Principal's Message

Welcome to Rancho Pico!  

I am honored to be Rancho Pico’s principal and excited about the 2023-2024 school year! At Rancho Pico Jr. High School, we believe in providing a nurturing, caring, and inclusive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our dedicated faculty and staff are committed to fostering a love for learning and guiding our students through their crucial years of adolescence.

We are proud of our diverse student body and celebrate each individual's unique strengths and talents in our school community. We strive to create a safe, respectful atmosphere promoting collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. By fostering these skills, we empower our students to become responsible global citizens and lifelong learners, “Thinking Ahead” and preparing to be Opportunity Ready for high school and beyond.

Rancho Pico’s staff embraces the middle school philosophy and focuses on teaching the whole child. We address our students' cognitive, social, emotional, intellectual, and physical aspects. Our teams allow students to have a sense of belonging and to feel a part of something smaller while still having access to our comprehensive campus.

Rancho Pico’s expectations are high for student behavior and academic success. We value mutual respect, hard work, kindness, equity, and teamwork. We cultivate a positive relationship-driven school culture through interdisciplinary teaming, Capturing Kids Hearts curriculum, and PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports). We empower students to have the courage to do the right thing.

Communication and collaboration between school and home are crucial to the success of our students. We encourage parents and guardians to actively engage in their child's education by attending school events, parent forums and joining our parent-teacher association, PAC. We can provide the support and guidance necessary for our student's growth and achievement.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to partnering with you to provide the best possible educational experience for your child. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. Together, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our students.

Warm regards,

Catherine Nicholas, Ed.D.