St. Ignatius College Preparatory
Saint Ignatius College Preparatory or SI or "the Prep" is a preparatory school located in the Sunset District of San Francisco, California.
It was founded in 1855 as an all-boys school by the Jesuits after the Gold Rush and is reputedly the oldest high school in California. Though it still strongly maintains its Jesuit and Catholic identity, SI has since gone coed in 1993 and is home to 1,400 students. SI is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding in 2005.
Widely perceived as one of the top schools in California, SI has a history of academic excellence and accomplishments in other areas. It was ranked in the top 20 schools in America offering Advanced Placement classes - often used as an indicator of student achievement in college placement. It is also regarded as one of the most difficult schools for admission in Northern California.
SI excels in many other ways as well. Its facilities are among the best, including several athletic fields, tennis courts, a track, an indoor pool, a boathouse, etc. Its athletics are highly ranked: the lacrosse team has consistently won the state championship and its men's rowing team recently ranked third in the nation. It has a wide range of extracurricular activities available for all its students. SI's famous rivalry with its cross-town rival, known as the "Bruce-Mahoney", is the oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi.
Over 96% of its graduating classes attend a 4-year institution, including many in the University of California system and the Ivy League. SI offers financial aid to applicants and is able make education affordable for many students with its sizable endowment.
In 2004 the racial makeup of the student body was:
* 63% White * 16% Asian * 6% Hispanic * 3% Black * 12% Mixed Race