counter
School Profile
Palisades Charter High School is a financially independent comprehensive four year high school. In 1993 a Charter was approved by the Los Angeles Unified School District and the California State Department of Education, which specified accountability for higher levels of student achievement. In 2003, all school stakeholder groups unanimously supported the transition to financial independence and accountability.

A Mathematics, Science and Technology Magnet program was added in 1994, and a New Media Entertainment Academy was formed in 1997 which provides instruction in digital technology and electronic communication.

Palisades Charter High is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The school year includes two semesters of 20 weeks each. There are three alternating class periods per day of approximately 100 minutes each (six courses per semester). There are 130 certificated staff members, including 1 librarian, 7 full-time guidance counselors and one college counselor.

STUDENT BODY
Total enrollment
2629 (506 Seniors)
Geographic Diversity
Students from more than 100 ZIP Codes attend Palisades Charter High School.
Ethnic Composition
African-American 21.50%
Asian 7.50%
Hispanic 25.90%
White 42.90%
Other 2.20%

CURRICULUM
AP Courses offered:
  Art - Drawing Chemistry Government European History
Art - 2D Computer Science Physics U.S. History
Art History English Language Spanish Language Calculus AB
Biology English Lit./Comp. Spanish Literature Calculus BC
World History Statistics French Language Environmental Science
      Music Theory
Honors Level Courses offered:
  English 10 World Literature World History French 2, 3, 4
Amer. Lit & Comp Geometry, Algebra 2 Math Analysis Economics
Advanced Comp Spanish 2, 3 U.S. Government U.S. History
Contemporary Comp Chemistry Physics Biology

College-bound students earn the remaining credits for graduation by completing additional math and science courses, and a minimum of 20 credits of foreign language. Students may also take other elective courses. Students are required to take 5 credits of Computer Science. Students must complete ten hours of community service per year. Competency tests are required in Reading, Writing, Mathematics and Language.

GPA/CLASS RANK

Preliminary rank is calculated on a 4.0+ scale based on all grades earned in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades, including physical education. If classes are repeated, both grades are used. Only AP grades are weighted in computing GPA (unweighted GPA is augmented .025 point per AP per semester). Final rank is calculated on 9th, 10th, 11th and first semester 12th grades. College level courses that are not required for high school graduation are not put on the high school transcript and are not included in the GPA.

GPA Distribution: Top 10% 4.350 - 3.833 Top 33% 3.352 - 3.135
  Top 20% 3.817 - 3.596 Top 50% 3.131 - 2.621
  Top 25% 3.589 - 3.402    

TEST INFORMATION
Class of 2005: 3 National Merit Semi-Finalists 7 NMSQT Commended Students  
  2 National Achievement Scholars 2 National Hispanic Recognition Program Finalists  
Class of 2004: 2 National Merit Finalists 11 NMSQT Commended Students  
  2 National Achievement Scholars 2 National Hispanic Recognition Program Finalists  
Class of 2004: Mean SAT Scores Mean SAT scores - Mid-Range SAT Scores
    students who also took SAT II  
  Verbal - 524 Verbal - 574 Verbal - 440-610
  Math - 525 Math - 578 Math - 430-620

In May 2004, 1,071 AP examinations (a 6% increase over '03) were administered in 20 subject areas, with 17% of the students scoring 5, 24% scoring 4, and 29% scoring 3, for an overall pass rate of 70%.

AP Participation: Top 10% of senior class: 90% of students have taken 3 or more AP's by the end of junior year.
  Top 20% of senior class: 75% of students have taken 3 or more AP's by the end of junior year.

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
Class of 2004 : Four-year Colleges 49%
  University of Calif. 16%
  California State Univ. 10%
  Out of state public 4%
  Private 19% (a 50% increase over Class of '03)
  Two-year Colleges 45% (approximately)
  Military/Work/Vocational/Other 5% (approximately)

Palisades Charter High graduates of '02 and '03 enrolled in the following colleges and universities:
University of California - all campuses
  California State University - San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Long Beach, Sonoma, Northridge and others

University of Arizona Duke University New York University Santa Clara University
Art Institute of California Embry Riddle Aero. Univ. Northeastern University Skidmore College
Boston College Emory University Northwestern University USC
Boston University George Washington Univ. Occidental College Southern Methodist U
Brandeis University Hampshire College Olin Coll. of Engineering Spelman College
Brown University Hampton University University of Oregon Stanford University
Bryn Mawr College Harvard University Otis College of Art & Des. Tufts University
Bucknell University Howard University Parsons School of Design Tulane University
Calif. Institute of Tech. University of Judaism U of Pennsylvania Vassar College
Carnegie Mellon Univ. Lewis & Clark College Pomona College University of Virginia
University of Chicago Loyola Marymount Univ. Princeton University University of Washington
Claremont-McKenna Coll. MIT University of Puget Sound Wesleyan University
Clark Atlanta University U of Massachusetts University of Redlands Whittier College
Colorado State University University of Michigan Reed College Williams College
U of Colorado, Boulder Mills College RI School of Design Willamette University
Cornell University Mount St. Mary's College Rochester Inst. of Tech. University of Wisconsin
DePaul University The College of NJ University of Rochester Yale University
Copyright © Palisades Charter High School
15777 Bowdoin Street, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 • Tel: (310) 230-6623 - Fax: (310) 454-6076