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.
PVPSS alternates campuses each year, and the location this summer is Peninsula High School (Palos Verdes High School in 2026). All students are welcome, regardless of where they attend high school. Courses run from June 16 – July 24, with the exception of onsite history courses, which finish on 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, the amount of homework will vary by class and student interests/skills. Some students do not have any homework at all, whereas others need to put in a little more time. With that being said, anyone in an honors class should expect quite a bit of homework due to the increased rigor.
Please note that our online classes are asynchronous (no attendance), and all deadlines provided by the teacher must be met. Also, online students are allowed to work ahead and finish the assignments/exams in advance.
Make sure to check out our amazing workshops, too! They each run onsite for two to three hours per day over the course of one semester. Workshops do not provide grades/credits, and they can be taken concurrently with an online course. Students may also take a different workshop each semester.
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 under nine minutes. Also, feel free to contact Adam Genovese, PVPSS Director, at genovesea@pvpss.com with any questions or concerns. We look forward to another great summer!
2025 Schedules and Formats
Our courses and workshops run from Monday to Thursday, except in the first week. Please see the exact dates below.
First Semester: June 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30 and July 1, 2, 3
Second Semester: July 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 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 (all communications will be sent to the email address you provide at registration). Please check the Summer High School Policies tab for details on attendance and assignment submission.
Onsite Course Offerings: 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 students must meet all the deadlines provided by the teacher. Also, online students are allowed to work ahead and finish the assignments/exams in advance. Students who enroll in a class will receive an email from the teacher by June 14 with information on getting started (all communications will be sent to the email address you provide at registration). Please check the Summer High School Policies tab for details on assignment submission.
Online Course Offerings: 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 over the course of one semester. 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 an online course, and students may enroll in a different workshop each semester. Students who enroll in a workshop will receive an email from the teacher by June 14 with information on getting started (all communications will be sent to the email address you provide at registration). The options are listed below, and details can be found on the Summer High School Courses and Workshops tab.
College Application Prep – Available for students entering grade 12. This incredible three-week workshop equips rising seniors 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. The workshop takes place on campus 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 (CAP) is not a graded course for credit, and it can be taken concurrently with any online class. Students may also take a different workshop each semester.
Instructors: Ms. Baranick/Mr. Hall/Ms. Blazevic (Semester 1) and Mr. Olson/Mr. Hall (Semester 2)
College Application Prep Jr – Available for students entering grade 11. This one-week workshop helps rising juniors get an early start on the college application process. Students will explore strengths, passions, and values to identify key themes in their academic record and extracurricular activities. The goal is to guide students in presenting an authentic and compelling narrative in their college applications. Over the course of the workshop, they will also create a resume reflecting their unique aptitudes and accomplishments. The workshop takes place on campus from 9:30 – 11:30am, over the course of one week, and there is also a great deal of virtual support provided. College Application Prep Jr (CAP Jr) is not a graded course for credit, and it can be taken concurrently with any online class. Students may also take a different workshop each semester.
Instructor: Mr. Wolven
SAT Prep – Available for students entering grades 10 – 12. This three-week workshop provides exceptional SAT training, as students will learn academic content and test-taking strategies specific to the exam. The workshop takes place on campus from 9am – 12pm, over the course of one semester, and there is also a great deal of onsite and virtual support provided. SAT Prep is not a graded course for credit, and it can be taken concurrently with any online class. Students may also take a different workshop each semester.
Instructors: Ms. Dibble (Reading/Writing) and Mr. Buda (Math)
Algebra 1 & 2 Prep – Available for students entering grades 9 – 12. This two-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 successful experience during the upcoming school year. The workshop takes place on campus from 9:30 – 11:30am, over the course of one semester, and there is also a great deal of onsite and virtual support provided. Algebra 1 & 2 Prep is not a graded course for credit, and it can be taken concurrently with any online class. Students may also take a different workshop each semester.
Instructor: Ms. Tran
High School Important Dates – 2025
| May 5 | Last day to request a full refund, minus $75 administrative fee – see Registration tab for details |
| May 19 | Last day to request a 50% refund – see Registration tab for details |
| June 16 | First semester begins |
| June 17 | Last day to change a class – see Registration tab for details |
| June 19 | No school – holiday |
| June 20 | Last day until second semester to level down from an honors course |
| July 3 | First semester ends – mandatory attendance for onsite students |
| July 7 | Second semester begins |
| July 10 | Last day to level down from an honors course |
| July 10 | Last day on campus for onsite history students |
| July 24 | Second semester ends – mandatory attendance for onsite students (history students excluded) |
| July 25 | Last day to notify PVPSS that a student’s transcript should not be sent to the home school |
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 and Workshops, 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 under nine minutes.
How do students finish onsite history classes in under four weeks?
The teachers have developed a format that includes software and direct instruction, which enables students to work at a swift pace with little to no homework.
Are students allowed to take an academic course and support workshop at the same time?
Students are welcome to take an online course and onsite workshop simultaneously. Also, since each of our workshops are one semester (three weeks) or less, students are allowed to take two of them throughout the summer. PVPSS has incredible workshops, so make sure to check out the Summer High School Courses and Workshops page for more information.
Who would be the best person to contact if I still have questions?
Feel free to contact the PVPSS Director, Adam Genovese, at genovesea@pvpss.com. It is always our goal to provide the best support possible!
All PVPSS sites have administrative staff that have been trained in first aid and CPR. In addition, we have support from the PVPUSD summer school nurse. All students with individualize medical needs will have a plan in place that the family and site staff agree to prior to the first day of summer school. Once your student is registered, we will reach out to schedule a meeting.