历史

帕洛阿尔托 High School opened its doors in 1894 as a private school with 3 teachers, 24名学生, and tuition of $6 per month. Classes were held in two upper rooms of the Channing Avenue Grammar School. Three years later, trustee (and parent) Anna Zschokke mortgaged her home and donated funds to build a three-room high school at 524 Forest Avenue near Cowper Street. Thus began the legacy of extraordinary parent support for Paly that continues today.

In 1900, a $200,000 bond issue was authorized and a new high school was built at Channing and Webster Streets, where Channing House now stands. The school's colors were red and green (until 1949, when they changed to green and white). By 1907, Paly had grown to a school of 200 students with 9 faculty members. In 1908, the first girls’ athletic team (basketball) was formed. In the same year, the school board banned dances in response to adverse publicity about student morals.  Not to be deprived of an outlet for their teenage energy, and typical of Paly students, they found an alternative. So, in 1911, 20 students formed a band – and marched for the first time in the May Fete Parade. The Paly Band has participated in the parade ever since. In 1913, the 帕洛阿尔托 家长会 was formed with Mrs. Mary Green as president. Local news of the day tells us that our girls were active in the Suffrage Movement.

In 1917, 帕洛阿尔托 voters authorized a $200,000 bond to build a new high school, 1918年, the new campus at the corner of Embarcadero and El Camino Real was completed. On December 24, 1918, the entire staff, student body, and school board proudly marched from the old Channing site to the new campus. (A photograph of this momentous occasion now hangs in the Tower Hallway.) The student newspaper, THE CAMPANILE, appeared for the first time the same year.  During the 1920s, Paly’s population doubled. In 1921, Howard (Hod) Ray, the legendary Paly football coach, joined the staff. The Student Betterment Committee was organized to improve the school grounds, and other student clubs flourished.  A group of students formed the “Overalls Club” in protest of the high price of clothes. (Nine faculty members and nearly 150 boys wore overalls every day for a time.) This diverse assortment of student interest is evident in Paly’s more than 60 clubs today.

The community continued to grow. Subdivisions sprang up south of Embarcadero Road, bringing thousands of new families to 帕洛阿尔托 schools. 埃尔伍德P. Cubberly and 亨利M. 耿氏 High 学校 were built. Paly underwent major remodeling, leaving only the Tower Building and the Theater of the original campus.

Traditions continued to be established, notably Paly’s much-loved Spirit Week, which started in 1981. In 1997, on the 100th anniversary of the founding of Paly, the 校友 and Friends of 帕洛阿尔托 High School was formed, providing support for Paly through scholarships, fundraising, reunions, and more.