Paola High School Profile
Paola High School Mission Statement
The Paola High School community provides an opportunity for learning experiences which stimulate continual educational growth appropriate to students individual future goals. Students in this learning community are challenged to:
- meet or exceed academic standards
- be respectful of the values, heritage, and image of self and others
- prepare for career opportunities
- be appreciative of fine, liberal, and applied arts
- be conscious of the importance of a healthy lifestyle
- be aware of the responsibilities of community, state, nation, and world citizenship
Guidance Department
Debbie Baldwin, Counselor
Justin Elliott, Counselor
Sheila Majors, Registrar
Telephone: 913.294.8017
Fax: 913.294.8011
Further Information
Questions about specific information regarding a student should be directed to one of the principals or counselors. Questions about processing a transcript should be directed to Sheila Majors, Register at 913.294.8017 or sheila_majors@usd368.org
School and Community
Paola High School (PHS) serves as the only public high school for the community of Paola, the county seat of Miami County in Eastern Kansas. Paola has a population of 5,028 and is located 45 minutes from downtown Kansas City. Set back in the rural countryside, Paola offers a tranquil lifestyle with easy access to the amenities of Greater Kansas City.
SportsCheerleading Dance Team |
ActivitiesKAYS (Kansas Association of Youth Services) National Honor Society |
Student Activities
Fifty-five percent of the students at PHS indicate that they take part in one or more extra curricular activities. PHS competes as a 4A high school in the Kansas State High School Activities Association and is a member of the Frontier League with 12 other schools.
Curriculum and Instruction
There are 186 school days each year and all students at PHS are required to take 8 classes each semester on a block scheduling system. A 45 minute seminar class is held everyday which allows students the opportunity to study, make-up work, or see teachers for extra assistance. Seminar, driver’s education, and teacher aide classes earn a quarter credit each semester. Students earn a half credit for most courses by earning a passing grade for the semester. A broad selection of courses are available including college prep, vocational, special education, and general education courses. Juniors and seniors are able to take concurrent college classes at Fort Scott Community College. Honors and Advanced Placement classes are not available, but the regular core curriculum provides enough challenge that PHS's students have exceeded the state and national average on the ACT for the past several years. Contract courses are also available for students needing to obtain high school credits and who possess the ability and desire to work independently.
Paola Academic Completion Program (PACP)
Day and evening classes are held with credits applying toward graduation from PHS. The program uses A+ VPL, a computerized, mastery-based high school curriculum. The center has a state approved curriculum, and a four-day school week.
Unified School District 368 Enrollment
Paola High School (9-12)
Enrollment = 656
2010 Graduating Class = 135
2011 Graduating Class = 144
High School Certified Staff
48 teachers/counselors
5 other staff members
CEEB #172-320
Student Information
Approximately 65 percent of the 2011 graduates of PHS attended a post-secondary institution after graduation. Twenty-one percent started at a community college or vocational school, while 34 percent began their college careers at a four year university/college.
ACT composite scores:
Class of 2011 = 21.7
(80 percent of graduates took the ACT)
Kansas average ACT = 22
National average ACT = 21.1
