Community
Located on the picturesque Puget Sound, the City of University Place is home to more than 34,000 residents. Halfway between the state capital of Olympia and the state’s largest city, Seattle, the city boasts beautiful scenic views of the Olympic Mountains, Mount Rainier and the Puget Sound, and is the ideal launching point to the Pacific Northwest. The University Place School District boundary area includes most, but not all of the City of University Place, and a small portion of the City of Tacoma. Our student population reflects the ethnic diversity of the surrounding community.
School
Curtis Senior High School is a comprehensive, public high school that opened in 1962 for grades 10 through 12. Ninth grade students attend Curtis Junior High School. We are the only high school in the University Place School District. The district consists of four primary schools (K-4), two intermediate schools (5-7), and the Junior and Senior High Schools. We are accredited by the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD).
Student Demographics
Enrollment: 1313 students;
Free and Reduced Lunch: 39.5%
Special Education: 9%
English Language Learner: 3.3%
Student Ethnicity: 9.9% African American/Black, 0.4% American Indian/Alaskan Native, 13% Asian, 17.5% Hispanic/Latino, 1.5% Pacific Islander, 43.3% White/Caucasian, and 14.3% Multiracial.
Administration & Counseling
Principal: Tom Adams
Assistant Principals: Amy Stapleton (A-G), Stu Dodge (H-N), Jackie Thomas (O-Z)
District Athletic Director: Suzanne Vick
Counselors: Barnaby Fletcher (A-E), Beth Edwards (F-Le), Graham O'Brien (Li-R), Lisa Marsh (S-Z),
Faculty and Staff
The teaching faculty consists of 58 certificated staff. There are 25 classified staff members.
Campus Security
CHS has a campus security officer to support student safety on our campus. Our campus security officer provides additional supervision and support to school administration. This includes patrolling school premises, supervising school and district events, working with law enforcement when necessary and responding to emergencies that occur. For more information about our campus security job functions,please click here.
Additionally, our district also has a district security staff member who patrols all school district buildings and facilities after school and office hours to report possible security concerns. Information regarding the job functions of this position is located here.
Curriculum
Curtis runs on a six period schedule, with 55 minute classes. The year consists of two-18 week semesters. Students earn .5 credit per semester-long class. We require 24 credits for graduation.
Advanced Placement courses (A): Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics 1, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Human Geography, US History, US Government and Politics, Psychology, World History (Junior High), English Language, English Literature, Japanese Language, Spanish Language, Computer Science A and Computer Science Principles
College in the High School (C): Pre-calculus (Math 153/154), Math in the Modern World (Math 101), and Spanish 5/6 (Spanish 151 & 152)
Honors courses (H): English 9 (Junior High), English 10, and Biology (Junior High)
High School & Beyond Plan and Volunteer Hours: All students attending Curtis High School will complete a High School & Beyond Plan (HSBP). The High School & Beyond Plan is a formal process designed to help students think about their future goals and how to accomplish those goals. Students must also complete 50 volunteer hours between 9th-12th grades. Due to Covid closures, we have adjusted the amount of hours to the following: Class of 2024 must complete 45 hours.
Grading and Ranking
A school year is divided into two semesters of 18 weeks each. Final grades are given at the end of each semester. These are posted on the student’s transcript and determine his/her grade point average (GPA). In addition, a mid-term grade is issued after the first nine weeks of a semester to indicate the student’s progress toward earning credit in each course. Students must complete 18 weeks in a course with a minimum D grade to earn .5 credits. Students who pass six classes each semester earn 6.0 credits for the year (3.0 credits a semester).
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GPAs are computed using the following numerical equivalents of letter grades:
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GRADE SCALE
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A
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=
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4.0
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A
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=
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93 & above
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A-
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=
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3.7
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A-
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=
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90 up to 93
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B+
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=
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3.3
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B+
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=
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87 up to 89
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B
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=
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3
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B
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=
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83 up to 86
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B-
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=
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2.7
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B-
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=
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80 up to 82
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C+
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=
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2.3
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C+
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=
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77 up to 79
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C
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=
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2
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C
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72 up to 76
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C-
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1.7
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C-
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=
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70 up to 72
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D+
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=
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1.3
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D+
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=
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67 up to 69
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D
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1
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D
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=
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60 up to 66
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F
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0
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F
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=
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59.9 and below
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IP
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=
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Class Rank
All classes are weighted equally in computing the grade point average. Class rank is determined by the cumulative GPA. Total class enrollment is used in computing the class rank.
Test Scores
In 2023, 740 AP exams were taken by 380 students in 16 subject areas. 65% of exams received a passing score.
SAT mean scores for Class of 2023: 608-Evidence Based Reading & Writing 607-Math
ACT mean scores for Class of 2023:
21.9-English
24.2-Math
24.4-Reading
23.8-Science
23.8-Composite
Post High School Attendance History
The majority of students prepare to enter college directly from high school. In 2023, 49% of our seniors indicated they plan to attend a 4-year college/university, and 27% plan to attend a 2-year or technical college. An additional 3% indicated they plan to join the military, 8% indicated they plan to apprentice or go directly into the workforce. 7% plan to take a gap year and 6% are undecided.
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