High School Information
Overview
Palos Verdes Peninsula Summer School (PVPSS) is thrilled to continue serving the educational community! Students entering grades 9-12 have the opportunity to enroll in both onsite and online summer high school courses for advancement, all of which meet the UC/CSU and NCAA college entrance requirements through our WASC accredited program. We are also proud to offer outstanding enrichment workshops that do not provide grades or credits, with the sole intention of supporting student interests and needs. See dates, times, and descriptions in the Daily Schedule section below, and go to the Summer High School Courses and Workshops tab to view all of our offerings.
Courses run from June 16 – July 24, with the exception of onsite history courses (June 16 – July 10). It is very important to stay on track because each school day covers a great deal of material. Due to the fast pace, teachers cannot provide extensions on assignments/exams for any reason, including illness. Also, students should only enroll in an honors class if they excel in that subject area and plan to do two to five hours of homework per night.
Make sure to check out our amazing workshops, too! They each run onsite for one semester, three weeks, with the exception of College Application Prep Jr (one week). Workshops do not provide grades or credits, and they can be taken concurrently with an online course.
Please note that although our online program is asynchronous (no attendance), students must submit assignments and take exams on all school days. Students can work ahead on the assignments, but they must still take exams and check for updates on each school day. Teachers are glad to provide virtual support, as well.
Please also note that PVPSS is a non-profit private entity which does not provide additional services that may be in place through the home District, such as extra time to submit assignments. However, families are always welcome to share helpful information with the instructors.
Go to the Summer High School Informational Video tab for a full overview of the program in only 10 minutes. Also, feel free to contact Adam Genovese, PVPSS high school director, at [email protected] with any questions or concerns. We look forward to another great summer!
Daily Schedule for summer 2025 (June 16 – July 24) at Peninsula high school
| First Semester: June 16 – July 3 | Second Semester: July 7 – July 24 |
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Week 1: M – F, June 16 – 20 (no school on June 19) |
Week 4: M – Th, July 7 – 10 Week 5: M – Th, July 14 – 17 Week 6: M – Th, July 21 – 24 |
ONSITE Courses
Onsite courses run from 8:00am – 1:30pm on the Peninsula High School campus for the six weeks shown above. However, please note that onsite history courses are completed in only four weeks. Students who enroll in a class will receive an email from the teacher by June 14 with information on getting started. Please check the Summer High School Policies tab for details on attendance and assignment submission.
The onsite course offerings are World History, US History, American Government/Economics, Biology, Biology Honors, Chemistry, Chemistry Honors, Geometry, Geometry Honors, and Drawing & Painting. Please see the Summer High School Courses and Workshops tab for details.
ONLINE COURSES
Online courses are asynchronous (no attendance), and teachers are glad to provide virtual support upon request. Please note that assignments/exams are submitted on all school days, and deadlines provided by the teacher must be met. Students who enroll in a class will receive an email from the teacher by June 14 with information on getting started. Please check the Summer High School Policies tab for details on assignment submission.
The online course offerings are World History, US History, American Government/Economics, and Digital Photography. Please see the Summer High School Courses and Workshops tab for details.
WORKSHOPS
All workshops are offered onsite for one semester, three weeks, with the exception of College Application Prep Jr (one week). Students have two to three hours of time in the classroom each school day, and we also offer a great deal of onsite and/or virtual support. Please note that there are no grades or credits offered in workshops, as their sole purpose is to provide enrichment and support. Also, workshops can be taken concurrently with any online course. The options are listed below, and details can be found on the Summer High School Courses and Workshops tab.
College Application Prep (CAP) – This incredible three-week workshop equips incoming 12th grade students with the skills to create a balanced college list and write authentic/outstanding college essays. Not only will students learn how to approach the college list and essays, but they also spend a great deal of time working directly with the instructors in creating these documents, leading to tremendous progress over the summer. CAP takes place on campus each school day from 9:30 – 11:30am, over the course of one semester, and there is also a great deal of virtual support provided.
College Application Prep Jr (CAP Jr) – This fantastic one-week workshop gives rising juniors an early start in creating a compelling narrative for college applications. Students will make a professional resume, start creating a balanced college list, and learn about important essay components. Cap Jr takes place on campus each school day from 9:30 – 11:30am, over the course of one week, and there is also a great deal of virtual support provided.
Summer Algebra 1 & 2 Prep (SAP) – This three-week workshop is an excellent opportunity for students to gain a basic understanding of the topics in Algebra 1 or Algebra 2 prior to taking the course, creating a much more positive and successful experience during the upcoming school year. SAP takes place on campus each school day from 9:30 – 11:30am, over the course of one semester, and the teacher provides additional help for anyone who would like to stay outside of classroom hours.
Summer Surgery 101 (SumSur101) – This exciting three-week workshop brings the world of medicine and surgery to the classroom. Students will learn about pathology and anatomy, while also practicing surgical activities on a regular basis, under the direct supervision of highly renowned surgeon, Dr. Fritz Baumgartner. SumSur101 takes place on campus each school day from 8:00 – 10:00am, over the course of one semester, and students are welcome to stay an additional hour for extra practice/discussion with Dr. Baumgartner. There is also a great deal of virtual support provided.
High School Important Dates – 2025
| May 5 | Last day to request a full refund, minus $75 administrative fee – See Registration for details |
| May 19 | Last day to request a 50% refund – See Registration for details |
| June 16 | First day of first semester |
| June 17 | Last day to change a class – See Registration for details |
| June 19 | No school – Holiday |
| June 20 | Last day until second semester to level down from an honors course |
| July 3 | Last day of first semester – Mandatory attendance for onsite students |
| July 4 – 6 | Semester break – No school |
| July 7 | First day of second semester |
| July 10 | Last day to level down from an honors course |
| July 10 | Last day on campus for onsite history students – Details of the new onsite history format are above |
| July 24 | Last day of class – Mandatory attendance for onsite students (onsite history students excluded) |
| July 25 | Last day to notify PVPSS that a student’s transcript should not be sent to the home school |
| August 29 | Deadline to challenge a recorded grade |
Frequently Asked Questions
***Please watch the Informational Video for a guided tour of the website/program***
How do I send the PVPSS transcript to my home school?
PVPSS transcripts are sent automatically to PVHS and PVPHS within one week of completing the course, so you do not need make a request/order. Any students attending a school outside of PVPUSD will be asked to provide the registrar’s contact information, so that we can send the transcript directly.
When will the PVPSS course/grades show up on my home school transcript?
All PVPSS transcripts are sent to the registrar within one week of completing the course. However, the registrars have hundreds of student transcripts to process, so please be patient.
Are the honors classes at PVPSS weighted on my home school transcript?
PVPSS is a private entity that does not have any influence over the policies of specific schools. Please contact your home school with any questions about its policies.
What is the time commitment for PVPSS courses?
The amount of time each student spends on the class will vary based on skill and interest in the subject area. Certain students do not have any homework at all, while others need to put in some extra time. However, please note that honors classes generally involve two to five hours of homework per night due to the increased rigor.
Can the agreed upon services from my home school, such as extended time to submit assignments, be used in PVPSS?
PVPSS is a private entity, and we are unable to utilize the agreed upon services you may have in place through the home school. However, always feel free to approach the teacher for support.
Where can I find information on dates, policies, expectations, formats, registration, etc?
The Information, Courses, Policies, and Registration pages, located in the Summer High School tab on top of this page, will provide you with important details. Please watch the Informational Video, also located in the Summer High School tab, for a guided tour of the website/program in about 10 minutes.
How do students finish onsite history classes in under four weeks?
PVPSS launched its new onsite history program this last summer, allowing students to complete the course in under four weeks with little to no homework. The teachers have developed a format that includes software and direct instruction, which enables students to work at a swift pace. Almost all of the students finish at the end of the fourth week, but we gladly provide an additional two weeks to submit assignments/exams electronically for anyone who needs more time.
Since College Application Prep (CAP) fills up so quickly, how can I get a spot?
Our College Application Prep (CAP) workshop has become very popular, and we recognize that quite a few students were not able to enroll this last summer because it fills up so quickly. We are happy to announce that a second section will be available this upcoming summer.
Who would be the best person to contact if I still have questions?
Feel free to contact the PVPSS high school director, Adam Genovese, at [email protected]. It is always our goal to provide the best support possible!