Is Palmer High School a good school?

Palmer High School ranks 248 th of 349 Colorado high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

How many students attend Palmer High School?

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,384 students attended Palmer High School.

What is the racial makeup of Palmer High School?

Students at Palmer High School are 44% White, 37% Hispanic, 10% African American, 9% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Palmer High School?

Palmer High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Adams Elementary School Elementary : Columbia Elementary School Elementary : Queen Palmer Elementary School Elementary : Rogers Elementary School Elementary : Steele Elementary School Elementary : Stratton Elementary School Elementary : Taylor Elementary School Middle : North Middle School

Palmer High School

Summary:

Palmer High School is a public high school located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,384 students. The school is part of the Colorado Springs School District No. 11, which is ranked 66 out of 116 districts in Colorado and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Palmer High School has a more diverse student population compared to the surrounding schools, with a higher percentage of Hispanic (36.71%) and African American (9.61%) students. However, the school's academic performance, as measured by standardized test scores, is generally lower than the state and district averages. For example, in the 2023-2024 school year, only 17% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT Mathematics, compared to the state average of 31%. The school has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Colorado high schools, with a ranking of 248 out of 349 schools in the 2023-2024 school year and a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger. Additionally, Palmer High School's performance on standardized tests varies significantly across different student subgroups, with the school ranking 30 out of 38 Colorado high schools for African American students and 155 out of 199 for Hispanic students.

While Palmer High School faces several challenges, the nearby schools, such as The Bijou School, Achieve Online, and Odyssey Early College and Career Options, have similar demographic profiles and academic performance. However, Odyssey Early College and Career Options stands out with significantly higher test scores and a much higher statewide ranking (78 out of 349 in 2023-2024). This suggests that there may be opportunities for Palmer High School to learn from and implement best practices to improve its academic outcomes, particularly for its diverse student population and those from low-socioeconomic backgrounds.

Detail:

Public 9-12

301 North Nevada Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80903-1218

(719) 328-5000

District: Colorado Springs School District No. 11

SchoolDigger Rank:
248^th of 349 Colorado High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,284

Feeder schools for Palmer High School:

Elementary:	Adams Elementary School
	Columbia Elementary School
	Queen Palmer Elementary School
	Rogers Elementary School
	More...
	Steele Elementary School
	Stratton Elementary School
	Taylor Elementary School
Middle:	North Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 19.1

Number of students: 1,384

Racial breakdown:

White:

43.7%

Hispanic:

36.7%

African American:

9.6%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 55.2%

See top rated Colorado high schools

Compare Palmer High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Palmer High School ranks worse than 71.1% of high schools in Colorado. It also ranks 6^th among 9 ranked high schools in the Colorado Springs School District No. 11. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 26.96. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Palmer High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

The high school dropout rate measures the percentage of students who do not complete their high school education.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Palmer High School has the largest high school student body size in the Colorado Springs School District No. 11. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Palmer High School is $16,284, which is the 5^th highest among 9 high schools in the Colorado Springs School District No. 11.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Palmer High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Palmer High School 248^th of 349 Colorado public high schools. (See Palmer High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Gifted and Talented students:

Male students:

African American students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Colorado Springs School District No. 11:

SchoolDigger ranks Colorado Springs School District No. 11 66^th of 116 Colorado school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Palmer High School?

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Rank History for Palmer High School

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Rank History for all students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2004	79.84	53^rd	279	81.0%
2005	79.64	53^rd	280	81.1%
2006	78.76	50^th	286	82.5%
2007	77.73	62^nd	298	79.2%
2008	77.85	55^th	301	81.7%
2009	74.35	76^th	310	75.5%
2010	65.37	121^st	327	63.0%
2011	57.81	156^th	337	53.7%
2012	69.29	103^rd	334	69.2%
2013	65.60	120^th	349	65.6%
2014	60.84	140^th	369	62.1%
2015	23.67	223^rd	292	23.6%
2016	33.48	148^th	255	42.0%
2017	26.93	174^th	256	32.0%
2018	50.87	172^nd	388	55.7%
2019	48.75	194^th	411	52.8%
2021	22.27	161^st	210	23.3%
2022	15.38	182^nd	221	17.6%
2023	31.07	234^th	349	33.0%
2024	26.96	248^th	349	28.9%

See the entire list of Colorado High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2022	19.98	48^th	56	14.3%
2023	23.51	45^th	62	27.4%
2024	18.15	50^th	61	18.0%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	42.17	110^th	188	41.5%
2022	37.68	125^th	203	38.4%
2023	26.93	151^st	200	24.5%
2024	23.67	164^th	211	22.3%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	39.28	141^st	239	41.0%
2022	33.46	169^th	257	34.2%
2023	28.17	181^st	254	28.7%
2024	28.12	176^th	257	31.5%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	41.18	79^th	118	33.1%
2022	44.52	76^th	108	29.6%
2023	29.63	110^th	135	18.5%
2024	28.38	113^th	140	19.3%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	37.04	148^th	240	38.3%
2022	29.86	166^th	253	34.4%
2023	29.68	174^th	252	31.0%
2024	22.67	190^th	256	25.8%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	20.58	25^th	29	13.8%
2023	26.27	25^th	36	30.6%
2024	21.64	30^th	38	21.1%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	32.89	110^th	181	39.2%
2022	22.17	157^th	205	23.4%
2023	25.09	152^nd	198	23.2%
2024	21.89	155^th	199	22.1%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Palmer High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	CO State Percentile
2021	49.98	111^th	225	50.7%
2022	37.02	137^th	228	39.9%
2023	23.51	180^th	234	23.1%
2024	22.64	181^st	229	21.0%

See the entire list of Best Colorado High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Colorado Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Palmer High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
1988	987	75	30	161	2	n/a	n/a	1255
1989	902	75	30	123	3	n/a	n/a	1133
1990	860	68	37	140	5	n/a	n/a	1110
1991	804	63	37	153	6	n/a	n/a	1063
1992	865	75	39	144	7	n/a	n/a	1130
1993	906	72	49	164	14	n/a	n/a	1205
1994	1306	138	57	246	17	n/a	n/a	1764
1995	1426	126	72	208	12	n/a	n/a	1844
1996	1426	126	72	208	12	n/a	n/a	1844
1997	1496	139	78	223	14	n/a	n/a	1950
1998	1542	141	71	216	18	n/a	n/a	1988
1999	1477	139	56	207	13	n/a	n/a	1892
2000	1394	134	41	209	13	n/a	n/a	1791
2001	1450	133	58	262	13	n/a	n/a	1916
2002	1379	110	70	305	15	n/a	n/a	1879
2003	1379	110	70	305	15	n/a	n/a	1879
2004	1458	158	69	313	18	n/a	n/a	2016
2005	1434	175	60	301	24	n/a	n/a	1994
2006	1468	170	57	330	32	n/a	n/a	2057
2007	1449	146	51	340	27	n/a	n/a	2013
2008	1472	146	61	342	41	n/a	n/a	2062
2009	1405	175	66	339	37	n/a	n/a	2022
2010	1405	196	61	370	37	n/a	n/a	2069
2011	1175	122	46	444	36	6	146	1975
2012	1185	111	42	515	28	2	141	2024
2013	1085	110	50	536	21	5	140	1947
2014	1132	123	55	569	24	8	160	2071
2015	1017	139	37	589	23	7	164	1976
2016	902	145	33	571	21	7	157	1836
2017	879	144	30	606	11	9	138	1817
2018	813	152	27	577	10	7	111	1697
2019	760	151	22	564	9	8	113	1627
2020	753	165	14	561	13	9	107	1622
2021	738	148	10	570	11	6	111	1594
2022	690	152	10	556	13	5	126	1552
2023	605	133	8	508	8	3	119	1384

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Palmer High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1255	71.5	17.5	n/a
1989	1133	71.7	15.8	8.4
1990	1110	71.9	15.4	6.2
1991	1063	65.6	16.2	8
1992	1130	67.9	16.6	15
1993	1205	59.5	20.3	19.5
1994	1764	82.4	21.4	13.9
1995	1844	97.4	18.9	14
1996	1844	97.4	18.9	14
1997	1950	98.3	19.8	17.9
1998	1988	97.5	20.4	17.6
1999	1892	94.1	20.1	14.9
2000	1791	91.4	19.6	21.2
2001	1916	93.1	20.6	19.2
2002	1879	99.7	18.8	19
2003	1879	99.7	18.8	19
2004	2016	104.7	19.3	20.9
2005	1994	102.2	19.5	24.5
2006	2057	105.5	19.5	25.2
2007	2013	102.0	19.7	27
2008	2062	103.4	19.9	29
2009	2022	103.5	19.5	31.8
2010	2069	97.7	21.1	33.7
2011	1975	104.8	18.8	35.9
2012	2024	99.4	20.3	40.4
2013	1947	87.2	22.3	42.9
2014	2071	95.0	21.8	46.9
2015	1976	99.0	19.9	51.9
2016	1836	90.0	20.4	51.8
2017	1817	87.2	20.8	56.6
2018	1697	89.1	19.0	55.6
2019	1627	87.1	18.6	54.1
2020	1622	78.4	20.6	54.2
2021	1594	76.1	20.9	55.3
2022	1552	75.4	20.5	54
2023	1384	72.2	19.1	55.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Palmer High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	1255	71.5	17.5	n/a
1989	1133	71.7	15.8	8.4
1990	1110	71.9	15.4	6.2
1991	1063	65.6	16.2	8
1992	1130	67.9	16.6	15
1993	1205	59.5	20.3	19.5
1994	1764	82.4	21.4	13.9
1995	1844	97.4	18.9	14
1996	1844	97.4	18.9	14
1997	1950	98.3	19.8	17.9
1998	1988	97.5	20.4	17.6
1999	1892	94.1	20.1	14.9
2000	1791	91.4	19.6	21.2
2001	1916	93.1	20.6	19.2
2002	1879	99.7	18.8	19
2003	1879	99.7	18.8	19
2004	2016	104.7	19.3	20.9
2005	1994	102.2	19.5	24.5
2006	2057	105.5	19.5	25.2
2007	2013	102.0	19.7	27
2008	2062	103.4	19.9	29
2009	2022	103.5	19.5	31.8
2010	2069	97.7	21.1	33.7
2011	1975	104.8	18.8	35.9
2012	2024	99.4	20.3	40.4
2013	1947	87.2	22.3	42.9
2014	2071	95.0	21.8	46.9
2015	1976	99.0	19.9	51.9
2016	1836	90.0	20.4	51.8
2017	1817	87.2	20.8	56.6
2018	1697	89.1	19.0	55.6
2019	1627	87.1	18.6	54.1
2020	1622	78.4	20.6	54.2
2021	1594	76.1	20.9	55.3
2022	1552	75.4	20.5	54
2023	1384	72.2	19.1	55.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Palmer High School

Year	Total Expenditures Per Pupil
2019	$13,035
2020	$12,334
2021	$12,653
2022	$14,305
2023	$16,284

Data source: Colorado Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Palmer High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 194^th of 411 High schools	Ranks 234^th of 349 High schools	19.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	1627	1384	14.9%
African American	151	133	11.9%
American Indian	9	8	11.1%
Asian	22	8	63.6%
Hispanic	564	508	9.9%
Pacific Islander	8	3	62.5%
White	760	605	20.4%
Two or More Races	113	119	5.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	54.1%	55.2%	1.1%

Schools Near Palmer High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT10 Reading and Writing (2024)	PSAT10 Mathematics (2024)	PSAT9 Reading and Writing (2024)	PSAT9 Mathematics (2024)	SAT Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	CMAS English Language Arts (2024)		CMAS Science (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT10 Reading and Writing 10th Grade	PSAT10 Mathematics 10th Grade	PSAT9 Reading and Writing 9th Grade	PSAT9 Mathematics 9th Grade	SAT Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts 6th Grade	CMAS English Language Arts All Grades	CMAS Science 11th Grade	Total
Palmer High School	Public	9-12	301 North Nevada Avenue	Colorado Springs	80903	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-5000	1,384	72	19.1	55.2%	605 (43.7%)	133 (9.6%)	508 (36.7%)	8 (0.6%)	8 (0.6%)	3 (0.2%)	119 (8.6%)	27	248^th of 349 public high schools	28.9%		31.1	234^th of 349 public high schools	33.0%	14	56.0	22.0	51.0	19.0	49.0	17.0			17.8	$16,284
Community Prep Charter School	Public, Charter	9-12	332 East Willamette Avenue	Colorado Springs	80903	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 227-8836	172	9	18.2		71 (41.3%)	11 (6.4%)	66 (38.4%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (12.8%)								(n/a)										$12,347
Eastlake High School of Colorado Springs	Public, Charter	9-12	2520 Airport Road	Colorado Springs	80910	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 271-0145	101	8	12.7	73.3%	45 (44.6%)	14 (13.9%)	36 (35.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.0%)	4 (4.0%)								(n/a)										$15,689
The Vanguard School (High)	Public, Charter	9-12	1832 South Wahsatch	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Harrison School District No. 2	Yes	No	No	No	(719) 471-1999	321	30	10.5	16.2%	165 (51.4%)	10 (3.1%)	73 (22.7%)	38 (11.8%)	1 (0.3%)	3 (0.9%)	31 (9.7%)	97.2	4^th of 349 public high schools	98.9%		97.9	4^th of 349 public high schools	98.9%		97.0	82.0	97.0	86.0	99.0	91.0			52.0	$7,734
The Bijou School	Public	9-12	2115 Afton Way	Colorado Springs	80909	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-7900	141	9	16.0	67.4%	66 (46.8%)	11 (7.8%)	51 (36.2%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (8.5%)	5.7	335^th of 349 public high schools	4.0%		5.4	335^th of 349 public high schools	4.0%		30.0		18.0		19.0				7.1	$16,861
Achieve Online	Public	6-12	2115 Afton Way	Colorado Springs	80909	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-3000	354	16	22.1	57.1%	195 (55.1%)	29 (8.2%)	94 (26.6%)	4 (1.1%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (8.5%)	32.2	232^nd of 349 public high schools	33.5%		19.8	279^th of 349 public high schools	20.1%	47	59.0				41.0		16.7	14.3		$16,458
Odyssey Early College and Career Options	Public	9-12	2115 Afton Way	Colorado Springs	80909	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-3009	316	18	18.0	46.5%	173 (54.7%)	23 (7.3%)	81 (25.6%)	7 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	31 (9.8%)	74.9	78^th of 349 public high schools	77.7%		78.6	72^nd of 349 public high schools	79.4%	6	88.0	40.0	90.0	65.0	66.0	28.0			48.0	$15,416
Coronado High School	Public	9-12	1590 West Fillmore Street	Colorado Springs	80904	El Paso County	Colorado Springs School District No. 11	No	No	No	No	(719) 328-3600	1,305	68	19.1	45.2%	771 (59.1%)	54 (4.1%)	364 (27.9%)	16 (1.2%)	8 (0.6%)	6 (0.5%)	86 (6.6%)	42.6	195^th of 349 public high schools	44.1%		48.1	166^th of 349 public high schools	52.4%	29	64.0	26.0	61.0	35.0	56.0	22.0			25.4	$16,202
Cheyenne Mountain High School	Public	9-12	1200 Cresta Road	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Cheyenne Mountain School District No. 12	No	No	No	No	(719) 475-6110	1,241	78	15.9	8.5%	881 (71.0%)	29 (2.3%)	195 (15.7%)	45 (3.6%)	3 (0.2%)	4 (0.3%)	84 (6.8%)								(n/a)										$14,819
Career Readiness Academy	Public	9-12	2883 South Circle Drive	Colorado Springs	80906	El Paso County	Harrison School District No. 2	No	No	No	Yes	(719) 579-2580	63	2	31.5	66.7%	10 (15.9%)	15 (23.8%)	29 (46.0%)	1 (1.6%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.2%)	6 (9.5%)								(n/a)										$14,410

Palmer High School

Palmer High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Colorado Springs School District No. 11:

What do you think?

Rank History for Palmer High School

Rank History for all students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Female students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Male students at Palmer High School

Rank History for African American students at Palmer High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Palmer High School

Rank History for White students at Palmer High School

Enrollment information for Palmer High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Palmer High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Palmer High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Palmer High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Palmer High School

Rankings

Student Body

Schools Near Palmer High School

Frequently Asked Questions about Palmer High School

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