Palisades Charter High School's Social Studies Department is committed to creating an academic program that is second to none. Students in the social studies program will develop an understanding and appreciation of the contributions that diverse civilizations and cultures have made throughout history and the impact they have had on the development of democratic ideals.  Students will study contemporary geographic, social, political, and economic issues that shaped the world our students live in today.

Students will be enrolled in a social studies class each year at Pali.  They will have a variety of classes to meet their individual needs and interests.  The emphasis in the Social Studies Department is to enhance our students' classroom experiences with a wide variety of educational opportunities including, but not limited to, debate and historical inquiry, community involvement, group and individual projects that embrace technology, and various student interactive activities.  Students will have opportunities to foster their creativity and challenge their critical thinking skills using current events, multimedia sources, and other research tools.

Student will begin their coursework in the 9th grade enrolled in  "pods".  These "pods" are small learning communities designed to make the transition from middle school to high school smoother.   Each pod has a different emphasis (music, art, drama, technology, and  green science) that students choose from based on their interests.  They are designed to give students an introduction to the major concepts and skills that they will need throughout their high school careers. as well as integrating ideas from across the curriculum.  Subsequent classes are designed to give students a deeper understanding of the past and how it relates to the present and future: World History (10th grade) United States History (11th grade) and US Government/ Economics (12th grade).  These courses meet the A-G requirements at UCs and Cal States.  We offer five Advanced Placement options in social studies: World History, European History, United States History,  Human Geography, and Government.  In addition, students have the opportunity to enroll in Honors level curriculum.

In addition to course offerings our department is dedicated to providing students with opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities related to social studies. Some of this year's choices were Model United Nations, Mock Trial, Junior State of America, and Girls and Boys State.