Preuss’s main goal is to make sure that their students have the classes they need to be prepared for college and to be accepted to a four-year college or university. To make sure those two things happen, Preuss has various requirements such as AP classes, senior exhibition, and community service. Some students at Preuss think this school is too hard because Preuss makes students go out of the box and do more than what is needed. However, taking all these classes will prepare Preuss students for college because they mimic what college will be like.
Students may complain and question why we need to take all these classes but they may not understand how this will support their future. AP classes will help them with getting into college and helping them maintain the skills they need to stay in college.
To graduate Preuss students need 270 credits: History/Social Science 30 credits, English 40 credits, Mathematics 30 credits, Laboratory Science 30 credits, Foreign Language 20 credits, Visual and Performing Arts 10 credits, Physical Education/EHS 20 credits, UCSD EAOP Senior Seminar 10 credits, Senior Exhibition/Wheel 10 credits, and Elective 70 credits. Most other schools in California only require 176 credits. Having a larger number of required credits helps colleges see that the students are very competitive and prepared for their school.
In college students are going to be pushed to do so much more work and Preuss helps students prepare for that. For example, AP classes. During Sophomore year, students take at least one AP class, AP African Studies. Taking an AP class this early teaches us time management and study skills.
The most significant class seniors take at Preuss is Senior Wheel. Senior wheel is a class that is offered to all seniors here. Scholars at Press say that senior wheel is probably one of the hardest classes students will take all four years at Preuss. Senior wheel is a semester system that begins in junior year. The second semester of junior year students do their community service requirement where they participate in something that benefits their community. Then in senior year they either start with research or internship. Internships they get to choose to do an outside one at UCSD or one at Preuss. For research they have to write a 6-8 page argumentative paper.
At the end of the year they have their senior exhibition where they present a 20 minute speech on their senior wheel. Taking the senior wheel helps students practice public speaking skills and experience college level research. Most colleges require students to conduct research and know how to speak to peers or speak in front of people.
Preuss is known for sending their students to colleges and universities. Preuss pushes their students because they want them to become successful and beat the odds.
