Peoria High School (Arizona)

Peoria High School
Location
11200 North 83rd Avenue Peoria, Arizona, United States of America 85345
Coordinates 33°35′14″N 112°14′23″W / 33.587095°N 112.239822°W / 33.587095; -112.239822Coordinates: 33°35′14″N 112°14′23″W / 33.587095°N 112.239822°W / 33.587095; -112.239822
Information
Type Public Secondary
Established 1919
Principal Mr. Paul Bower
Faculty 139
Enrollment 1,624 (October 1, 2012)[1]
Color(s)           Green and gold
Mascot Panthers
Rivals

Cactus High School

Centennial High School

Raymond S. Kellis High School
AIA Class 4A
Website Peoria High School

Peoria High School is a public secondary school located in Peoria, Arizona, United States. It is the oldest high school in the Peoria Unified School District, opening in August 1922, and the fifth-largest of the district's seven high schools, with an enrollment of about 1,600.

Overpopulation

Rapid growth from infill developments in the farms bordering Peoria High School, master planned communities being built to the south, and students moving into the bordering Youngtown area caused a major spike in Peoria High School's enrollment. Between 2000 and 2004, a new building complex was constructed, and students were eating during three lunch periods. During the 2003-2004 school year, the school hit a peak in its student population, in the low 3,000s, and also welcomed the district's largest freshman class, with more than 900 new students. The school was ranked as 5A, at the time the largest Arizona Interscholastic Association classification, and was the third largest high school in the state. The school was also in need of major renovations.

A reliever high school was finally constructed, and Raymond S. Kellis High School (in Glendale city limits) was opened for the 2004-2005 school year. The new high school is located in the city limits of Glendale, approximately 3 miles south of Peoria High. This relieved most of the rapidly expanding areas from Peoria High, including all of Country Meadows Elementary and Cotton Boll Elementary, and most of Sun Valley Elementary students. This also gave Alta Loma Elementary students a choice to attend either Peoria or Kellis and Ira A. Murphy Elementary students a choice to attend either Peoria or Centennial. Due to the opening of Kellis, the number of students enrolled at Peoria has rapidly declined over the years to its current number in the 1,600s.

Academics

Honor programs

Many different academic tracks are offered for students to meet their needs. The first is the basic track which helps the student to take classes that interest them and allow a wide variety with no added weight in GPA. Another track is the honors program which offers somewhat of a harder work load and helps to boost the student's GPA by weighting the grades more. The last track is the Advanced Placement (AP) program which offers college level classes and college credit for those that apply. This track weights the grades the same as an honors class, but allows the student to leave high school with a certain number of college credits already to their name. All students may take a mixture of basic, honors and AP if they wish.

Graduate ratio

Peoria High School has more than 94% of its students graduate after four years. The graduation ceremony takes place at the University of Phoenix Stadium, which is located in the neighboring city of Glendale.

Activities

Student government

One of the more active clubs on campus is the student council. Some of the council's functions include promoting school spirit by planning spirit weeks, pep rallies, dances, homecoming and the prom. Student council includes freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors. Freshmen elections take place in December. All other elections are held at the end of each year for the following year.

Band (Marching Band / Concert Band / Jazz Band / Winter Drumline)

Starting with the 2009-2010 season, the PHS Band and Instrumental music program is under the direction of Mr. Chris Pierson, who comes from the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University. The Division II band program is well respected, with the symphonic and jazz bands having received numerous "excellent", "superior" and "superior with distinction" ratings at the Arizona Band and Orchestra Director's Association events.

The band program is directed and organized by Mr. Chris Pierson, with numerous staff members assisting and running various aspects of the band program. Ms. Jenny Bement is the Assistant Director, Mr. Cutler Boughn is the Percussion Caption-Head and Ms. Erin Abrahamson is the Colorguard Caption-Head. Various other staff include additional brass, percussion, woodwind and colorguard instructors who assist in teaching their various areas of expertise.

Agriculture department

A nationally recognized program at Peoria is that of agriculture. Every year, the students plan a 2-day conference for students throughout the state to attend.

Peoria Dance Theatre

The Peoria Dance Theatre is a club for females and males who are skilled in all forms of dance. The club holds a dance concert for the community and school twice a year: one in the winter and one in the spring. To join, one must audition for the program, which traditionally occurs in the early spring for the following year.

M.E.S.A.

Originally designated for students of minorities, this engineering club is recognized nationwide for its excellence and attention to detail. No longer for minority students, anyone may participate, regardless of race or year in school. In addition to having a high school M.E.S.A team, a junior team is offered to 6-8th grade students who attend Peoria's feeder schools.

Athletic programs

In the late 1980s, Peoria was one of the most dominant and successful athletics programs in Arizona. Between 1984 and 1989, Peoria won 8 State Championships in Men's and Women's Basketball, Women's Softball, Men's Baseball, Football and Wrestling.

Championships

Alumni

References

  1. ↑ AIA 2012 enrollment figures
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