Prep at a Glance
Mary Harley Jenks and Ruth Willis founded The College Preparatory School in 1960, an independent co-educational day school for grades 9-12 in Oakland, California. For over 60 years, College Prep has helped shape a community of learners who engage deeply with big ideas and the craft of scholarship within a joyful and caring community.
Our Students
Our student body reflects broad racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, in addition to possessing a diversity of interests and talents.
For the 2023-24 school year, College Prep's enrollment is 370 students (about 92 per grade level); 71% self-identify as students of color. The average academic class size is 14 students. Most College Prep students enter for ninth grade, though we typically welcome a small number of new sophomore and junior transfers.
Our Faculty
College Prep's faculty and staff 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 faculty members, 86% hold advanced degrees.
SAT / National Merit
Test scores are only part of how we know our students succeed, but they tell an important story:
- Class of 2023 average SAT Reasoning Test scores: 743 (evidence-based reading and writing), 750 (math)
- Class of 2022 average ACT Composite score: 33
- Class of 2022, 2023, and 2024 average National Merit Recognition: 42% (compared to approximately 5% of students nationwide)
Our students come from a diverse group of over 100 schools: independent (67%), public (25%), parochial (8%).
Nestled within walking distance to Rockridge BART Station, College Prep draws students from around San Francisco Bay Area region:
Our Campus
Located in Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood, our 5-acre campus blends in with the native plants and eucalyptus trees typical of the Oakland Hills landscape. College Prep lies in a small verdant valley and is dotted with 15 buildings.
College Matriculation
Colleges and universities know our graduates to be intellectually curious and kind-hearted, collaborative individuals.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATORY POLICY:
College Prep admits students of any race, national and ethnic origin, creed, physical ability, economic status, gender identity, or sexual orientation, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law[1] to enjoy all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made to students at the School. The School applies all legal non-discrimination standards to School-administered programs, administrative practices, and in support of all members of the community.
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mens conscia recti
a mind aware of what is right