A culture of care and accountability leads to a record of academic excellence

Written by Joyce Perrelli

The big “M” painted on the hill stands for Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School, but it could easily stand for motivated or mindful to describe the 300 students at this Diocesan Catholic School in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Mission College Preparatory is a fully accredited, coeducational high school with a definite mission: To “create a culture of care and accountability in partnership with families to form women and men of scholarship, inspiration and leadership in service to deeper life with God and deeper life with one another.”

Jean Conway, director of admissions, says, “We embrace every student as an individual and intentionally educate for excellence in academics, athletics, arts and spirituality.”

The school is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) and the curriculum meets the University of California admission requirements. Feb. 12, 2010 is the deadline to apply for the 2010-2011 school year.

Opening in its current incarnation in 1983, the school sits on the site of the original Mission High School, dating back to 1876. Today, Mission College Preparatory facilities include state-of-the-art classrooms, a digital video room, a performing arts center, an athletic field and a gym. All classrooms are equipped with interactive smart boards, and teachers post grades, homework, class notes, and attendance records to Edline, the Web-based communication tool for students and parents.

The challenging college prep curriculum gives students the opportunity to grow and develop intellectually, spiritually and physically. A typical day includes seven classes, a one-hour after-school tutoring period for group projects, individual study and teacher consultations. Afterward, an array of co-curricular activities start at 4 p.m. (what are the cocurricular activities?) The average class size of 20 students encourages care and accountability, resulting in an environment where everyone knows one another.<

Mission College Preparatory has a record of academic excellence with nearly one-third of the students earning a GPA of 4.0 or higher last year. Additionally, Conway explains, for the past three years, 100 percent of the graduating seniors have been accepted at two- and four-year colleges and universities with many of these students receiving academic scholarships and grants. Numerous advanced placement (AP) and honors classes are offered each year. AP students are required to take the corresponding test, and the school has a pass rate greater than 80 percent.

Outside of the classroom, cocurricular activities include performing arts, clubs, sports and campus ministry. Students perform in instrumental, voice and theater productions, and can participate in 13 different student-initiated clubs. More than 70 percent of students compete in California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) sports, playing for 10 junior varsity and 15 varsity teams.

Religion and community service also play an important role. The school’s commitment to faith is evident in the required four years of religion, the retreat program designed to facilitate spirituality and self-discovery, and the monthly Mass celebrated at Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa across the street. All students volunteer at the local food pantry, People’s Kitchen, and take part in other group and individual community service projects.

From the hike up Cerro San Luis Mountain to repaint the “M” on the first day of the freshman year to the graduation ceremony four years later, students here are more than just learners — they are a caring and close-knit community of student-athletes, volunteers, actors, musicians, campus ministers and leaders.

Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School
682 Palm St., in San Luis Obispo
For more information call: 805.543.2131
or visit www.missionprep.org