School Profile 2007-2008

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 343 students and 80 staff members, of whom 51 are faculty. 39% are students of color. The ratio of students to teachers  is 8 to 1. 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 84. The College Preparatory School draws students from communities throughout the region:         Oakland/Piedmont . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42%         Berkeley/Kensington/El Cerrito/Albany .. .26%         Contra Costa County (Central) . . . . . . . . . . 23%         Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . 9%

Test Scores

The mean SAT Reasoning Test scores (on a scale of 200-800) for the Class of 2007 were 716 critical reading, 715 math and 719 writing. (The most recent national averages were 503 critical reading, 518 math and 497 writing.) In 2006-2007, 137 students took 258 Advanced Placement exams in 19 different subjects with 98% of the scores three or higher.

National Merit Scholarship Recognition

The National Merit competition awards special recognition to approximately 5% of college-bound seniors nationwide. 65% of the students in the Class of 2007 were either Semi-finalists (23 students) or Commended (33 students).

Faculty

The College Preparatory School’s 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 51 faculty members, 16 have earned doctorates and 27 have master’s degrees; in total, 84% hold advanced degrees. We have an average academic class size of 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 (French, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin (beg. 2008), 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., Classic Modern Fiction, Nineteenth-century American Literature, Reading Women, From Sappho to Tupac: Poetry Past and Present, East and West, and Telling Stories: The Art of Fiction Writing)

History: World, Western, U.S., History Seminars (e.g., American Sports History, Art History, Economics, Introduction to Linguistic Science, and International Law, Human Rights and Genocide)

Languages: French, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin (beg. 2008), Spanish, Language Seminars (e.g., Language and Film from the Francophone World, Advanced Spanish Conversation with Genre Survey of Prose, Poetry and Film)

Mathematics: Mathematics I, II, III, IV, Calculus, Multivariable Calculus, Statistics

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

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

Fine Art Courses

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

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

Athletics

College Prep sponsors competitive teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and volleyball.

Other Co-Curricular Programs

We offer community service, class retreats, student government, Intraterm courses, debate team, multicultural events, student publications, dances, clubs, and an annual all-school snow trip.

Admissions Information

Almost all new students enter in the ninth grade, although each year we welcome a few sophomores and juniors. If you (or your family member) want to apply for ninth grade, we should be getting acquainted in the fall of eighth-grade year. In making admission decisions, The College Preparatory School considers grades, teacher recommendations, an interview, and the results of an entrance examination. We also pay special attention to each applicant’s willingness to share in and contribute to the lives of others.
    
The application deadline is January 10, 2008. Late applications are considered if space is available. All application forms are available on-line at www.college-prep.org or by contacting the Admissions Office at (510) 652-4364.

Tuition and Financial Aid

We keep tuition in the lower to middle range among similar Bay Area independent secondary schools—tuition is $26,850 for the 2007-2008 school year.
    
We know that some qualified students and their families will find this cost beyond their reach. To help address this problem, College Prep underwrites a generous financial aid program, committing more than $1,500,000 towards financial aid this year and providing need-based grants to 23% of the student body.
   
Admission decisions are made without regard to financial aid status. The amount of aid we award is based on School and Student Service for Financial Aid guidelines as well as our own policies and actual resources. We make our financial aid offers with a four-year commitment in mind, depending on continuing need. For more information, please contact Jonathan Zucker, Co-Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, at (510) 652-4364 or jonathan@college-prep.org.

Giving to College Prep

The exceptional programs and people that make College Prep special require additional funding beyond tuition. This is a reality of life for all independent, non-sectarian schools. In our efforts to keep tuition as low as possible while maintaining high standards, we turn to parents, alumni, past parents, grandparents, foundations, and others for gifts that support the annual operating budget. Endowment gifts help sustain our school’s values for the long term. Mary O’Neill, Director of Development, welcomes your questions about College Prep’s development program; contact her at (510) 420-2331 or mary@college-prep.org.

Alumni

College Prep alumni, now numbering over 2,000, can be found around the globe as successful contributors to society, education, business, and the arts. Bound by shared values of social responsibility and challenging educational opportunities, this broad network of College Prep alumni is a resource for current students and recent graduates looking for advice about internships, research opportunities, and careers. To learn more about alumni events, please contact Cecily Peterson, Director of Alumni Relations, cecily@college-prep.org.

Non-Discrimination Policy

The College Preparatory School admits students of any race, national and ethnic origin, creed, physical ability, economic status, gender identity, or sexual orientation to enjoy all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally made available to students at the school. The school applies these and all legal non-discrimination standards to school-administered programs and administrative practices, and in support of all members of the community.

College Matriculation: 2003-2007 100% of CPS students attend a four-year institution. For the classes of 2003 - 2007 (average class size 83) four or more students have matriculated at:
Barnard College	4	Middlebury College	7	UC Los Angeles	12
Boston University	7	New York University	8	UC San Diego	14
Brown University	6	Oberlin College	11	UC Santa Barbara	7
California Institute of Tech.	4	Pitzer College	6	UC Santa Cruz	14
Carleton College	10	Pomona College	8	University of Chicago	11
Columbia University	18	Princeton University	13	University of Pennsylvania	8
Cornell University	4	Stanford University	23	University of Southern Cal.	5
Dartmouth College	8	Swarthmore College	4	Vassar College	4
Georgetown University	8	Tufts University	5	Washington University - St. Louis	9
Harvard University	22	UC Berkeley	18	Wesleyan University	5
MIT	7	UC Davis	17	Yale University	7