Palisade High School is a comprehensive, four-year public
high school with an enrollment of 1050 students, a drop-out rate of 1%, and a
graduation rate of 91.5%. 52% of PHS students receive free/reduced lunch, 31%
of students are of a minority, and 10% of students have a disability.
Originally built in 1902, Palisade High School staff and
students moved into a new facility 90 years later, in 1992. A staple of the Palisade
community for more than 100 years, PHS, an International Baccalaureate World
School, is also part of broad, global network of schools. The only IB World
School in District 51, Palisade offers a robust and thriving Diploma Programme
which aims to help students grow against the learner profile. PHS is in the
process of adding a Middle Years Programme as well, so all students have access
to an IB education. In addition to the Diploma Programme, PHS offers Advanced
Placement (AP) classes and other pathways toward college and career readiness,
including an apprenticeship program.
Palisade has a reputation as an outstanding school, a
reputation cemented by earning the Governor's Distinguished Improvement Award
four years in a row (2011-2014). While PHS is often celebrated for successful
athletics and extracurricular programs, it is a culture of high expectations
that helps Palisade maintain its standing as a school of excellence in the
State of Colorado. An integral part of Palisade's culture is the PACK program,
a system of interventions that supports students as they challenge themselves
to grow while also holding students accountable for their learning and
behavior. With PACK and so many world-class academic options, PHS students
graduate equipped to participate productively and responsibly in both their
local and global communities.