About Preuss

The Preuss School UC San Diego is a unique public charter middle and high school located on the UC San Diego campus. Founded in 1999, its mission is to serve low-income students who aspire to be the first in their families to graduate from a four-year college or university.

The Preuss School at a Glance
From awards to API scores, get all the facts you need about Preuss.

The History of Preuss
Learn how The Preuss School came to be.

Mission & Academic Model

• Intensive college-preparatory curriculum: The Preuss School UC San Diego employs a rigorous, single-track program that includes student supports such as a seven-year advisory system, tutoring, mentoring, and counseling.
• Extended instructional time: Scholars benefit from longer school days and an additional 19 school days per year—resulting in nearly an extra academic year over their seven years at Preuss.
• UC San Diego affiliation: Its location on UCSD’s campus provides students unparalleled access to university-level resources—research opportunities, internships, cultural events, and service learning.
• Beyond college preparation, The Preuss School UC San Diego aims to empower students as agents of social change. Through leadership development, ethical focus, critical thinking, and academic risk-taking, graduates are prepared to transform communities both locally and globally

Student Body

• Demographics and reach: Preuss enrolls around 850 students across grades 6–12, drawn from more than 40 zip codes across San Diego County, including areas like San Ysidro, Chula Vista, La Mesa, and Linda Vista.
• Predominantly Low-Income: Over 90% of scholars qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
• Diverse community: The student body includes Hispanic, African American, Asian, White, American Indian, and other backgrounds, reflecting broad county-wide representation.

Outcomes & Higher Education Success

• Post-secondary success: Nearly 100% of graduates continue to some form of higher education, with 90-95% accepted to four-year colleges and universities.

Recognition & Accolades

• Top “Transformative High School” by Newsweek: Preuss earned this distinction for three consecutive years in Newsweek’s America’s Best High Schools rankings.
• Named one of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” by the Washington Post.
• Recognized as a top “change-making” school by The Daily Beast.
• High state and national rankings:
  • The Preuss School UC San Diego was named top high school in San Diego County and #6 in California by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Ranked among America’s Most Challenging High Schools by The Washington Post.
  • Additional honors include:
    • National Blue Ribbon School (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2010).
    • California Distinguished School (2007, 2011, 2021) and Gold Ribbon School (2015).
    • Breakthrough School (2011) by NASSP.
    • Top Charter High School in California (2012), per USC report.

Scholarship achievement:

• Preuss School graduates have regularly have earned UC San Diego Chancellor’s Associates Scholarships (CASP), Dr. Kerri Mowen Memorial Scholarships, Gates Millennium Scholarships, Lytle Scholarships, and many others -- significantly easing access to higher education.

Proposition 209 Compliance 

In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories. 

More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.

More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.