Mazama High among schools offering enrichment, credit recovery courses
July 2, 2025 / Mazama High School junior Nehemiah Rios spent the first three weeks of his summer vacation studying the impact of World War II in the Klamath Basin. He was enrolled in one of four summer classes offered at the school for credit recovery or academic enrichment.
Rios and his classmates explored the history and social dynamics of World War II, with a focus on its local effects. As part of the course, students read We Are Not Free by Traci Chee, a novel about Japanese-American internment camps in Tulelake. Field trips included visits to the internment camp buildings at Tule Lake National Monument, the Mitchell Monument (site of a World War II balloon bomb), the Klamath County Museum, and Kingsley Field.
Mazama is one of five high schools in the Klamath County School District offering summer enrichment and credit recovery courses this year. Several elementary schools are also providing summer classes to help students retain and improve academic skills. The programming is funded through grants from the Oregon Department of Education. While elementary students will continue classes through mid-July, high school programs conclude this week.
Sergio Cisneros, vice principal at Mazama, said the school used state testing data to identify key areas where students needed support.
“We looked at the standards where students needed improvement and designed our summer courses to address those gaps,” he said. “We want to take care of our students and see measurable growth.”
This summer’s course offerings emphasized English language arts skills—such as literacy, vocabulary, writing, and reading comprehension—as well as social studies, applied fine arts, health and physical education, and science. Mazama saw nearly a 10-point improvement in state test scores in English, science, and math this year. However, educators say there's still room for progress.
“We are being intentional,” Cisneros added. “Summer school is a valuable intervention, and each year we adjust our offerings based on student needs. State test scores help us evaluate whether our strategies are working.”
On Tuesday, Rios and his classmates were finishing digital scrapbooks documenting major historical events and what they learned about the war. The final assignment required students to present their scrapbooks to the class.
“The Japanese-American internment camps changed innocent people’s lives,” Rios said, reflecting on what he has learned and the writings he saw in the buildings during the field trip. “This is really engaging, and I’m learning new things while staying on track. The teachers are patient—they lift you up and help you succeed.”
Another Mazama class, ELA and Survey of Art: Analyzing Across the Universe through 1960s Art and Protest Culture, focused on literary and historical analysis of the 1960s protest movements. Students created original artwork and used screen printing to produce posters. The final project included a gallery showcase and a literary analysis essay.
In a course that combined science and applied arts, students studied environmental conservation and biology through the lens of plant life cycles and companion planting. They also built planter boxes using sustainable and recycled materials. On Tuesday, students were planting flowers and vegetables in their boxes to take home.
Students needing health and physical education credits took Exploring Lifelong Wellness, which combined physical activities with reading and writing assignments about topics such as nutrition, stress management, and goal setting. Field trips included hikes at Crater Lake National Park, the Lava Beds, and Moore Park, along with outdoor activities such as swimming, fitness games, bowling, and teamwork exercises.
Each summer course was staffed by two certified teachers. About 115 students enrolled and attended classes for seven hours a day, five days a week, over a three-week period.
