St Ives Prep
Description
St. Ives Preparatory School is a prestigious privately-run all-girl state-certified juvenile detention "boarding school." Think of it as the place where daddy's pampered princesses get sent when they've done something too bad for the courts to just ignore. They've also been known to non-adjudicated 'special handling' placements, such as kids manifesting abnormal abilities. Finally, in an effort to combat their. elitist reputation, they'll also occasionally take a sponsored "charity case" or two.
Think of it as an all-girl, mostly-delinquent, mostly-mega-rich Bullworth Academy with faint notes of Xavier institute.
The walled-in campus originated as an orphanage run by a Catholic religious order but it's now run by a primarily lay staff and offers services for all denominations. The 19th-century stonework architecture and on-campus chapel still make its legacy very apparent and it isn't uncommon to see folk in religious garb in the halls.
The campus is large. Two dormitories are modernized century-old stone structures and a third is a very modern dorm replacing one destroyed in a fire. The newer dorm houses many of the the exceptionally-powered placements, providing several areas designed to accommodate powered individuals- particularly those not in control of their powers. The school land is similarly old and vast, with a brand-new athletics complex, over 20 acres exist behind an old stone manor-like wall. Another 200 acres of woodland and field criscrossed by riding trails and campsites are at least symbolically fenced off.
Most girls' possessions are locked in the contraband room unless they have a pass to leave campus. Internet and phone access is tightly controlled. Uniforms are provided for academics, athletics, and even pajamas, so what few personal items they do get can carry incredible social weight.
The cliques here are fierce. Even among the 'charity case' students from more modest means, things can get rather cutthroat.
For the Super-Powered
St. Ives has been known to discreetly take in children from wealthy donors who may have situations that they do not want in the public eye. These are usually still tied to the juvenile justice system (the sudden advent of powers is rarely a "clean" or victimless process), but they've even taken direct nonjudicial placements in the past. Although certainly not the Xavier institute, they do take their role seriously in helping students learn to control and harness their abilities. The new athletic center and the basement of the new dormitory are both investments in that effort.
Plot Leads & Story Elements
- An alarming number of recent graduates have gone on to join the Carnival of Shadows because... let's face it... this IS their target demographic. Rescue some, encounter some, or have another alumni reach out asking you to investigate.
- This years' St. Ives class has several notable graduates of the 'superpowered variety
OOC-wise consider the school large enough for normally-contradictory character experiences to occur at the same time depending on your narrative needs: Bad / good teachers, abusive dorm heads or overly-doting mother figures, rivals on the dorm floors that never met, etc. It's intended to bring a common shared location that anyone can own.