Palo Verde High Magnet School is located at 1302 South Avenida Vega in Terra Del Sol,
Tucson, Arizona
, "(at the) base of the black ill
, nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town"
, image_map =
, mapsize = 260px
, map_caption = Interactive map ...
. The school has been open since 1962. Its current principal is Eric Brock. The school's name comes from the surrounding
Palo Verde trees, native to Tucson. Its mascot is the Titan and the school colors are royal blue and gold. Palo Verde is also a
magnet school
In the U.S. education system, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities (usually school boards) as school ...
specializing in engineering and technology. There are currently 1,250 students attending Palo Verde from grades 9–12.
History
Palo Verde High School adjusted its focus to become a
magnet high school
In the U.S. education system, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities (usually school boards) as school ...
to attract students from all outside its school zone. In order to attract new students, the school set its focused on engineering and technology, one of the first high school do this. As of 2018, Palo Vere High Magnet School is a S.T.E.A.M. school and was given a grade of B- and ranked 23rd of 521 Most Diverse Public High Schools in Arizona as well as 177th of 325 for Best Public High School Teachers in Arizona. The school also has a highly ranked robotics program, and engineering students that have the opportunity to secure interships at local engineering and manufacturing companies.
Family Resource Center
The school also has a family resource center that offers workshops and events including kindergarten transition classes for parents of kindergartners going into public school, grief workshops through
Tu Nidito
Tu Nidito, meaning “your little nest” in Spanish, is a non-profit agency in Tucson, Arizona that provides support for children affected by serious medical conditions and death. The programs they offer include grief support for children and ...
, a non profit that provides support for children and families affected by traumatic experiences including a serious medical condition or death, as well as a produce cooking class. The resource center is also part of the Tucson Unified School District and is housed in other schools including
Catalina Magnet High School
Catalina High School (also known as Catalina Magnet High School) is a public high school, located on the north side of Tucson, Arizona, United States. Catalina is a magnet high school (drawing students from the entire school district) in Tucson U ...
and Wakefield Middle School. The resource center is open to the public and offers classes in multiple languages.
Notable graduates
*
Thad Allen
Thad William Allen (born 16 January 1949) is a former admiral of the United States Coast Guard who served as the 23rd commandant from 2006 to 2010. Allen is best known for his widely praised"Coast Guard's Chief of Staff To Assist FEMA Head ...
– Admiral,
Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
The commandant of the Coast Guard is the service chief and highest-ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The commandant is an admiral, appointed for a four-year term by the president of the United States upon confirmation by the Uni ...
*
Jim Arneson
James Arnold Arneson (born January 7, 1951) is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Arizona and was dra ...
– Former
NFL player (
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East divisi ...
,
Washington Redskins
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...
)
*
Mark Arneson
Mark Edward Arneson (September 9, 1949 – April 14, 2023) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker for the St. Louis Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats ...
– All American at University of Arizona, and All Pro Linebacker St Louis Cardinals
*
Tim Bee
Timothy S. Bee is a Republican politician and business owner who served in the Arizona State Senate from 2001 through 2008. He was first elected to the Arizona Senate in 2001 and left in 2009 due to term limits. In 2008, he was the Republican ca ...
–
Arizona Senate President, Congressional Candidate
*
Brooke Burke
Brooke Lisa Burke (born September 8, 1971) is an American television personality, fitness personality, author, actress, and businesswoman. She is known for hosting the E! Network travel show ''Wild On!'' (1999–2002), CBS' ''Rock Star'' (20 ...
(1989 Homecoming queen) – Actress, dancer and model.
[Davis, Alicia]
"Brooke Burke Biography"
, ''Entertainment Scene 360'', August 17, 2011
*
Bryce Cotton
Bryce Jiron Cotton (born August 11, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Perth Wildcats of the National Basketball League (NBL). He played college basketball for the Providence Friars, where he was a two-time first-team Al ...
– Point Guard for
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Suns are the only team in t ...
of the
NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United St ...
*
Corky Evans
Corky Evans (born January 2, 1948) is a Canadian former provincial politician in British Columbia, Canada. He twice ran for the leadership of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia, placing second both times. In both cases, the party form ...
Class of 66 – Former
British Columbia
British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...
cabinet minister
*
Andy Hassler – youngest pitcher to pitch in Yankee Stadium
*
Joe Hassler
Joseph Frederick Hassler (1905-1917) was an American professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics and St. Louis Browns
The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that orig ...
– Former
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player (
Philadelphia Athletics
The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, the team became the Oaklan ...
,
Saint Louis Browns
The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they ...
)
*
Jack Howell – Former
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player (
California Angels
The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. Since 1966, the team ha ...
,
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
,
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division, having moved to the division in 2013 after ...
)
*
Bob Lacey
Robert Joseph "Bob" Lacey, Jr. (born August 25, 1953) is former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, California Angels, and ...
– Former
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player (
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...
,
Texas Rangers,
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
,
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
)
*
Garry Shandling
Garry Emmanuel Shandling (November 29, 1949 – March 24, 2016) was an American actor, comedian, writer, director, and producer.
Shandling began his career writing for sitcoms, such as '' Sanford and Son'' and ''Welcome Back, Kotter''. He made ...
– Actor/Comedian
References
Public high schools in Arizona
Educational institutions established in 1962
Schools in Tucson, Arizona
Magnet schools in Arizona
1962 establishments in Arizona
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