Facilities To Open In The Fall
Photo of the ground breaking L to R: Simon Fletcher, PCS Principal; Lauren Lindstrom, 2008 graduate, Michael Watkins, Superintendent Santa Cruz County Office of Education, and current student Andrew Vu, 2018
Pacific Collegiate School (PCS), founded in 1999 by parents and educators seeking an alternative in public school education, first rented space at a church on High Street in Santa Cruz. Currently, PCS serves 510 students at the Natural Bridges Elementary School campus, owned by the Santa Cruz City School District.
In 2013, the District gave PCS a two-year notice to vacate. After searching for a permanent school site, Pacific Collegiate Foundation, the school’s non-profit supporting organization, purchased an existing commercial building at 3004 Mission Street in Santa Cruz. Last summer, the building project received unanimous approval from the Santa Cruz City Planning Department and the Santa Cruz City Council.
The Foundation then initiated a significant renovation project to transform the building into a modern educational facility. Construction recently began with the school and local community coming together to support the new campus.
The new facility provides a 25% increase in square footage over the school’s current site, and a design driven by the specific needs of middle and high school students. Students and faculty will enjoy more than 50,000 square feet of building area. The facility will include a multi-use student union, a dedicated music building, a well-outfitted library with views of Monterey Bay, modern technology interfaces, LED lighting and natural light tubes throughout, all-new heating and cooling units, as well as an expansive outdoor deck overlooking the Moore Creek riparian area.
The indoor and outdoor spaces have been designed to provide ample opportunities for classroom learning and independent study. It also allows for supporting opportunities for students to relax and recreate with informal interactions and small group collaborations. The new school design is by Bill Bondy of Studio Bondy Architects, Oakland that specializes in school design.
As independently operated public schools, most charter schools are responsible for acquiring and funding their own facilities. This new school will provide PCS with a permanent home. “Our new campus is going to have a tremendous, positive impact on our students. With a more appropriate learning environment designed specifically for junior and senior high school students, our program, our students, and our faculty will truly thrive,” said Simon Fletcher, PCS Principal.
“PCS provides an excellent choice in education within Santa Cruz County. Now that excellence will be mirrored by its new facility. This building project will finally give PCS the home it deserves,” said Fred Keeley, former California State Assemblyman, former County Treasurer, and former PCS instructor.
The Pacific Collegiate Foundation (www.pacificcollegiatefoundation.com) is conducting a capital campaign to help fund the purchase and renovation of the new school building. The Foundation has secured more than $7,000,000 from individual donors. An additional $2,150,000 in gifts and pledges is needed to complete the school.
Pacific Collegiate School (www.pacificcollegiate.com) is a charter school open to any student in Santa Cruz County seeking a rigorous college preparatory education. PCS is consistently ranked among the top public schools in the nation. PCS accommodates up to 516 students in grades 7-12. PCS has a multifaceted diversity outreach program, as a well as a unique admissions program for students who will be the first in their families to attend college. Admission to PCS is through a public, random lottery, as required by California law.
For additional information about Pacific Collegiate School and its educational program, contact the school’s principal, Simon Fletcher at (831) 479-7785 or [email protected].
For information about the Pacific Collegiate Foundation and its building project and capital campaign, please contact the President of the Pacific Collegiate Foundation, Tom Morell, at (831) 747-4855 or [email protected]