West High ACT Prep Class Embarks on Exciting First Field Trip to St. Louis Community College

Recently, West High ACT prep class students embarked on an educational journey to St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley to tour the new Health Sciences Center. The first community college field trip was added to the 2025-2026 school year’s program to enhance the college research portion of the curriculum.  

“Our field trip to St. Louis Community College was fun and educational,” Camila Hernandez, a West High eleventh-grade student, shared. “We toured the Health Sciences Department, which had simulations for medical fields, including ambulance operations. The college representative also discussed scholarships, program costs, and opportunities for students.” 

“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Ty’Drecus Holmes, a West High eleventh-grade student, explained. “Not only was it fun, but it was nice to see how everything goes in a college interview.” 

The ACT prep class is a semester-long course that includes English, Math, Reading, and Science, helping students prepare for the ACT while expanding their knowledge.

“While the focus is on increasing ACT scores, the skills can be generalized to all of the tests that juniors take, like the WorkKeys and ASVAB,” English Language Arts educator and Writers Week Coordinator Dina Patterson detailed. Patterson added, “Additionally, test-taking skills will help in post-secondary settings. The military uses similar tests for rank advancement (raises), and many areas of our workforce utilize testing for certification and specialized roles.” 

West High ACT prep class students are discovering a wealth of career opportunities while diligently preparing for their college entrance exams. We celebrate the students’ aspirations and eagerly anticipate even more students joining this enriching voluntary ACT prep class.