Palos Verdes Peninsula High School: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox school |
{{Infobox school |
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|name = Palos Verdes Peninsula High School |
|name = Palos Verdes Peninsula High School |
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|image = |
|image = Peninsula_logo.gif |
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|image size = 225px |
|image size = 225px |
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|free_label = Original name |
|free_label = Original name |
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|principal = Mitzi Cress |
|principal = Mitzi Cress |
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|location = 27118 Silver Spur Road,<br/>[[Rolling Hills Estates, California]] |
|location = 27118 Silver Spur Road,<br/>[[Rolling Hills Estates, California]] |
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|homepage = http://www.pvphs.com |
|homepage = http://www.pvphs.com |
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|enrollment = 2,409 |
|enrollment = 2,409 |
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|faculty |
|faculty = 111 |
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|F/S Ratio |
|F/S Ratio = 21.7 |
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|established = 1964 |
|established = 1964 |
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|free_label2 = Renamed |
|free_label2 = Renamed |
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Revision as of 23:38, 7 June 2011
| Palos Verdes Peninsula High School | |
|---|---|
| File:Peninsula logo.gif | |
| Location | |
 | |
27118 Silver Spur Road, Rolling Hills Estates, California | |
| Information | |
| Established | 1964 |
| Principal | Mitzi Cress |
| Faculty | 111 |
| Enrollment | 2,409 |
| Color(s) | Black and Gold |
| Mascot | Panthers |
| Original name | Rolling Hills High School |
| Renamed | 1991 |
| Website | http://www.pvphs.com |
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (also known as Peninsula High, Pen High, or PVPHS) is one of three public high schools on the Palos Verdes Peninsula (the others being Palos Verdes High School, and Rancho Del Mar High School). Located at the corner of Hawthorne Boulevard and Silver Spur Road, Peninsula High serves the communities of Rolling Hills Estates, Rolling Hills, Rancho Palos Verdes and Palos Verdes Estates.
PVPHS has been ranked 15th in the nation by Newsweek and 89th by U.S. News and World Report. It currently has an API of 891 in the state of California.[1]
The school was formed in 1991 when Miraleste High School, Palos Verdes High School and Rolling Hills High School were merged into a single high school. The former Rolling Hills High School campus (opened 1964) had the highest capacity and was used for the combined school. When overcrowding became a problem after 1999, the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District elected to re-open Palos Verdes High School in 2002. There are approximately 2500 students.
The school vision statement follows:
"The Peninsula High community envisions its graduates as successful lifelong learners in a rapidly changing global environment. The depth and breadth of the curricular and co-curricular programs will produce students who achieve their highest academic, career, and personal potentials, while developing positive self-images in a safe, secure, tolerant and aesthetic environment."
Enrollment of 2,409 includes 552 seniors, 643 juniors, 582 sophomores, and 632 freshmen with a certificated staff of 111 (96 teachers, 6 counselors, 3 administrators, 1 athletic director, 1 activities director, 1 safe school counselor, 1 psychologist, 1 librarian, and 1 nurse) to service the multi-ethnic student body.
Students compete in baseball, basketball, choreo, crew, cross country, equestrian, football, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, pep squad, roller hockey, rowing, soccer, softball, surfing, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.
Class of 2009 Profile
Class of 2010 profile
- 25 National Merit Finalists[3]
- 42 Commended Students
- 1 National Hispanic Scholar
- 3 National Achievement Semifinalists
Academics
PVPHS has been designated within the state a California Distinguished School, and nationally a New American High School. It has a blue ribbon from the United States Department of Education.
PVPHS students matriculate to top colleges, including (in 2010), 5 students to MIT, 3 to Harvard, 2 to Yale, and 8 to Stanford.[4]
Awards: • Ranked 89 by US News and World report out of (18,500) • Distinguished California School (four times) • National Blue Ribbon School (35 schools named of 18,500) • New American High School (one of ten named out of 18,500 schools) • Siemens Foundation Science Winner (one of four schools of over 27,000) • Newsweek recognition (#15 of 18,500 schools) • Wall Street Journal (top ten of 27,000 schools) • California Junior Classical League (several times)
PVPHS offers foreign language courses in Chinese (1,2,3, 3H, AP), French (1, 2, 3, 3H, 4AP, 5AP Literature, Projects), Japanese (1, 2, 3, 3H, 4, 4AP), Spanish (1, 2, 3, 3H, 4, 4AP, 5H), and Latin (1, 2, 3, 3H, 4, 4AP).[5]
Courses at PVPHS go beyond the basics; the school offers classes such as Comparative Religions, Robotics, Aerospace Engineering, Sociology, Philosophy, Ethics, International Relations, Womens' Studies, Advanced Philosophy and Religion, Comparative Literature, Forensics (Debate), Mythology, Shakespeare, Advanced Calculus (H), Graphic Design, Foundations of Scientific Thought, Geology, Marine Biology (H), Art History, and more.[6]
PVPHS is known for its strong test scores. For example, in SAT II Tests (out of 800), the average score at PVPHS is 706 in Chemistry, 754 in Chinese, 669 in Math Level II, and 768 in Japanese. The average SAT scores are 578 reading, 634 math, and 605 writing. The average composite ACT score at PVPHS is 27.2, significantly higher than in the state overall (22.2) or the country (21.0). [3]
In May of 2010 a total of 907 PVPHS students took 2076 Advanced Placement examinations in 30 different subjects. 83% of the scores were 3 or above. 39% of the student body was enrolled in Advanced Placement classes. [3]
For the class of 2011, approximately 40 students have a GPA of 4.75–5.00, and 65 more have a GPA of 4.5–4.74. [3]
Extracurricular activities
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School’s record of sustained excellence has received national, state, and local recognition competing in the areas of mathematics, science, career technical arts, visual arts, dance, drama, student publications, Academic Decathlon, Model United Nations, Speech and Debate, and Mock Trial.
The Speech and Debate Team (accessed here [1]) qualified 13 students to the CHSSA State Championship in 2010 and 18 in 2011 , and has over 70 members who participate in Public Forum, Parliamentary, and Lincoln Douglas Debate as well as in many Individual Events such as Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory, Advocacy, and Humorous Interpretation.[7] The team is affiliated with the National Forensic League (NFL) and the California High School Speech Association (CHSSA), and participates in the West Bay Forensic League, where it consistently takes home first place in most events, including HI, Parli, Extemp, Impromptu, Interp, Thematic, Duo, etc. In 2011, the team took home 5th place in Original Prose and Poetry at the CHSSA State Championships, as well as spots in the top 20 and 16 in Lincoln Douglas and Parliamentary Debate respectively. For the first time in its history, PVPHS qualified two students to the National Tournament of Champions, both of whom took spots in the top 30 nationally.
The school yearbook, "La Pantera," The 2010 Yearbook was honored by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association with the Gold Medal, receiving 973 out of 1000 possible points. The school newspaper, “The Pen,“ has been honored with first place recognition through the Southwest Journalism Education Association. In addition “The Pen” won first place with special merit in the American Scholastic Press Association’s national competition and was a Pacemaker finalist for the 2008–2009 school year.
"Eye of the Panther News", (EOP) the schools broadcast journalism program was created in 2007, and continues today.
Science Research is an elective course which affords students the opportunity to study, in-depth, a chosen topic in Science, Engineering, Social Science or Mathematics. Research students from Palos Verdes Peninsula High School consistently compete in the annual prestigious Los Angeles and California State Science Fairs at one of the highest rates in the state. Two selected students annually attend the INTEL International Science/Engineering Fair. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School research students have obtained finalist status for Siemens-Westinghouse and INTEL Talent Search scholarships. A Peninsula research student in 2008 won the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, the highest level international high school competition for water based projects. Research students develop independent study skills, higher order research techniques and working relationships with peers, mentors, industry professionals and college admission officers.
PVPHS has the strongest Latin program in the state of California, having taken 1st place in the State Latin competition 15 years in a row.
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School has been awarded the National Schools of Distinction Award from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education.
The PVPHS Robotics team placed in the top 10 at the 2010 LA Regional Competition. Additionally, the PVPHS Solar Boat team placed in the top 10 at the Metropolitan Water District Solar Cup.
There are more than 100 extracurricular clubs and activities at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School including: National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation, Model United Nations, Mock Trial, Teen Court, Key Club, Black Student Union, Future Business Leaders of America, Junior Statesmen of America, Latin Club, Spanish Honor Society, Science Olympiad, Girls’ Service Club, Amnesty International, Interact, Leo Club, Science Bowl, Academic Decathlon, and Best Buddies.
Arts Education is an essential component of the school curriculum. Palos Verdes Peninsula High School was awarded the prestigious National Schools of Distinction Award from the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education. The drama department is recognized as one of the most outstanding programs in the highly competitive Southern California area, consistently sweeping thespian awards at festivals and competitions, including the Bravo Award for the Outstanding Performing Arts Department in Southern California. The 120 students who participated in the chorus program have had opportunities to compete in local and national competitions. Two full orchestras, a marching band and two jazz bands round out the music program. Upon graduation, 99% of the class of 2011 will have completed at least one full year of a visual or performing art in the following areas: Ceramics, Sculpture (including Glass Blowing), Photography, Video Production, Jazz Band, Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Chamber Jazz Choir, Women’s Choir, Drawing and Painting, Intermediate Dance, Choreo Dance, Concert Band, Music Appreciation, Guitar, Music Theory AP, Studio Art AP, Digital Animation, and Graphic Design.
Supervising judges from the Superior Court of L.A. County work closely with our students enrolled in Teen Court. Sudents participate in a variety of actual cases, exposing them to all aspects of our legal system.
Demographics
As of the 2009–2010 school year, PVPHS students were 43% White, 40% Asian, 8% Hispanic, 4% Filipino, and 3% African American.[8]
Sports
PVPHS has more than 180 league titles, more than 40 CIF titles, 8 state titles, 4 national titles.
Palos Verdes Peninsula Panthers Sports
Notable alumni
- Denzel Whitaker Class of 2008
- Rika Tatsuno Class of 2007
- Whitney Engen Class of 2006
- Erik Lorig Class of 2005, NFL player[9]
- Craig Stevens Class of 2003
- Kyle Nakazawa (attended 2002–03. but did not graduate)
- Robert Soloway (aka The Seattle Spammer)
- Scott Jackson Class of 1997, former NFL player
- Clark Haggans Class of 1995
- Petros Papadakis Class of 1995
- John Welbourn Class of 1994
- Kevin Hartman Class of 1992
- Jay Bilas Class of 1982
- Vince DiFiore Class of 1982
- Tracy Austin Class of 1980
- Duane Davis Class of 1979
- Kevin Moen Class of 1979 ("The Play", Cal vs Stanford)
- Vicki Peterson Class of 1976
- Don Slaught Class of 1976
- Debbi Peterson
- Christopher Boyce Class of 1971 (The Falcon and the Snowman)
- Lee Ritenour Class of 1970...renowned jazz guitarist
- Duane Chase Class of 1969...actor, movie version of The Sound of Music
Class reunion information
References
- ^ "2010 Growth API School Report – Palos Verdes Peninsula High". Api.cde.ca.gov. December 16, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ a b "Peninsula honors and awards students". Pvphs.com. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Palos Verdes Peninsula High School – School Profile". Pvphs.com. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ http://www.pvpusd.k12.ca.us/penhi/collegeacceptance/collegeacceptance09.pdf
- ^ "Palos Verdes Peninsula High School – Foreign Language". Pvphs.com. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ "Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District" (PDF). Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ http://www.pantherdebate.org
- ^ "2010 API Growth School Report". Api.cde.ca.gov. December 16, 2010. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
- ^ "Player Bio: Erik Lorig – Stanford University's Official Athletic Site". Gostanford.com. Retrieved January 13, 2011.