Palm Desert High School
| Palm Desert High School | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
 | |
74910 Aztec Road, Palm Desert, CA 92260 | |
| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1986 |
| Principal | Robert Hicks |
| Enrollment | 1,980 (2011) |
| Newspaper | Spear |
| Information | (760) 862-4300 |
| Colors Mascot | Red and Gold Aztec |
| Website | PDHS Home Page |
Palm Desert High School is a secondary school located in Palm Desert, California. The school is a part of the Desert Sands Unified School District.
Palm Desert High School was founded in 1986. For the 2010-2011 year the enrollment was 1,980.[1] Many of Palm Desert High School students come from feeder schools Palm Desert Charter Middle School and Colonel Mitchell Paige Middle School.
Academics
Palm Desert offers an array of Advanced Placement and Honors courses. In 2009, PDHS reached the standardized testing score of 810. In 2012 Palm Desert High School achieved a standardized testing score of 818. In 2013 Palm Desert High School achieved a standardized testing score of 825. Palm Desert High School is ranked 9 out of 10 when compared to similar schools by the Academic Performance Index. Palm Desert High School is ranked 260th within California. Students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement course work and exams. The AP participation rate at Palm Desert High School is 42 percent.
Clubs
- 21st Century Bike Club
- Academic Decathlon
- Activism Now
- Anime Club
- ASB
- Aztec Couture Fashion Club
- Aztec Film Club
- Aztec Impact
- Best Buddies
- BSU (Bold, Strong and United)
- Chamber Singers
- Cheer
- Chess Club
- Choreography Club
- Christian Club
- Class of 2011
- Class of 2013
- Class of 2014
- Class of 2015
- Class of 2016
- Club Mud
- Color Guard
- Comic Book Club
- Concert Band
- Cool Club
- CSF
- Dance Club
- Dance Team
- Debate Club
- Drama Club
- ENLACE
- Ensemble
- Environmental Science
- Equestrian Club
- FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
- Fight Club
- French Club
- Friday Night Live
- GSA (Stonewallers)
- Harry Potter Club
- Hip Hop Club
- Indian Cultural Awareness Association
- Interact
- Iron Chefs
- Jazz Ensemble
- Jewish Club
- JSA
- Key Club
- Kids Wish for Kids
- Link Crew
- Marching Aztecs
- Martha's Kitchen Club
- Mock Trial
- Model United Nations
- Mythology
- No Cuss Club
- NHS
- National Watching JSA Club Club (NWJCC)
- PAWS
- Percussion Ensemble
- Print Media Club
- PTO
- Readers to Leaders
- Robotics Club
- Roller Blading Club
- SAAC (Students Against Animal Cruelty)
- Scribble-Lit Arts Mag
- Slam Club
- Spear
- Spear It Tribe
- Swole Club
- Teenage Republicans
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Vegetarian Club
- Volleyball Club
- Wind Ensemble
- Yearbook
- Younglife
- Youth & Government
Sports
Palm Desert's mascot is the Aztec. The school has tennis, cross country, soccer, track, golf, swimming, baseball, softball, volleyball, basketball, football, wrestling, water polo and equestrian teams. Their main rival is the La Quinta High School Blackhawks. [2]
Reconstruction
Palm Desert High School was reconstructed as part of the District's $100 million bond used for PDHS, Lincoln, Kennedy, and Eisenhower schools. The new campus has been built to the north of the old campus using the former sports fields for land. The project was completely finished by the beginning of the 2011-12 school year. The new fields opened by the following year.. The new classrooms have state-of-the-art facilities. Classrooms have a capacity for 10 or more computers. A new gymnasium has been built to seat approximately 2000 students.
Notable alumni
- Scott Burcham - baseball shortstop in the Colorado Rockies organization
- Nicole Castrale – class of 1997, professional golfer on LPGA Tour
- James Dockery – class of 2006, NFL cornerback with the Carolina Panthers
- Thomas DeMarco - class of 2007, CFL quarterback with the Ottawa Redblacks
- D.J. Alexander - class of 2010, NFL linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs
- Josh Homme – class of 1991, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Kyuss, and Them Crooked Vultures
- Jesse Hughes – class of 1990, singer and guitarist of rock band Eagles of Death Metal.
- Alison Lohman – class of 1997, actress
- Donald Brady – class of 2002, Head Men's Basketball Coach at Bellevue College