# Petaluma High School

38°13′37″N 122°38′46″W﻿ / ﻿38.22694°N 122.64611°W﻿ / 38.22694; -122.64611
Petaluma High School is located one mile from historic downtown Petaluma in California. It is a comprehensive public high school with approximately 1,310 students in grades 9–12, serving the west side of Petaluma and many of the rural areas that surround the city in both Sonoma County and Marin County.

## Academics

Petaluma High School has a graduation rate of 96.33% as of 2011, with 37.2% of students satisfying the requirements for admission to either the University of California or the California State University system. The average class sizes are 30 for Math, 25 for Science and English, and 30 for Social Science. Per the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program, 66% of students in English, 30% in Math 69% in Science, and 62% in Social Science scored as Proficient or Advanced. It offers Advanced Placement courses in 15 subjects: English Composition/Literature, Spanish Literature, Calculus A/B, Calculus B/C, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, World History, U.S. History, Macroeconomics, Psychology, American Government, and Art.
The school (along with Casa Grande High School) is set to a “block schedule”, in which there are only three classes (or four, if students choose to take a class before school known as “zero period”) per day. Beginning in Fall 2025 Petaluma High School will move to a 7 Period schedule.

## Facilities

Petaluma High School began as a public school in 1873, making it one of the oldest high schools in California. Sitting on approximately 24 acres, the current campus was completed in 1935 with the main building remodeled in December 2001. A new science and math building was completed in October 2000. Modernization of the D-Wing building was completed during the summer of 2005.
During the 2009-2010 school-year the new Arts, Media and Entertainment building was opened. The Arts Media and Entertainment program includes education in digital and print photography with a full service laboratory. Students interested in filmmaking partake in the film program, while those interested in drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and other art forms participate in the core Art program that culminates in AP Art.
The entire campus consists of the following: 83 classrooms, a wildlife museum, auto shop, wood shop, metal shop, and an agricultural shop. Athletic facilities include a gymnasium; baseball, football, and softball fields; weight room; and swimming pool.

## Staff and administration

The staff at Petaluma High includes 70 certificated teachers, four academic counselors, a Project Success counselor, a full-time librarian, a Safe School Support Specialist, three administrators, and 50 classified support staff members. In addition, it has a school nurse, two school psychologists, a speech and language specialist, bilingual support services, and instructional assistants in special education.
In 2016 Giovanni Napoli worked as an Assistant Principal and in Fall 2021 he was promoted to Principal. Starting in Fall 2024 Ms. Alice Whitt and Mr. Tyler Aftab joined the PHS administrative team as Assistant Principals.

## Sexual assault controversy

On June 2, 2018, Petaluma High School attracted great controversy when school officials cut the microphone of Lulabel Seitz, the graduating class of 2018's valedictorian, during her commencement speech, after extensive warning.
David Rose, the assistant superintendent for student services at Petaluma City Schools, responded later, "Many of the assertions that Ms. Seitz is making do not match our perspective."

## Wildlife Museum

Petaluma High School is the home of the Petaluma Wildlife Museum, one of the few museums in the country that is solely run by students. Through the Wildlife Museum, students can take classes on Wildlife Management and Museum Management.
The Museum houses over 50 species of insects, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. Thousands of people visit the Museum every year where dozens of high school students provide tours and animal education. Each school year, the Museum hosts several high school classes, educating over 100 teens about a variety of wildlife related subjects. Students take rigorous courses in Wildlife and Museum Management to learn about environmental education, wildlife biology, animal husbandry, public speaking, and museum operations and maintenance. Additionally, throughout the school year, student docents are responsible for animal care, museum maintenance, program development and conducting tours.
Over the course of 20 years, the Museum has hosted thousands of school classes and community groups, teaching them about biodiversity, ecosystems, wildlife, animal adaptations and natural history. Tours are conducted by trained high school docents and are developed around California State Science Standards. Grade school tours visit exhibits representing Africa, Asia, and North and South America. Students also explore large mineral, fossil, and forestry displays. Hundreds of taxidermied and live animals engage children and bring the science lessons alive.

## Manufacturing Technology Program

Petaluma High's Manufacturing Technology program is the only NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) accredited high school program in the state of California. In 2022, Petaluma High joined the NASA Hunch program and manufacture parts for the international space station, and parts for other NASA missions.

## Clubs

Clubs at Petaluma High include the 4th Wall Video Club, California Scholarship Federation (CSF), Chess Club, Drama Club, Circle of Friends, Council of Written Word, Dance Club, Environment Club, Future Farmers of America (FFA), French Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), a branch of GSA, HOSA, Interact, Junior Statesman, Latino Club, Magic Club, MEChA Paddle Smashers, PYPC, Street Dance Club, Skills USA, Soul Stealers, PHASE automotive, and Student Council.

## Athletics

Petaluma High School is a Division III school and one of seven members of the Vine Valley Athletic League of the North Coast Section. Its mascot is the Trojans and its colors are purple and white. PHS offers boys sports programs in Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track, and Wrestling. Girls programs include Cross Country, Golf, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track, and Volleyball.
In 2009, Petaluma High football had one of its most successful seasons in years, finishing the season 12-1 and making it to the North Coast Section Division 2 quarterfinals. However, they lost in the quarterfinals to Eureka High School. Steve Ellison was the coach of Petaluma High football for the previous 31 seasons and retired after the 2009 season. Coach Ellison's overall coaching record at Petaluma High and Sacred Heart of San Francisco was 218-173-7(Wins-Losses-Ties). Currently, the head football coach is Rick Krist, a physical education teacher and alumnus of the school. In 2011 Petaluma High School's softball team also won the NCS Championship and came back the following year to defend their title but fell one run short in 2012.
In 2015-16, the boys basketball team had one of their most successful seasons since 1992. The team won 19 games under new head coach Scott Behrs, beating Casa Grande for the first time in 6 years, defeating powerhouse Cardinal Newman, and winning the Sonoma County League Postseason Tournament Championship over league rival Analy in dramatic fashion, 27-26 at Haehl Pavilion At the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College. Behrs is the winning-est coach at Petaluma High School in the last 20 years.
In 2017, the Egg Bowl was brought back to the town of Petaluma. Casa Grande and Petaluma High Schools would play each other in varsity football for the first time since 2011. The game was played on September 16, 2017 @ Casa Grande High school. Petaluma won the game 20-14, stopping a late Casa Grande drive with 40 seconds left.
The following year saw one of the most exciting Egg Bowl's in the history of the rivalry. Casa Grande trailed by 14 points entering the 4th quarter, but managed to come all the way back with 35 seconds left on a 40-yard touchdown pass, and converted a gutsy two-point conversion to win the game 37-36 @ Ellison Field.
The 2022 Egg Bowl brought another close match @ Casa Grande High School. The score remained one score the entire game, with the Trojans taking a 28-21 lead with around 10 minutes to go. This was followed by a Trojans interception with 6 minutes left in the final quarter. However, a failed gutsy call on fourth down gave the Gauchos the ball with 3 minutes left. They would end up scoring a touchdown with 2 minutes left and successfully completing a two-point conversion to take the lead 29-28. The Trojans would fail to respond and Casa Grande would win the game.

## Awards

In 1992, Petaluma High was named a California Distinguished School.

## Notable alumni

* Ben Bostrom - Superbike, Supermoto, and Supersport Champion
* Lloyd Bridges - actor
* Richard D. Hearney - Marine Corps 4-Star General, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps & Naval Aviator
* Biff Hoffman - football player
* Duke Iversen - football player
* Brett Johnson - screenwriter
* Tom Moore - long time meet director of the Modesto Relays
* Alex Navarro - Drummer, Headboard (1996 - 1998, 2001), Senior Editor, Giant Bomb (2010–2021), and Co-Founder, Nextlander (2021–Present)
* Bill Pronzini - mystery writer
* Winona Ryder - actress
* Konrad Schmidt - catcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks
* Virginia Strom-Martin - California State Assemblywoman 1996-2002
* Alex Consani - Model
* Karen Kilgariff - comedian, podcast host of My Favorite Murder