Pacific Collegiate School is a highly sought after school. Housed in the old Natural Bridges Elementary School on the west side of Santa Cruz, this unassuming place is getting top marks for education.
So while they have slipped from their lofty heights, Pacific Collegiate School is still a school can hang their hat on with pride. So it was with that history of doing well, that it does not surprise me to hear a lottery was needed to get into the school. Mind you, this is not a school for slackers, but those who are dedicated to working hard,and excelling in school. Schools like people, are different. We all don’t learn the same way, for that reason there are many choices for people to have their kids schooled. Since schools and students are tested in a standardized fashion, it is a relatively easy means to measure up so to speak.
The educational opportunities in Santa Cruz can be numerous. I have a list of quite a few of them with their websites or contact information.
This year they had drawing of about 250 names from a pool of 550 to find who is eligible to enroll for the next 2010-2011 school year for 7th graders. Applicants for grades 8-12 will be added to a waiting list. This was a record number of applications for the school, which goes to show the strength of interest for the education of Santa Cruz kids, even in a tough economically challenged year.
If you are lucky enough to get your kid into PCS, you may want to be in a west side Santa Cruz home so they can have the exercise and pleasure of walking to school as we did as kids. Physical exercise is as important as mental exercise and walking in the beautiful west side of Santa Cruz is a good thing to do.