# Palmyra Area High School

Palmyra Area Senior High School (typically referred to as Palmyra High School or PHS) is a midsized public high school located in Palmyra, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is part of the Palmyra Area School District. The school is located at 1125 Park Drive in North Londonderry Township and serves students from the western part of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania and includes: Palmyra, North Londonderry Township, South Londonderry Township, the villages of Campbelltown, Lawn, Colebrook, and Mount Gretna. The school was founded in 1962.
In the 2018–2019 school year, Palmyra Area Senior High School had 1,141 students grades 9th through 12th.

## Renovations

The Palmyra Area High School underwent a $35 million renovation to the existing school, as well as additions in 2007. Due to a population increase in the Palmyra area, school officials decided that the aging building could no longer support the projected increase in students. The School Board decided a renovation with additions was more sensible than building a new school.
The first phase was the construction of a new 15 classroom, 2 story addition to the existing school. This was completed in December 2006, and held student occupation on January 2, 2007. Also, the new cafeteria was completed for January 23, 2007. Additions included; a new two story, 15-classroom wing, new weight training center, new art rooms, a new cafeteria and new communication and production technology classrooms.
Despite the large amount of progress with the project, work was stopped suddenly both on renovations and in the classrooms. On Monday April 9, 2007 at about 8:50AM, a fire broke out on a Tar Roofing Machine on the north end of the campus, by the new wing. An immediate evacuation of nearby classrooms into the gymnasium was conducted for a short time, and nearby propane tanks which fueled the device were removed. Local fire services arrived shortly thereafter and extinguished the fire. Exhaust and smoke then moved into the school building and covered windows and vehicles. The event caused a minor delay in the school schedule.
Phase III was completed at the end of summer 2007. It included the renovations of the Business Department Wing, which went under renovation on April 17, 2007. Also, the new Library opened, in the area of the old Kitchen and Production Technology Room. Additional miscellaneous classrooms opened in the old cafeteria location.

## Extracurriculars

The school offers a variety of clubs, activities and an extensive sports program. The school colors of the district are Black, Orange, and White. The school mascot is the Cougar.

### Athletics

Palmyra competes in District III of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA). Palmyra fields teams in the following Mid Penn Keystone Division of the Mid Penn Conference
* Baseball – District III Champions (1999, 2002, 2003) PIAA State Champions (1999)
* Field Hockey – District III Champions (1984, 1991, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015) PIAA State Champions (2005, 2014)
* Girls Basketball- District III Champions (2013)
* Girls Cross Country- District III Champions (2012)
* Boys Basketball- District III Champions (1949, 1957, 1996)
* Boys Soccer- District III Champions (2008)
* Boys Track and Field- District III Champions (1999)(1971)

### Clubs and activities

Student activities at Palmyra High School include:
* ACTS Club
* Art Club
* Band
* Color guard
* Chess Club
* Chorus
* Computer club (defunct as of January 2007)
* Envirothon
* Family and consumer science club
* FBLA
* FIRST Robotics team 2539
* Key Club
* Spring Musical (Legally Blonde in Spring 2019)
* Orchestra
* Palm Echo Yearbook
* Play (Theater)
* National Honor Society
* Robotics Club
* SAGA (Sexuality And Gender Alliance) a chapter of the Gay-Straight Alliance
* Student Council
* Medical Careers Club
* The Cougar Chronicle Student Newspaper
* Youth and Government Club
* Tri-M