Highland High School (Palmdale, California)
Encyclopedia
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:
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.
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District
Antelope Valley Union High School District
The Antelope Valley Union High School District is located in the Antelope Valley area of California, in northern Los Angeles County....
. About 4,000 students attend Highland High School in grades 9 through 12. It received a California Distinguished School
California Distinguished School
A California Distinguished School is an award given by the California State Board of Education to public schools within the state that best represent exemplary and quality educational programs. Approximately five percent of California schools are awarded this honor each year following a selection...
award in 2005.
Highland High School was founded in 1989 in response to Palmdale
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
's rapid population growth. Palmdale High School
Palmdale High School
Palmdale High School is located in Palmdale, California and is part of the Antelope Valley Union High School District. About 4,000 students attend Palmdale High School in grades 9 through 12. Palmdale High School was founded in 1956.-Automotive:...
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
Quartz Hill High School
Quartz Hill High School is a public, co-educational high school located in Quartz Hill, California. Founded in 1964, it is the third oldest comprehensive high school in the Antelope Valley Union High School District.-Campus:...
) 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."
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. After Mr. Horst left Highland, the program was left in the hands of Meghan Lilley, who acted as coordinator until the 2009-2010 school year. The program is now run through a joint venture between Brian Guthrie and Ellen Coleman. 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 A1IB Group 1 subjectsThe Group 1 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme refer to the student's "Language A1," which is the student's native language or otherwise best language, taken at either Standard Level or Higher Level . The course focuses on developing oral and written communication skills and performing literary...
- 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 LanguageIB Group 2 subjectsThe Group 2 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of the nearly 80 additional languages offered and may be studied at the following levels: A2 , B , or ab initio . Latin and Classical Greek are also offered and may be taken at SL or HL...
- 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 SocietiesIB Group 3 subjectsThe Group 3 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of nine courses offered at both the Standard level and Higher level : Business and management, Economics, Geography, History, Information technology in a global society , Islamic history, Philosophy, Psychology, and Social and cultural...
- 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 SciencesIB Group 4 subjectsThe Group 4 subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme comprise the main scientific emphasis of this internationally recognized high school programme. They consist of five courses, four of which are offered at both the Standard Level and Higher Level : Chemistry, Biology,...
- 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: MathematicsIB Group 5 subjectsThe Group 5 subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of four different mathematics courses and two computer science courses. To earn an IB Diploma, a candidate must pass one of the following four mathematics courses: Mathematical Studies SL , Mathematics SL, Mathematics HL , or Further...
- 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. These courses are normally taken during the Junior year, though they may be taken at the Senior level.
- Group 6: ArtsIB Group 6 subjectsThe Group 6 subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme consist of four courses at both Standard Level and Higher Level : Music, Theater, Visual Arts, and Film...
- 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 KnowledgeTheory of Knowledge (IB course)Theory of knowledge is a course in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme which is, in essence, similar to Epistemology courses offered in university.-Course description:...
- 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.
Notable alumni
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, soccer player for the Los Angeles GalaxyLos Angeles GalaxyThe Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second... - Shauna GambillShauna GambillShauna Gambill is a beauty queen from Acton, California who has held the Miss Teen USA title and competed in the Miss USA and Miss World pageants....
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1998; first runner-up, Miss USAMiss USAThe Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
1998 - Jason KubelJason KubelJason James Kubel is an American professional baseball player. A Belle Fourche, South Dakota native, Kubel was drafted by the Twins in the 12th round of the 2000 Draft after playing high school ball at Highland High School.-Early life:...
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2006-2008 due to injury. - Dijon Talton Cast of Glee