[3] Over a period of about twenty years, beginning in the 1970s, a group of parents and teachers in Santa Cruz, California, often met to discuss educational reform.

They envisioned schools that inspire students to learn through an integrated curriculum, leading to a high level of intellectual and artistic achievement.

In the spring of 1998, Gill and Young, joined by Singne Coe, a history teacher, began discussing the feasibility of developing an academically strong public charter high school in Santa Cruz, CA.

To achieve this goal, the school's courses were to be aligned with the expectations of the Advanced Placement program, with passing at least one AP exam a requirement for graduation.

The founders believed, based on their own experience, that most students could achieve those goals with sufficient self-discipline, effective instruction with integration of subjects, and a school culture of respect for learning and accountability.

David Hodges, an interested parent and former professor of business, joined the core group, contributing his real estate expertise and contacts in the community.

When unexpectedly she left town for most of the summer, the core group took over the work of hiring teachers, handling student applications, and preparing the site.

The concept for the school, however, grew from the decades of combined educational experience of the small group of founding teachers and parents.

[5] With the exception of an unspecified number of spaces reserved for children of volunteer Board members and school staff, admission is by lottery for families.

This means that if the oldest child is selected by lottery, younger children in the family will have spaces reserved for them in future classes while both students are attending.

A waiting list is constantly maintained in case spaces open up during the year due to a family moving out of the area or transferring to another school.

Class sizes generally get smaller with each year as students find the match between PCS and their own interests diverge with time.

[6] As its charter with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education requires its student body to represent city demographics, Pacific Collegiate's Board has been making active efforts to increase minority enrollment, though some proposals are still challenged.

[8] In response to complaints to lack of diversity, some have pointed out the impossibility of consciously diversifying the school with the current random lottery entry system.