Mid-Peninsula High School
Encyclopedia
Mid-Peninsula High School, also known as Mid-Pen, is an independent
, non-profit and non-sectarian coeducational college preparatory high school
located in Menlo Park, California
. The school offers a flexible and personalized academic program, small class sizes and accommodations for learning differences. Mid-Pen’s colors are maroon and grey and its school mascot
is a Dragon.
was closed due to budget cuts
. Perceiving a need for alternatives to the public system, Bliss and Ohme began advocating for students experiencing difficulty or dissatisfaction in the public school system or who had undiagnosed learning differences.
In typical Silicon Valley
start-up fashion, Ohme began schooling the first three Mid-Pen students in his living room
in early 1980. Herman and Phil soon leased space at the recently closed Cubberley High School and by the end of the 1979-1980 academic year, the school had 40 students and one graduate. Because Prop 13 caused many public school district
s to abandon summer school
, Mid-Peninsula experienced a very high enrollment for summer school in 1980, which translated into more students for the following fall semester.
In response to this increased enrollment, the school's founders leased a new Mid-Peninsula High School site on Ross Road in Palo Alto. After five years, this site was scheduled for demolition
, so the school relocated to the 870 N. California Avenue campus in Palo Alto. After 15 years this site was reclaimed by the Palo Alto Unified School District
. As a result, Mid-Peninsula had its first capital campaign and was able to purchase and remodel its current home located at 1340 Willow Road in Menlo Park and on January 31, 2001 Mid-Peninsula took up residence at its new facility.
and the California State University
institutions as well as private institutions of higher learning. Mid-Pen is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
(WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). The school focuses on individualized learning approaches and employs flexible programming to accommodate various learning styles and reduce stress. Class sizes are typically smaller than 15 students.
Mid-Peninsula’s variable credit program grants academic credit based on the quantity of work, while grades are based on the quality of work. Emphasis is placed on personal motivation, character and self-discipline.
and basketball
.
Mid-Peninsula employs a “no-cut” policy for all team sport
s (however, individual playing time is determined by attendance, performance and attitude). Volleyball
, soccer and basketball are offered for boys and girls, while baseball is offered for boys and softball
is offered for girls. Cross Country is co-educational.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
, non-profit and non-sectarian coeducational college preparatory high school
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....
located in Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California
Menlo Park, California is a city at the eastern edge of San Mateo County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, in the United States. It is bordered by San Francisco Bay on the north and east; East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Stanford to the south; Atherton, North Fair Oaks, and Redwood City...
. The school offers a flexible and personalized academic program, small class sizes and accommodations for learning differences. Mid-Pen’s colors are maroon and grey and its school mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is a Dragon.
History
Mid-Pen was founded in 1979 by Phil Bliss and Herman Ohme after Cubberley High School in Palo AltoPalo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
was closed due to budget cuts
California Proposition 13 (1978)
Proposition 13 was an amendment of the Constitution of California enacted during 1978, by means of the initiative process. It was approved by California voters on June 6, 1978. It was declared constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Nordlinger v. Hahn,...
. Perceiving a need for alternatives to the public system, Bliss and Ohme began advocating for students experiencing difficulty or dissatisfaction in the public school system or who had undiagnosed learning differences.
In typical Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
start-up fashion, Ohme began schooling the first three Mid-Pen students in his living room
Living room
A living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
in early 1980. Herman and Phil soon leased space at the recently closed Cubberley High School and by the end of the 1979-1980 academic year, the school had 40 students and one graduate. Because Prop 13 caused many public school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
s to abandon summer school
Summer school
Summer school is a school, or a program generally sponsored by a school or a school district, that teaches students during the summer vacation....
, Mid-Peninsula experienced a very high enrollment for summer school in 1980, which translated into more students for the following fall semester.
In response to this increased enrollment, the school's founders leased a new Mid-Peninsula High School site on Ross Road in Palo Alto. After five years, this site was scheduled for demolition
Demolition
Demolition is the tearing-down of buildings and other structures, the opposite of construction. Demolition contrasts with deconstruction, which involves taking a building apart while carefully preserving valuable elements for re-use....
, so the school relocated to the 870 N. California Avenue campus in Palo Alto. After 15 years this site was reclaimed by the Palo Alto Unified School District
Palo Alto Unified School District
- Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School :Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School is a middle school located at 480 East Meadow Dr., Palo Alto, CA 94306. 2007 STAR test results showed an attendance of 870 students, in grades 6 through 8. It was originally named Ray Lyman Wilbur Junior High School after...
. As a result, Mid-Peninsula had its first capital campaign and was able to purchase and remodel its current home located at 1340 Willow Road in Menlo Park and on January 31, 2001 Mid-Peninsula took up residence at its new facility.
Academics
Mid-Peninsula's curriculam meets standards of admission for both the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and the California State University
California State University
The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the...
institutions as well as private institutions of higher learning. Mid-Pen is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
(WASC) and the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). The school focuses on individualized learning approaches and employs flexible programming to accommodate various learning styles and reduce stress. Class sizes are typically smaller than 15 students.
Mid-Peninsula’s variable credit program grants academic credit based on the quantity of work, while grades are based on the quality of work. Emphasis is placed on personal motivation, character and self-discipline.
Athletics
Mid-Peninsula is a Division V school, has been a member of the Central Coast Section (CCS) for 20 years, and is also a member of the Private School Athletic League (PSAL). The school has several championships for soccer, 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...
and 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...
.
Mid-Peninsula employs a “no-cut” policy for all team sport
Team sport
A team sport includes any sport which involves players working together towards a shared objective. A team sport is an activity in which a group of individuals, on the same team, work together to accomplish an ultimate goal which is usually to win. This can be done in a number of ways such as...
s (however, individual playing time is determined by attendance, performance and attitude). 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...
, soccer and basketball are offered for boys and girls, while baseball is offered for boys and 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...
is offered for girls. Cross Country is co-educational.