About

Palisades Charter High School
15777 Bowdoin Street
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 230-6623
www.palihigh.org

Established
1961

Type of School
Palisades Charter High School is an independent, comprehensive public charter school fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC).

Recent Recognition

Named one of America’s Best High Schools by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report (2015)
Named a California Gold Ribbon in 2015
Pali is the 2nd highest performing comprehensive high school in Los Angeles based on its API score

Location
PCHS is nestled on 11 acres in Temescal Canyon between the Santa Monica Mountains and the Santa Monica Bay.

Administration
Dr. Pamela Magee
Executive Director and Principal

Mary Bush
Assistant Principal
Director of Student Support Services

Russel Howard
Assistant Principal
Director of Student Activities, Athletics, and Discipline

Monica Iannessa
Assistant Principal
Director of Admissions, Attendance, and Student Welfare

Jeff Hartman
Assistant Principal
Director of Academic Planning and Counseling

Greg Wood
Chief Business Officer

Amy Nguyen
Human Resources Director

David Riccardi
Director of Operations

John Achen
Athletic Director

Total Enrollment (2015-2016)
2,966 students

Geographic Diversity
Students come from more than 100 zip codes to attend PCHS.

Ethnic Composition (2015-2016)
PCHS enjoys a richly diverse student body that mirrors the unique cultural and ethnic mosaic of the greater Los Angeles area.

White – 53%
Hispanic – 22%
Black – 15%
Asian/Pacific Islander – 10%
Other - 1%

Cultural Diversity
Students come from homes that speak more than 25 different languages, including Spanish, Farsi, Korean, Russian, Mandarin, Hungarian, Romanian, Hindi, and Tagalog.

PCHS offers a variety of programs that provide academic and emotional support, including Fuerza Unida, Latino Student Union, The Village Nation, Gay-Straight Alliance, and more.

Mascot
Dolphins

Graduation Rate
96%

Faculty & Staff
223
PCHS’ 136 faculty members have taught for an average of 15 years.

Academic Excellence
2014-15 AYP - met all targets

Curriculum
Over 40 AP and Honors level courses are offered in Art, Computer Science, English, Foreign Language, Math, Science and Social Studies. PCHS offers a full range of special education services for students who qualify under the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. 9th grade “pods” offer small and personalized learning communities tailored to meet students' individual needs and interests. In 2015-2016, students could choose from one of seven pods: Art Pod, Green Science, Drama, Digital Media, Music, Myth and Meaning, and Social Justice. All students must complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service per year as part of PCHS graduation requirements.

2015-16 Course Catalog

Athletics
PCHS offers a full range of competitive sports programs with 16 different sports, 20 sports teams and 42 participation levels. Football participates in Division I.

The Arts
PCHS offers a full range of arts programs including art history, band, ceramics, choir, dance, film, graphic design, orchestra, painting, photography, studio art and theatre.

Activities
Pali has something for everyone with more than 100 clubs, organizations and activities where students can have fun, make friends and make a difference.

Mission Statement
PCHS will empower our diverse student population to make positive contributions to the global community by dedicating our resources to ensure educational excellence, civic responsibility, and personal growth.

‘On Location’
Many movies, commercials, stills and other media have been shot at Pali, including Teen Wolf, Nordstrom, Chevrolet, Ross Stores, Sports Authority, Carrie, Freaky Friday, and Project X, among others.

Notable Alumni
will.i.am
J.J. Abrams
Steve Kerr
Kiki Vandeweghe
Forest Whitaker
Jennifer Jason Lee
Michael Trope
Katey Segal
… and many others

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