By Victoria Martinez

Graduating senior Rachel Staude knew in middle school that a traditional school setting was not one she would thrive in.

“I was getting overwhelmed with my schedule — trying to keep up with school homework, taking care of my horse, volunteering with the National Charity League, and playing in the SYV Jazz Band,” Rachel explained. “To keep up with my school work, I would have had to give up something. Olive Grove let me keep doing all of my passions, by making my schedule more flexible.”

Rachel transferred to Olive Grove Charter School in seventh grade. The school also has locations in Santa Barbara, Buellton, Lompoc, Orcutt-Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo and New Cuyama. It provides an alternative public educational choice for families of students in grades TK-12 who want a home-school or blended environment where parents are the primary deliverers of a student’s educational program.

During her freshman year, Rachel also began taking classes as a dual-enrollment student at Santa Barbara City College, where she has earned 47 college credits during her high school career. She is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and on the President’s Honor Roll at the college. With a weighted GPA of 4.48, Rachel has been named valedictorian of her high school graduating class.

“She is an excellent student,” said Bryan Peariso, the principal at Olive Grove’s Buellton location.

“Olive Grove requires you to be proactive and self-motivating, something that I have struggled with, but I believe the skills I have learned from it have better prepared me for college and my future career,” Rachel added.

Beyond her full school schedule, Rachel has been able to use the flexibility provided by Olive Grove’s program to carve time out for her passions of volunteering, playing music and riding horses.

Rachel has played the bass guitar since seventh grade, when she joined the SYV Jazz Band. This year, she also became a member of the Santa Ynez Valley High School Jazz Club, where she has practiced before school and played in a variety of community events around the valley.

Rachel has also been involved in English riding since the age of six. She has been caring for her own horse since 2012, riding on average four days a week and competing, fox hunting and trail riding on a consistent basis.

“I have been able to prioritize what is most important to me and making my schedule to show that,” Rachel said.

In the fall, Rachel will attend Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to study civil engineering. She intends to get involved in the school’s jazz band and equestrian team while continuing to volunteer in the community.