Our Community
The Newport Mesa community and Harbor High are a microcosm of southern California, its diversity and its social and economic challenges. Research has shown a connection between high school graduation rate and quality of community life. Graduates become contributing members of our community. The Foundation is committed to achieving a 100% graduation rate by supporting its struggling students with programs such as AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination.)

AVID is a nationally recognized program that targets talented but underperforming students who may lack resources or the parental history of academic success and provides them with the study skills and special tutoring necessary to succeed academically. AVID teachers shepherd their students through their time at Harbor, acting as a family-like support system. Many AVID students are first generation American and represent a first family member to graduate high school. AVID students must sign an academic honor contract that dictates strict academic guidelines, active extracurricular involvement and community service dedication. AVID graduates frequently earn full four-year scholarships to major universities.

Now in its sixth year, Harbor’s AVID program is the largest in Orange County. It will assist nearly 180 students this year, with a growing record of success. The average GPA of AVID students has risen to 3.0, with increases in number of AP tests taken, ASB involvement and college admissions.