Palm Harbor University High School
Encyclopedia
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:
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 , was named in the 2004 USA TODAY Academic All-Star Honorable Mention, and won 35 athletic championships at the local, regional and state level . 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 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.
. 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.
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.
(boys), basketball
, cheerleading
, cross country
, flag football
(girls), American football
, golf
, soccer, softball
(girls), spring American football
, swimming
, tennis
, track
, volleyball
(girls) and wrestling
. Palm Harbor also has a hockey
and a dance fusion team which aren't official school functions.
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).
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.
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
for grades 9-12 located in Palm Harbor
Palm Harbor, Florida
Palm Harbor is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP had a total population of 59,248.-Culture:...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. 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
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
, 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:
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- Center for Wellness and Medical Professions (CWMP)
Academics and Stats
In the past several years, PHUHS has ranked very highly, with over 80% of the graduating class qualifying for Florida Bright Futures ScholarshipsBright Futures Scholarship Program
Bright Futures is the name of a scholarship program in the state of Florida. It is funded by the Florida Lottery and was first started in 1997.-Program:...
and students consistently performing in the top 1% of scores for the state-wide FCAT
Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test
The Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or the FCAT , is the standardized test used in the primary and secondary public schools of Florida...
standardized test
Standardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a...
. 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 , was named in the 2004 USA TODAY Academic All-Star Honorable Mention, and won 35 athletic championships at the local, regional and state level . The high school was mentioned in the Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
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 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.
Mu Alpha Theta
Palm Harbor High School boasts a prestigious Mathematical Honor Society, or Mu Alpha ThetaMu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...
. The Honor Society attracts more than 200 members each year, making it the largest of any other Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...
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.
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.
Athletics
Palm Harbor competes in baseballBaseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
(boys), basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
, cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
, flag football
Flag football
Flag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...
(girls), American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
, soccer, softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
(girls), spring American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
, track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
(girls) and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
. Palm Harbor also has a hockey
Hockey
Hockey is a family of sports in which two teams play against each other by trying to maneuver a ball or a puck into the opponent's goal using a hockey stick.-Etymology:...
and a dance fusion team which aren't official school functions.
State Championships
- 1999 Girls Soccer
- 1999 Girls Softball
- 2000 Girls Soccer
- 2002 Boys Soccer
- 2004 Girls Softball
- 2005 Girls Softball
- 2006 Girls Soccer
- 2006 Boys Soccer
- 2008 Boys Swimming and Diving
- 2009 Boys Soccer
- 2009 Girls Soccer
- 2010 Girls Soccer
Clubs and Programs
The medical program allows students to get an overview of the medical field and learn about the human body and diseases along the way. 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).
Another of the school's largest clubs is Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society for high schools and two-year colleges. It has over 89,000 student members in more than 1,800 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the...
, 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
National Scholastic Press Association
The National Scholastic Press Association is a nonprofit organization founded in 1921 for high school and secondary school publications in the United States. The association is membership-based and annually hosts high school journalism conventions across the country...
, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Columbia Scholastic Press Association
The Columbia Scholastic Press Association is an international student press association, founded in 1925, whose goal is to unite student journalists and faculty advisers at schools and colleges through educational conferences, idea exchanges, textbooks, critiques and award programs...
, and the Florida Scholastic Press Association
FSPA: Florida Scholastic Press Association
The Florida Scholastic Press Association is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1946. It is the scholastic press association for the state of Florida and its members consist of more than 300 student publications, online media teams and broadcast programs from the state...
.
Palm Harbor's newspaper, The EYE, has received the Florida Scholastic Press Association's
FSPA: Florida Scholastic Press Association
The Florida Scholastic Press Association is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1946. It is the scholastic press association for the state of Florida and its members consist of more than 300 student publications, online media teams and broadcast programs from the state...
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.