Santa Fe Preparatory School has committed a record $750,000 to tuition assistance for the coming school year, according to Head of School, Jim Leonard.  The School’s Board of Trustees approved the 2009-2010 preliminary budget last week and increased tuition assistance from 10 percent of tuition revenue to 12 percent.

“We believe Prep offers the best college preparatory education in Santa Fe and affords its graduates an exceptional range of opportunities,” said Leonard.  “Making a Prep education available to all qualified students will continue to be a top priority for the School, even given the challenging economic environment,” he added.

Award-winning American novelist Mat Johnson was on campus today to talk to students about growing up as a black boy who looked white.  His latest book, Incognegro, required reading for Prep’s juniors, confronts the issues of racial identity and lynchings in the American south through a “noir” graphic novel.

Of Irish and African descent, Johnson lived in an African-American neighborhood during the height of the Black Power era and says he stood out to the point his mother got him a dashiki so he would fit in with the other kids.  But, says Johnson, “the contrast between the colorful African garb and my nearly blond, straight brown hair just made things worse.”

With the admissions deadline a little over a month away, admissions activity is reaching a peak at Prep.  Prospective students and their parents are visiting daily to explore the campus, meet faculty, sit in on classes and learn about our many programs and opportunities.

For those considering Prep for the 2009-2010 school year, the admissions office will schedule group or individual tours and arrange for prospective students to spend a day on campus with a current Prep student.  Group tours are given most Tuesday mornings at 10 am.

For more information, contact the , or visit our admissions pages on the website.

The Kaplan Test Prep firm is offering its next series of SAT preparation classes at Santa Fe Preparatory School beginning Sunday, January 11.  Classes begin at 1 pm and last approximately three hours.  The last class is Sunday, April 26th, just a few weeks before the next SAT test date.  The fee for the 12-class package is $599 for Prep students, a discount from the normal fee of $999.  There is still time to sign up, and students should call Kaplan at 1-800-KAP-TEST to register.  The timing of this course is geared towards juniors who will be taking the SAT test in late spring.  Studies show that preparation does improve test scores.

A series of ACT preparation classes will also be offered at Prep beginning in February.  Dates are still being finalized and will be posted on the website once they are set.

Prep coach Jody LeFevers was named Girls Cross Country Coach of the Year in division A-AA for the second consecutive year by the New Mexico Track and Cross Country Coaches Association.  LeFevers was selected by his peers from among leading coaches in the eight or ten districts in the A-AA division.

“This honor is really about our athletes, and the support I receive from Prep in coaching them,” said LeFevers.

He will be presented with his award at a special NMTCCCA luncheon in January.