Palm Desert High School: Home of the Aztecs

Palm Desert High School just completed an excellent year. Our outstanding staff continues to develop high level students, athletes, and citizens who will continue to make contributions to our community.

At this time of year we celebrate the commencement of our seniors, and plan for the students to return in the next school year. We reflect and build on all of the Palm Desert High School 2017-18 school year success.

This year’s senior class included the first graduates to complete the AP Capstone program. The Palm Desert High School AP Capstone program, offered through College Board, is one of only 300 such programs in the entire country. It is one of the most prestigious and rigorous academic programs offered by a comprehensive high school.

The program prepares our students to both meet content knowledge demands at a university level, and to learn the skills to be successful at the university level. Palm Desert High School students take one thousand AP exams each year while maintaining a pass rate of approximately 72 percent.

Palm Desert High School prides itself on high academic standards evident through AP Capstone, and through our various CTE (Career Technical Education) academies and pathways. PDHS offers a Health Academy focused on diagnostic services and health informatics.

The Environmental Engineering Pathway features cutting-edge Project Lead The Way curriculum designed for students with an interest in technology. The Software and Systems Development Pathway prepare students for careers in computer science. The new Film Academy offers courses that fit into the CTE arts, media, and entertainment industry sector. PDHS is also an AVID school and continues to graduate approximately two hundred students a year who have at least one dual enrollment class completed to earn college credit.

Palm Desert High School enjoys a rich tradition in extra-curricular activities such as visual and performing arts and athletics. During the 2017-18 school year, PDHS finished second nationally in the World Quest Academic Challenge; ten different athletic teams won league titles; fourteen athletes will move on to the university level on full athletic scholarships; band and color guard competed for state championships, and visual art students won prestigious awards both locally and at the state level.

Palm Desert High School also enjoys incredible community support in its quest for academic and extracurricular excellence. The PDHS Foundation supports the school by providing financial assistance for extensive academic enrichment opportunities for students and the PDHS Parent/Teacher organization is active and vital to the school’s success. The city of Palm Desert (mayor and City Council) continues to be extremely generous in its support of PDHS students as well.

In short, Palm Desert High School offers a well-rounded high school experience with excellent academic and extracurricular activities. We like to say “there is something for everyone here at Palm Desert High” and preparing students for future success through rigorous learning experiences is a critical focus.