THE PREUSS SCHOOL, UC SAN DIEGO (UCSD)

The Preuss School UCSD on the campus of the University of California, San Diego is home to the Midnight Mechanics.

Chartered by the San Diego Unified School District in 1999, the school motivates and prepares young adults in grades 6 through 12, who are historically underrepresented on the University of California campuses, to be successful at a four year university.

All students are selected through an intensive 14-page application where they must show motivation to be challenged and succeed. 100% of the students come from low income families and will be the first to graduate from high school and attend a 2 or 4 year college or university.

The Preuss School UCSD provides an environment where students are continually encouraged and empowered to develop a greater sense of confidence and self-worth through self-sufficiency and a sense of pride in their academic accomplishments.

With compulsory Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) classes, the school fosters a culture of high academic performance in an environment that encourages risk-taking, the art of questioning and logical and critical thinking.

In the fall of 1999, the Preuss School opened with 150 students in grades 6 through 8, and now is fully enrolled with 723 students in grades 6 through 12.

The Preuss School has also been recognized as a Title I school (California Department of Education) and has been honored as the national Eighth Best Public High School (US News and World Report) and the national Sixth Best Public High School (Newsweek).

To learn more about the Preuss School, click here.

"When we received the acceptance letters from UC Los Angeles and UC Berkeley, the mail man said, 'We don’t see many of these in our neighborhood' and all I could do was break down and cry.”
CATHERINE BROU, Parent

Ms. Catherine Brou is the mother of Antoinette Brou (above), a proud Midnight Mechanic. In March of her senior year in 2008, Antoinette was given the opportunity to attend a plethora of public and private colleges and universities due to her active involvement in Team 812 and on the lacrosse field. Today, Antoinette is currently attending UC Los Angeles on a full scholarship. As a Midnight Mechanic, Antoinette says that she will never forget the days she painted moons on her cheek and the nights she spent awake (with her cowboy hat and stunna’ shades) making posters for the team. Don’t worry Antoinette; we will never forget you either.

A PROUD MEMBER OF