Our Programs
Rancho Cielo offers students hands-on vocational training and high school education in partnership with John Muir Charter Schools, a WASC-accredited charter school based in Nevada County, California.
Why Study At
Rancho Cielo?
Students learn in a safe, structured small learning community with individualized instruction to complete their high school diploma, GED® (General Education Development) test or HiSet® (High School Equivalency Test), and gain work experience and transferable occupational skills in a vocational program of their choice. Thanks to our generous supporters, our youth and their families never pay for our programs and services.
Rancho Cielo cultivates a goal-oriented atmosphere for students, providing tailored programs and services to meet their unique needs. Each student receives a personalized graduation plan, fostering their path to success. Students also receive opportunities for leadership development and gain knowledge in community awareness, personal wellness and job readiness.
Questions? Contact our Recruitment Coordinator at recruitment@ranchocieloyc.org or call (831) 444-3561.
Click HERE to complete the online application for any of our programs.
You may also download an application below. Email the completed application to recruitment@ranchocieloyc.org or mail to: Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, 710 Old Stage Rd., Salinas, CA 93908.
Intake Application 2025-2026 (English)
Intake Application 2025-26 (Spanish)
Please have the following documents ready:
- Latest school transcripts (unofficial)
- Picture identification: i.e.. California ID, Passport, School ID
- Social Security Card
- Birth Certificate
- Insurance Card
- Immunization record (if under 18 years of age)
Benefits of All Programs
- Comprehensive case management and mentorship.
- Mental health counseling, medical referrals and legal assistance.
- Nutritious daily meals and clothing support.
- Transportation within the Salinas area and from MST transit station. Bus passes available.
- Driver’s education.
- Inclusive, culturally affirming curriculum.
- Soft skills, basic computer skills and life skills.
- College and career transition support (financial aid applications, internships and job referrals).
- Engaging activities (bike maintenance, dog training, beekeeping, equestrian skills), field trips and guest speakers.
Jasmin Serrano
Ag Tech
Student Spotlight
Jasmin Serrano’s story began in Salinas, and it eventually returned there. She was raised on a two-acre ranch in Chouteau, Oklahoma, a small rural town outside Tulsa. Serrano learned about tending to animals early on in her life.
In June 2025, the 19-year-old returned to Salinas and enrolled at Rancho Cielo to finish high school, and the agricultural world she had always known quietly took on a formal name.
“I have had a lot of experience with caring for animals,” Serrano says. “It’s something I know well.”
Rancho Cielo’s Ag Tech & Mechatronics program has given her opportunities, she says, that she never would have dreamt of. Most recently, she competed in the Future Farmers of America Goat Showmanship competition at the Salinas Valley Fair. Rancho placed in the top ten. She stood in the ring, composed, and did something she had not known she could do. Read more.
