The Academic Talent Search Program is a federally funded program that works with 900 students enrolled in four intermediate schools and four comprehensive high schools in the Santa Ana Unified School District.  In order to be eligible, a student must come from a family that falls below the low-income guidelines adopted by the Department of Education and have parents, neither of whom graduated from a four-year university.

The goal of the program is to prepare students so that they will be eligible for the post-secondary institutions of their choice upon graduating from high school.  Students are provided individual and group counseling services that help them learn about the career decision-making process, learn to set goals, learn study techniques, and work on building their self-esteem.  In addition, students are taken on a variety of college and cultural field trips.  Guest speakers discuss their careers and provide motivation and encouragement.  Students and parents sign an Individual Education Plan annually that charts the students’ progress in meeting the University of California A-G requirements.  Fee waivers for tests and college applications are also provided.