Out of 116 California community colleges, West Valley rose to the top—ranked #1 among 11 finalists and named the 2025 Pathway Champion of Placement by the Campaign for College Opportunity for Campuswide Success in Math. This honor reflects the college’s commitment to equity, collaboration, and student success that makes math both a place of community and excellence for our Vikings.
This statewide recognition celebrates colleges that have transformed placement and instruction to expand access to transfer-level courses and close equity gaps. At West Valley, that transformation was accomplished by ending outdated remedial policies and cultivated by a culture of care, where faculty and staff focus on humanizing learning and fostering belonging.
In the 2023–24 academic year, 81% of West Valley students succeeded in transfer-level math, 19 percentage points higher than the statewide rate.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a Pathway Champion—a reflection of West Valley College’s unwavering commitment to equity, innovation, and student achievement. This distinction honors the collective work of our faculty, classified professionals, and administrators who have reimagined placement and instruction to ensure every student, no matter their background or story, has the opportunity to succeed. Math success at West Valley is more than a metric; it is a testament to what is possible when we lead with access, belonging, and belief in our students’ potential.”
— Dr. Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, President, West Valley College
Through innovative teaching and an unwavering belief in every student’s potential, West Valley continues to make math a place of confidence, connection, and success for all Vikings.
Interested in enrolling in math courses at West Valley College? View the Schedule of Classes for our 2026 Winter and Spring sessions here: westvalley.edu/classes/schedule.