Mid-Peninsula High School, also known as Mid-Pen, is an independent, non-profit and non-sectarian coeducational college preparatory high school located in Menlo Park, California. The school offers a flexible and personalized academic program, small class sizes and accommodations for learning differences. Mid-Pen’s colors are maroon and grey and its school mascot is a Dragon.
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Mid-Pen was founded in 1979 by Phil Bliss and Herman Ohme after Cubberley High School in Palo Alto was closed due to budget cuts. Perceiving a need for alternatives to the public system, Bliss and Ohme began advocating for students experiencing difficulty or dissatisfaction in the public school system or who had undiagnosed learning differences.
In typical Silicon Valley start-up fashion, Ohme began schooling the first three Mid-Pen students in his living room in early 1980. Herman and Phil soon leased space at the recently closed Cubberley High School and by the end of the 1979-1980 academic year, the school had 40 students and one graduate. Because Prop 13 caused many public school districts to abandon summer school, Mid-Peninsula experienced a very high enrollment for summer school in 1980, which translated into more students for the following fall semester.
In response to this increased enrollment, the school's founders leased a new Mid-Peninsula High School site on Ross Road in Palo Alto. After five years, this site was scheduled for demolition, so the school relocated to the 870 N. California Avenue campus in Palo Alto. After 15 years this site was reclaimed by the Palo Alto Unified School District. As a result, Mid-Peninsula had its first capital campaign and was able to purchase and remodel its current home located at 1340 Willow Road in Menlo Park and on January 31, 2001 Mid-Peninsula took up residence at its new facility.
Mid-Peninsula's curriculam meets standards of admission for both the University of California and the California State University institutions as well as private institutions of higher learning. Mid-Pen is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)[1] and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). The school focuses on individualized learning approaches and employs flexible programming to accommodate various learning styles and reduce stress. Class sizes are typically smaller than 15 students.
Mid-Peninsula’s variable credit program grants academic credit based on the quantity of work, while grades are based on the quality of work. Emphasis is placed on personal motivation, character and self-discipline.[2] [3]
Mid-Peninsula is a Division V school, has been a member of the Central Coast Section (CCS) for 20 years, and is also a member of the Private School Athletic League (PSAL). The school has several championships for soccer, baseball and basketball.
Mid-Peninsula employs a “no-cut” policy for all team sports (however, individual playing time is determined by attendance, performance and attitude). Volleyball, soccer and basketball are offered for boys and girls, while baseball is offered for boys and softball is offered for girls. Cross Country is co-educational.