Education of Palo Alto's young people has been important to residents from the town's earliest days. When the first public school was organized in 1898, it was the only secondary school between San Jose and San Mateo. Two years later, a high school was built at the present site of Channing House. Continued town growth later made a larger facility necessary.
On December 24, 1918, students, faculty, and local dignitaries marched from Channing School to the new Palo Alto High School, with the 91st Company of High School Cadets triumphantly leading the way. The community was impressed with the school's auditorium - unique at a time when even Stanford had none - and the high ceilinged library, which doubled as a ballroom.
When the present Palo Alto High School was built in 1919, some townsfolk were critical of a location so far out of town. But the 30-acre site with its live oak trees was being sold by neighboring Stanford University at the token cost of $1.00 per acre, and optimists thought that Palo Alto might well grow to the south.
Over the years, Paly changed from a four-year school to a three-year school as the ninth grade shifted to Jordan Junior High, constructed in 1935. Additional buildings constructed on campus were partially demolished when major reconstruction was undertaken in 1972 to comply with earthquake standards. Today, Palo Alto High School is a skillful blending of the original Spanish architecture combined with a modern complex of newer buildings. The latest addition was a student center, which opened in 1976.
Paly remained the only Palo Alto high school until Cubberley High School opened in the fall of 1956 with 500 students. Four years later, Cubberley had its peak attendance of 1600 students. Gunn High School opened in 1964. In recent years the senior high schools have again become four-year schools. Declining enrollment and limited funds have caused the school board to close a third of Palo Alto's schools. Cubberley High school closed in June 1979. Its former students had to attend either Paly or Gunn.
Today, Paly has a student population of about 1500 and is one of two high schools in Palo Alto. Both Paly and Gunn are fantastic four year schools. Currently, Paly is undergoing construction to modernize its buildings. The administration has carefully ensured that student learning will continue unabated.
