Viewbook

Prep at a Glance

Overview

The College Preparatory School is an independent coeducational day school, grades 9-12, for intellectual risk-takers who want to pursue a serious, purposeful education with others who feel the same way.

Our school was founded in 1960 by Mary Harley Jenks. Today our community includes 364 students and 82 staff members, of whom 53 are faculty. This year, 54% of the students are female and 46% male; 46% are students of color. Our four-year curriculum meets or exceeds the entrance requirements of all major colleges and universities.

Our fourteen buildings are nestled into a green urban valley on Broadway, near the Oakland-Berkeley line. Every year, our reputation for high standards of scholarship and character–and our culture of warm acceptance–attracts motivated students from all over the Bay Area. Our student body reflects broad racial, ethnic, and economic diversity, as well as diversity of interests and talents. The average size of an entering class is 90.

The College Preparatory School draws students from communities throughout the region:

  • 40% from Oakland/Piedmont
  • 31% from Contra Costa County (Central) 
  • 22% from Berkeley and cities north of Berkeley
  •   6% from Alameda and cities south of Oakland
  •   1% from San Francisco/Peninsula/Marin
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY: The College Preparatory School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The College Preparatory School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin or sexual orientation in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship, athletic and other school administered programs.

Test Scores

Test scores are only part of how we know our students succeed, but they tell an important story.

The mean SAT Reasoning Test scores (on a scale of 200-800) for the College Prep Class of 2011 were 707 critical reading, 721 math and 729 writing. The most recent national averages were 501 critical reading, 516 math and 492 writing.

In 2011, 117 students took 235 Advanced Placement exams in 16 different subjects with 95% of the scores 3 or higher.

 

National Merit Scholarship Recognition

The National Merit competition awards special recognition to approximately 5% of college-bound seniors nationwide.

51% of the students in the Class of 2011 were recognized as either Semi-finalists (16 students) or Commended (29 students).

Faculty

College Prep faculty members engage in focused learning interactions with every student. They have earned outstanding reputations for mastery of their subjects and for gifted teaching in the classroom.

Of our 53 faculty members, 15 have earned doctorates and another 26 have master’s degrees; in total, 77% hold advanced degrees.

The average academic class size is 13.6, allowing teachers and students to know each other as learners, and to work together closely. Teachers can ask more of each student, because they can give more.

Curriculum

Our demanding, classically thorough curriculum includes core academic disciplines balanced by options in music, visual arts, dance, theater, health education, physical education, inter-scholastic athletics, forensics, and community activities.

The curriculum is shaped by these priorities:

  • clear expression in writing and speaking—in English and in at least one other language (Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Spanish)
  • a broad historical and cultural perspective
  • a strong foundation of mathematics and science
  • art and aesthetic development as an integral part of the curriculum
  • health and physical education for all students

We encourage students who have satisfied our graduation requirements to enroll in Advanced Placement classes or independent study projects.

Academic Courses

English: English I, II, English Seminars (e.g., Falling from Grace; Autobiographies; The Spirit: Dead or Alive; Native Sons & Invisible Men; Arresting British Novels; The Russians are Coming!; Literature of the English Renaissance; Telling Stories: The Art of Fiction Writing; Creative Writing: Poetry; and Mad, Rad, & Bad)

History: World Civilizations, Western Civilization, U.S. History, History Seminars (e.g., American Government; Europe in the Twentieth Century; Introduction to Economics; Comparative Religions; and Introduction to Linguistic Science)

World Languages: Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Spanish, Language Seminars (e.g., Literature and Film of the Francophone World; Advanced Spanish Conversation, Literature, and Creative Writing; Culture and Current Events in the Spanish-Speaking World)

Mathematics: Mathematics I, II, III, Math Analysis and Introductory Calculus, Applied Math, Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Statistics

Science: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Advanced Physics, Environmental Science, Science Electives (e.g., Animal Behavior, Astronomy, and Issues in Science)

Other: Forensics, Freshman Foundations, Health Education, Independent Study, Philosophy, Psychology, Women’s Studies

Fine Art Courses and Performances

Visual Arts:  Drawing and Design, Two and Three Dimensional Studios, Photography, Advanced Projects, and Studio Art

Drama:  Acting, Digital Video and Performance, Drama, Stagecraft, and Theater Production

Music:  Chorus, Advanced Vocal Ensemble, Beginning Instruments, Orchestra, Chamber Music, Jazz Band, and Music Theory

Dance:  Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Dance

Performing Arts:  Drama Productions, music concerts, art exhibits, dance shows, musicals, Music Tour, Cabaret Night, and more!

College Matriculation Results

Colleges and universities already know that our students are well prepared. 100% of College Prep graduates attend four-year institutions.

For the classes of 2007-2011 (avg. class size 85) six or more students have matriculated at:
 Stanford University     
24
               
 UC Santa Cruz
  9
 Harvard University
 19    Georgetown University  8
 Columbia University
 17    Middlebury College       8
 University of Pennsylvania 17    Pomona College
  8
 UC Berkeley
 16                    
 UC San Diego
  8
 UC Davis
 14    Northwestern University
  7
 Wesleyan University 14    Brown University  7
 Occidental College
 11    Macalester College  7
 Cornell University 10    Oberlin College
  7
 Dartmouth College
 10    Princeton University  7
 University of Chicago 10    Tufts University
  7
 UC Santa Barbara
 10    Washington University  7
 Carleton College
  9    MIT
 6
 Swarthmore College
  9    New York University
  6

Gallery

Intraterm 2011

View Album