Founded in 1916 as a department of
Sacramento High School, Sacramento City College is the seventh oldest public community college in
California and the oldest institution of higher learning in Sacramento. Rare for its time, Sacramento City College was founded by a woman (
Belle Cooledge) and with an all female class as its first graduates, the college began with the spirit of inclusion at its very heart. First known as
Sacramento Junior College, Cooledge founded the college to provide a safe, welcoming place for students to learn the basics for a college education, and to be a gathering spot for extra-curricular activities that would bring the community together. In 1922, the citizens of Sacramento organized a junior college district, effectively granting Sacramento Junior College its administrative independence from Sacramento High School. This plan of organization remained in force until 1936, when the college became a part of the Sacramento City Unified School District. Twenty-eight years later, as a result of a March 17, 1964, election, Sacramento City College separated from the
Sacramento City Unified School District to join the newly organized
Los Rios Junior College District, which took over the operation of
American River College and Sacramento City College. Los Rios paid the total of $1.00 for the Sacramento City College Campus. In October 1967, the Sacramento Pop Festival was held at the main campus'
Charles C. Hughes Stadium. In 1970, the newly renamed Los Rios Community College District opened a third campus,
Cosumnes River College.
Folsom Lake College has recently been added to the district. ==Student life==