About Us  
   
 
 
Our Mission:

At Peninsula High School, our mission is continuous learning through RIGOR, RELEVANCE, and RELATIONSHIPS.
 
Rigor
Going Beyond our personal limits
Relevance
Finding meaning in what we do
Relationships
Showing support and empathy for others
 

Our success will come from delivering a unique and quality driven learning experience. To succeed, each and every staff person must have a passion and a dedication to:

  • The development of meaningful relationships with people … staff, students, parents, and the community.
  • Quality instruction that meets the needs of ALL students.
  • Preparing students for their future.
 
 
Our Operating Principles :
 

By consistently executing our operating principles at all levels…everyday…we will accomplish our mission.

  1. We will always operate in such a way that student learning is the focal point of Peninsula High School.
  2. We will always operate in such a way that “customer service” is the key to bringing the Peninsula High School experience to life.
  3. We will always operate in such a way that the Peninsula High School climate sets the stage for a successful and meaningful year thus providing our students with the skills needed to succeed after high school.
 
More Information:
 
Peninsula High School is one of three high schools in the Peninsula School District located in Gig Harbor, Washington. The Peninsula School District is comprised of 15 schools and over 9200 students. Geographically, it is located across the Puget Sound from the Seattle/Tacoma area and covers a 120 square-mile area on two peninsulas. The Peninsula School District is considered one of the strongest and most innovative districts in the State of Washington.


Peninsula High School operates on a bookend schedule which allows teachers to meet with all six classes on Mondays and Fridays, with the middle of the week consisting of four extended periods. The average class size is 30 with the average teacher load being 150 students.


The certified staff consists of the principal, two assistant principals, an athletics/activities director, a full-time librarian, 4.5 counselors including a career and college specialist, a full-time psychologist, a social worker and over 72 teachers. Special services are available from a part-time nurse, speech, occupational and physical therapists.

As a comprehensive high school, Peninsula offers a large selection of academic, fine arts, resource and career and technical courses. Students may enroll part-time at the West Sound Technical Skills Center in Bremerton, located 30 miles to the west. Students may also enroll full-time or part-time in Running Start programs at one of the local community or technical colleges. Peninsula has worked hard to incorporate the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements. Juniors are required to prepare and present Career Portfolios, while seniors must complete and present a culminating project.

The average grade point of Peninsula students is 2.6. The drop-out rate, defined as students leaving prior to graduation without enrollment elsewhere, is approximately 5.4% per year. Approximately 31% of seniors go on to attend four-year colleges and universities while 47% attend two-year schools.

Graduation Requirements

Students are required to earn 22.0 Carnegie units to meet the minimum requirement for graduation. Unit requirements have been increased beyond those stipulated by the State Board of Education to ensure that students undertake a variety of academic, occupational, cultural and recreational courses to enhance their quality of life during high school and beyond. The Board of Directors of the Peninsula School District has established these minimum requirements for graduation:

While 22.0 units are sufficient for graduation, each student must satisfactorily pass specific courses in order to receive a diploma.


Subject Units
English 3.5
Social Studies 3.5
Science 2.0
Mathematics 2.0
Physical Education 2.0
Health 0.5
Career & Technical 1.0
Arts (Performing or Fine) 1.0
Technology 0.5
Career Exploration/Planning (Decisions) 0.5
Electives 5.5

Total 22
Grading and Credit


One-half unit (.5) is given for one semester’s work in a subject which meets one period per day. A student must pass the class with a “D” or better to receive credit. The following are possible grades and GPA point values:

A = 4.0 B+ = 3.3 C+ = 2.3 D+ = 1.3 P = Pass (No value)
A- = 3.7 B = 3.0 C = 2.0 D = 1.0 R = Replaced (No value)
B- = 2.7 C- = 1.7 F = 0


If a student receives a “P” or Pass, credit is awarded but no value is computed into the GPA. An Incomplete is given only when work is not completed due to emergency or illness. It is later expected to be made up and a grade assigned. “R” indicates a grade has been replaced by retaking the course through our system.

All classes carry credit. No weighting system is used. All courses except teacher assistants are included in the calculation of grade point averages.

Advanced Placement courses are offered in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Statistics, Music Theory, Computer Science, European History, World History, U.S. History, US Government, English Literature and English Language Composition. A Pre-AP course is offered in Science.

The three-year Core Math sequence is equivalent to a year each of Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II with Trigonometry.

World Language study is provided in German, Spanish, Chinese and American Sign Language.

Test Scores

For college-bound students, the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is the preferred entrance examination. Students taking the SAT in 2007 averaged 507 math, 521 Critical Reading, and 493 Writing. Approximately 57% of the students take the SAT at least once. Only 10% of the students take the American College Test (ACT). The average composite on the ACT is 22.6.

The State of Washington has an assessment test called the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) that is administered to the 4th, 7th and 10th grades. This test assesses learning in the areas of reading, math, writing and listening. Test results for 10th graders at Peninsula High School for the years 2006 and 2007 are listed below. Numbers represent the percent of students meeting the state standards. By the spring of 2008, passing the WASL will become a high school graduation requirement.

Year Reading Math Writing Science
2006 89         52.3  82        42.4
2007 81.1      56     83.7     44.1

Honors and Awards

Peninsula High School has had two National Merit Finalists in the past two years. Peninsula High School also has 29 A.P. Scholars, including six A.P. Scholars with Honors and seven A.P. Scholars with distinction.

The school newspaper, The Outlook, has won national honors for the last ten years. It has competed locally and nationally winning awards for individual issues and articles. The Peninsula School Knowledge Bowl and Speech and Debate team has won both state and national honors, as have individuals involved in the school’s DECA organization.

In recent years 50-60% of the graduating seniors have participated in the Peninsula Hawks Scholarship Fund program by submitting personal portfolios as the application for the program, and all have been awarded at least $300, some much more. Our recent average for awards per year is $190,000.

Peninsula offers 22 sports and over 20 organized activities for student participation. Approximately 65% of the student body participates in extra-curricular activities.

In the past three years, Peninsula High School athletes have won individual state championships in wrestling and track, and state placements in wrestling, tennis, baseball, fast pitch, soccer, track, swimming and diving, cross country, volleyball, water polo. Additionally, boy’s tennis and girls swim and dive have been recognized as the Academic State Champions.