School History

On August 19, 1876—the feast day of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa—the City of San Luis Obispo was officially incorporated. That same day, a small band of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary established the city's first Catholic school on the Mission grounds. Located on MCP’s present site, the Academy of the Immaculate Heart offered both elementary and secondary education to the local community.

 

In 1924, under the direction of Reverend Daniel Keenan (newly appointed pastor of Mission San Luis Obispo and Diocesan Superintendent of Education), plans began for a new facility to house both grammar and secondary students. Generously funded in part by a grant from the Hearst family, the new building featured a grammar school on the ground floor—commonly known as Mission School in honor of the Spanish Padres—and Mission High School on the second floor. The combined campus was dedicated on August 19, 1926, marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Academy of the Immaculate Heart.

 

In 1957, Father William Scully, serving as assistant pastor alongside Reverend Msgr. Patrick Daly, initiated plans to separate the growing elementary and high school programs into dedicated facilities. Entering the 1960s, the institution operated as Mission Central Catholic High School, serving as a beacon of Catholic secondary education in the region.

 

In June 1970, Mission Central Catholic temporarily closed its high school operations, and the Mission-Nativity grammar school expanded through ninth grade, utilizing the high school building as a junior high campus. However, the vision to restore a full Catholic high school remained strong. In the mid-1970s, a dedicated group of Catholic laymen—led by Len Varni and Lyle Porter, along with passionate parents including Greg Morris, John Maulhardt, and Larry Sage—worked tirelessly alongside Reverend Jim Nisbet, Pastor of Mission San Luis Obispo. Their efforts culminated in full approval from Bishop Thaddeus Shubsda, setting the stage for a new era.

 

In August 1983, Bishop Shubsda rededicated the school as Mission College Preparatory. Doors officially reopened in September 1983 with 86 students. In 1986, exactly 60 years after Mission High School first opened its doors, Mission College Prep celebrated its inaugural graduating class.

 

In 1999, MCP launched a major capital project that more than doubled the size of the campus. Completed for the 2004–2005 school year, the project added modern science laboratories, computer facilities, a student cafeteria, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, athletic locker rooms, administrative space, and underground parking.

In 2008, focus shifted to historical preservation as construction began on critical seismic upgrades and interior renovations for the historic 1926 building, ensuring its structural integrity for generations to come.

 

Following the construction of the new gymnasium, the original 1920s gym was transformed into a multi-use Performing Arts Center. The space beautifully blended the historic 19th-century brickwork with modern theater technology, including state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems.

2020s & Beyond: Innovation & Excellence

 

Continuing its commitment to student development, the 2020s brought extensive campus enhancements, including comprehensive classroom upgrades, a dedicated fine arts room, and specialized athletic facilities. The additions featured a new weight room, a physical training lab, and indoor baseball and softball cages equipped with best-in-class athletic technology.

 

Today, Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School serves a vibrant student body of over 300 young men and women. Rated by Niche as the #1 Private High School in San Luis Obispo County and consistently ranking in the top 10% of Catholic high schools nationwide, MCP continues its century-plus tradition of academic excellence, faith formation, and community service under lay governance led by Principal Anthony Goston.