| Palm Harbor University High School | |
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Life is good at PHUHS
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| Location | |
| 1900 Omaha St. Palm Harbor, Florida, United States |
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| Information | |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1996 |
| Superintendent | Dr. John Stewart (interim superintendent)[1] |
| Principal | Christine Tonry (As of the 2010-2011 school year) |
| Enrollment | 2,261 |
| Color(s) | ████ Maroon
████ Navy |
| Mascot | Hurricane |
| Nickname | PHUHS |
| Website | Palm Harbor University High School Website |
Palm Harbor University High School, also known as PHUHS, is a nationally-performing public high school for grades 9-12 located in Palm Harbor, Florida. The school's mascot is the Hurricanes and the school's colors are navy and maroon. This school is considered among the finest centers of public High School education in the southern United States. The campus was built in 1996 and was originally to be known as the University High School at Palm Harbor. The University would emphasize the intended cooperation with the University of South Florida, but this did not materialize. All students currently belong to either the traditional program, which is called the "University Program" even though none of those students are in a university, or one of two magnet programs:
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In the past several years, PHUHS has ranked very highly, with over 80% of the graduating class qualifying for Florida Bright Futures Scholarships and students consistently performing in the top 1% of scores for the state-wide FCAT standardized test. The school has the highest graduation rate of all high schools in Pinellas County. Palm Harbor University High also received a 10 out of 10 and an A grade from greatschools.net,[3] was named in the 2004 USA TODAY Academic All-Star Honorable Mention, and won 35 athletic championships at the local, regional and state level.[4] The high school was mentioned in the Newsweek listing of the best High Schools in the U.S. and was awarded a Silver Medal ranking in the 2008 U.S. News & World Report Best High Schools. Its International Baccalaureate program [5] has led over 700 students to the IB diploma, and has maintained the second highest percentage of diplomas in North America within the 60 (or more) students per graduating class category. PHUHS is a recipient of Florida's Five Star Award for outstanding community involvement, and boasts a total of 47 National Merit finalists.
Palm Harbor High School boasts a prestigious Mathematical Honor Society, or Mu Alpha Theta. The Honor Society attracts more than 200 members each year, making it the largest of any other Mu Alpha Theta Chapter in the Tampa Bay Area. Bolstered by Palm Harbor's Rigorous High Level Math International Baccalaureate Program, Mu Alpha Theta members compete both at the national and state level in divisions ranging from Geometry to Calculus, and winning many awards and recognitions throughout.[6]
Palm Harbor's Mu Alpha Theta, sponsored by Jackie Linder, focuses on developing interest in mathematics and providing an atmosphere that encourages students across the school to pursue paths in engineering, computer science, math education, and other mathematical careers. The club sets a standard of voluntary excellence, where one receives what one gives in self study, and vice versa.
The Florida Association of Mu Alpha Theta has also awarded Mr. David Macfarlane, the distinguished title of "The Interschool Man", as the Palm Harbor Mu Alpha Theta Chapter has won the formidible Interschool Test Competition for more than seven years in a row.
Palm Harbor's Mu Alpha Theta not only seeks to promote exploration in its high school students, but also sponsors the annual Mighty Mu Competition, which challenges young elementary and middle school students around the county to discover the art of mathematics at an extraordinarily early age. All tests are written voluntarily by students in the Mu Alpha Theta Society as a contribution towards the common good.[7]
Palm Harbor competes in baseball (boys), basketball, cheerleading, cross country, flag football (girls), American football, golf, soccer, softball (girls), spring American football, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball (girls) and wrestling.[8] Palm Harbor also has a hockey and a dance fusion team which aren't official school functions.
The medical program allows students to get an overview of the medical field and learn about the human body and diseases along the way.[9] By senior year, each student will enroll in either a Nursing Assistant class, Dental Class or Allied Health (where students study and shadow three different medical professions during the year). Students also become CPR certified their sophomore year and get re-certified their senior years.
The International Baccalaureate program has graduated thousands of students, many who have gone on to prestigious universities. The program gives students an advanced course load with a schedule similar to that of a 4-year university. Students take Advanced Placement classes their junior year instead of senior year to allow time to prepare for exams for the IB diploma.
One of the school's many clubs is H.O.S.A. (Health Occupation Students of America).[10]
Another of the school's largest clubs is Mu Alpha Theta, a national math honor society. Its members have competed in competitions and have placed highly among other top-ranked programs. See above category for more information.
The PHUHS robotics team was initiated in 2008 and placed 2nd in world competition.
Palm Harbor University High School's Aftermath yearbook staff has produced consistently superior yearbooks throughout the school's history, earning awards from the National Scholastic Press Association, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and the Florida Scholastic Press Association.
Palm Harbor's newspaper, The EYE, has received the Florida Scholastic Press Association's All-American Award, and the National Scholastic Press Association's Gold Medal, placing the publication in the top 10% of all high school newspapers in the country.
In the 2007-2008 school year, a debate team was started by Jamie Day prior to his resignation in 2010. In 2009 Kristen Porter, Daniel Cullen, and Daniel Silver were the first team members of the new club to go to the national competition.
In the 2010- 2011 a chapter of Key Club was started mid-year at PHUHS.