Highland High School (Palmdale, California)

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Highland High School
Established	1989
Type	Public High School
Principal	Stacy Bryant
Faculty	145
Students	around 4,000
Grades	9-12
Location	39055 25th Street West, Palmdale, CA 93551, Palmdale, California,, USA
Colors	Cardinal and Gold
Mascot	Bulldog
Newspaper	'Paw Print'
Website	"www.highlandhs.org"

Highland High School is located in Palmdale, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. About 4,000 students attend Highland High School in grades 9 through 12. It received a California Distinguished School award in 2005.

Highland High School was founded in 1989 in response to Palmdale's rapid population growth. Palmdale High School was not large enough to serve the children of the new families moving into the Antelope Valley. Highland High School is now the largest high school under the Antelope Valley Union High School District. The school has seen a rapid increase in the number of students each year as the area around Highland becomes more developed. The school also attracts students outside of its own district as one of the two schools in the area (the other being Quartz Hill High School) to offer the International Baccalaureate program.

The school's website defines its mission as follows:

"The mission of Highland High School is to provide an opportunity for all students to be empowered with the knowledge and skills derived from a quality core and elective curriculum; to encourage all students to develop their capacity for critical thought and effective communication in order to function in the jobs available today and in the future; and to become well-informed and productive citizens."

[edit] International Baccalaureate

Highland High School is one of two schools in the AVUHSD to offer an IB program, allowing for smaller learning environments for those in the IB Academy. The program was founded by Glen Horst, who founded the Highland chapter after teaching at Highland. It is now run through a joint venture between Brian Guthrie and M. Lilley. Those who wish to be a part of the IB program usually start in 9th grade with the Pre-IB Program after taking the required examination for admittance. This allows for two years of training before full immersion into the real IB program which encompasses the junior and senior year. Students pursuing the Diploma take six courses, usually from six different subject areas, with three or four of them taken at higher level and the rest at standard level.

Group 1: Language A1 - At Highland, the only Group 1 Language is English which is offered at the Higher Level. In this subject, the candidate must write two World Literature papers based on the books read in the 11th grade. A presentation and oral commentary must also be completed. Junior year tends to focus on world literature, while senior year's main focus is on poetry and the oral commentary.

Group 2: Second Language - At Highland there are only two current languages offered; IB Latin and IB Spanish. Both of these can only be taken at the Standard Level, though years 1-3 must be taken throughout the student's high school career. Currently, Latin's main focus is on translating the poetry of Catullus, Horatio, and Vergil's Aeneid. Spanish, however, focuses on learning how to fluently speak the language.

Group 3: Individuals and Societies - There are a variety of Group 3 subjects available at Highland. IB History of the Americas and IB Economics are the primary social sciences and IB Psychology the study of the Individual. IB History is offered only at the HL level and requires one Internal Assessment compiled throughout the Junior and Senior years before being submitted as well as the final test. IB Economics, however, is only offered at the SL and requires 4, much smaller, Internal Assessments. This can only be taken during the senior year, though you may take both History and Economics at the same time. Finally, Psychology can also be taken at the SL. If the student chooses, a 2 group 3 subjects may be taken in lieu of both group 3 and 6 courses.

Group 4: Experimental Sciences - Only Biology and Physics are offered from this group at Highland. Both are offered at the HL, though only Physics is offered at the SL. To pass the course, a project which involves both subjects must be completed by groups of 5 students as well as a portfolio of labs be compiled and the final exam be passed.

Group 5: Mathematics - Math SL and Math Studies SL are both offered, the latter of the two being the less difficult of the courses. A small Internal Assessment must be completed as well as the test. Theses courses are normally taken during the Junior year, though they may be taken at the Senior level.

Group 6: Arts - There are only two subjects offered from this group at Highland High School; IB Theatre Arts and IB Art. Theatre Arts, offered only at the HL, focuses on the various aspects of theatre; acting, directing, set design, etc. It culminates at the end with an oral commentary in which you divulge how you would direct and design a given play. This course also requires a journal detailing what has been learned throughout the two years. IB Arts focuses on the different styles of art and is meant to further a young artist's style and understanding of the Art world. A heavy emphasis tends to be placed on symbolism and a final "art show" is given, during which the student is judged and assigned a score. A sketch book must also be compiled and submitted.

Theory of Knowledge - This course is offered instead of the Senior Project, a required course in the Antelope Valley Union High School District, as it is required by IB. It involves a 2 semester course, offered at the end of Junior year and the beginning of Senior year. An essay consisting of at most 4,000 words must also be written with a dissertation regarding the subject being completed before the course is over.

150 hours of CAS must also be completed, spread out over one and a half years. At most 25 hours can be attributed to Creativity, Action, or Service portions of the program. Failing to complete this program results in disqualification from the program.