Why are Garfield and Palouse schools so successful?
Where Tradition Meets the Future
Palouse - just 15 minutes North of Pullman
Garfield – only 10 minutes farther
Family-based communities, where education is a lifetime endeavor
2009 - 2010
A culture of excellence
§ Washington Achievement Awards for Excellence: GPHS - Overall Excellence; GPHS - Extended Graduation Rate; GPMS – MS Science
§ Full day Kindergarten in Palouse
§ Low student/teacher ratio: 12:1
§ Experienced teaching staff - average 19 years
§ Teacher – WSU College of Education Miller-Manchester Teacher Mentor Award
§ All teachers and para-educators meet Highly Qualified standards
§ High student/computer ratio - 2:1
§ Exceptional support from communities: levies, Bill Murray Student Art Merit Award for Creativity, local scholarships (approximately $16,000)
Highest quality high school education available
§ Gar-Pal diploma: 30 credits are required (State requirements: 20 credits)
§ 90% of 2010 graduating seniors moving on to post-secondary opportunities
§ 3% of our 2010 seniors ranked among the top 10% in Washington State
§ Total scholarship offers for graduating class of 2010: over $600,000
§ 2010, 10th grade WASL: 80% Reading, 83% Writing
§ Student: HOBY Presidential Service Award
§ A full slate of college prep and vocational classes, on-line enrichment and AP classes, various electives
Outstanding extracurricular programs in 2009 - 2010
§ 88% of our students participated in at least one extracurricular activity
§ FCCLA: Washington State National representatives received: Gold for Entrepreneurship and
Gold for Interpersonal Relations
§ FFA: 1st Place National Land Judging Contest for Western Region
§ FFA: State qualifiers in Ag. Mech., Rituals, Parliamentary Procedures, Ag. Management, Dairy Foods,
Agronomy, Trap Shooting
§ State Envirothon - 2nd Place
§ District Knowledge Bowl - 5th Place
§ Athletics - No cut athletic policy: VB, FB, BB, Track, Softball, Baseball
§ 2B District Competitors: Volleyball, Girls’ Basketball, Boy’s Basketball – 4th Place, State Softball, Track
§ 2B– 6 State Track qualifiers in 11 events, 2nd Place 300m Hurdles
§ Cheerleaders are selected for Football and Basketball
§ HS Band Festival – “1” rating, HS Choir Festival – “1” rating, Jazz Band competed in Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival
§ HS Drama presented: “Alice in Wonderland” and “The Shakespearecist”
§ Missoula Children’s Theater
§ AV Club: School-run cable television channel with live broadcasting/streaming capabilities
§ Big Vikings: high school mentors provide positive connections with elementary students
Early learning
§ Little Sprouts Early Learning and Child Care Center in Palouse – six years in business
§ Extended District sponsored ECEAP Pre-school (Garfield and Palouse)
§ All-day Kindergarten in Palouse
For more information and a personalized tour call: (509) 878-1921
Or check out our website at www.garpal.net
