Prospective Students
Welcome!
Thank you for your interest in the Humanities and International Studies Program (HISP) at C.K. McClatchy High School (CKM), a school with a rich history, strong traditions, and a commitment to excellence. We look forward to meeting future HISP students through the application process and hope that you like what you see here at CKM.
McClatchy High School opened in 1937. The federal government built it as part of the Works Project Administration during the depression. The campus remains one of the few original school buildings of that era in the region. It is a beautiful facility, even with the charm of its age showing through here and there. Students here take pride in the campus, as do staff and community members.
The Humanities and International Studies Program began in 1985 as an effort to attract students to McClatchy High School with an interest in exploring the humanities and history through a variety of perspectives. As a HISP student, you will explore the diverse peoples and unique traditions in your own community as well as those found across the globe. And as a CKM student, you will have a full and rich high school experience—from sports and clubs to electives and school dances.
We have graduated thousands of students who have gone on to do great and varied things in the world. We hope that you, too, will be one of those who take advantage of the excellent education we aim to provide all of our students.
Brian Perry and Michael Baradat
HISP Coordinators
How to Apply to HISP
The Humanities and International Studies Program at C.K. McClatchy High School is a specialty program that receives applications from students throughout the Sacramento City Unified School District. Although hundreds of students apply, only 140 freshmen are enrolled in the program each year.
Application Process 2024
Open Enrollment for Specialty Programs opens November 4th, and closes on November 22nd. Open Enrollment is housed centrally by the SCUSD Enrollment Center. Open Enrollment is required for both students who reside within our school neighborhood boundaries, and those who reside outside our neighborhood boundaries, but still live within SCUSD boundaries.
SCUSD allows families to select a first and second choice Specialty Program on the application. Students who meet program entrance criteria are awarded seats via a lottery system. Students who win a lottery seat in their first choice program, will be offered a seat in that program. Students who win a seat in their second choice program (if a second choice is indicated), will be offered a seat in that program. Letters will be mailed to families who have won seats, then families need to claim the seat offered by following the directions on the letter, and enrolling at the school/program.
The application period for the 2025-2026 school year will open on November 4th, 2024.
Please go to the SCUSD High School Specialty Program Application website for more information on how to apply.
Parent Information Night and CKM Tours
Each year, usually in October, we will open our campus for prospective 9th grade students and their families to tour the campus and observe our HISP classes while in session. In addition, we host a parent information session in the evening where you will learn about HISP, how to apply, the Open Enrollment process, and all our other specialty programs at CKM. The dates of these events will be added to our calendar each September.