Eventually the school will serve 700 students in sixth through twelfth grades. The Preuss School is designed as an intensive college preparatory educational program for students who meet the federal guidelines for free or reduced lunch and who represent the first generation in their families to graduate from a four-year college and university. The goal is to provide a highly enriched middle and high school for students to prepare them to be competitively eligible for the University of California or other selective institutions of learning. The sixth through twelfth grade curriculum is based on a traditional liberal arts education that will foster a culture of high academic performance. The UCSD Preuss School is established under the Charter School Act with UCSD and the San Diego Unified School District.
Teachers have ongoing professional development built into the school year.
All Preuss School employees will be on annual renewable employment contracts and subject to UC policies and conditions of employees. Other county school employees may continue their district affiliation if their own school district is in agreement.