The school year hasn't even started but it's still not too early for high school freshmen to be thinking about college.

It's not even too soon for middle school students.

Or elementary school students.

The earlier they start thinking about college, the better, educators say.

And local school districts are gearing much of their work to getting students prepared to attend college.

A $650,000 federal grant from a program called "Gear Up' will be fully implemented this fall for 1,400 Lassalette and Sparks middle schools students in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District.

"One of the most valuable services is tutors in every single classroom,' said Sergio Flores, principal of Sparks Middle School.

The students, from Cal Poly Pomona and Mt. San Antonio College, will work with small groups of students on math and reading skills, and talk with them about the importance of going to college, Flores said.

"If students have earned low grades in the past, there goes their motivation, not to mention their chances of getting into the Advanced Placement classes they need to go to college,' said Flores, adding that the program can help change that.

Linda Cordero, principal of Grandview Middle School in the 50,000-student Hacienda La Puente Unified District, said her school uses AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) to help encourage students to attend college.

"Middle school students tend to think in the 'now,' ' Cordero said. "They don't think a lot about the future and what it takes to get through an advanced high school program. AVID helps establish an achievement environment.'

Officials also stress the importance of working with elementary students early on.

"We start with the elementary school kids, taking them on tours to colleges and letting them know they all will have a chance to do it,' said Superintendent Mark Skvarna, of the 18,000-student Baldwin Park Unified School District. "From the time kids come in until they leave, we are always talking about it. There's just a general emphasis on it.'

Skvarna has gone as far as suggesting college fairs for elementary school students.

"I've tried to address the fact that college fairs should also be for the parents of elementary school children,' said Richard Vladovic, superintendent of the 11,000-student West Covina Unified School District. "It's never too early to start thinking about these things.'

At the elementary level, teachers in West Covina Unified begin getting students to think about what career path they would like to take and what education they will need to achieve it.

"It's teaching them that they are accountable for the decisions they make,' Vladovic said.

One of the ways the 6,000-student Bassett Unified School District in La Puente gets students thinking about college is through its Si Puedo ("Yes, I Can') program for middle school students.

Through the program, the middle school students become "college students' for a week at Cal Poly Pomona.

"The focus here is to have students realize that a college education is within their grasp if they prepare themselves academically,' said Bassett Unified School District Superintendent Robert Nero.

"The sooner we can get students to realize that the opportunities are there for them, the better off they're going to be and the better off we are going to be as a community and a society.'