Robert Cecil Palmer Secondary School, (commonly, R.C. Palmer Secondary School, RCPSS, RCP, and Palmer Secondary School) is a public, co-educational secondary school situated in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada which educates students in grades 8-12. Palmer Secondary School is one of the many schools under the Richmond School District. It is the only school in Richmond to offer the Pre-AP Incentive Program, the ACE-IT plumbing program and, previously, the Palmer Hockey Academy. The Richmond Virtual School is also hosted in the Palmer building.
History
Robert C. Palmer Junior High School first opened in September 1959 with an enrollment of 769. This school is named after Robert Cecil Palmer, a Richmond resident and magistrate in the provincial court for 22 years. The school suffered a terrible fire on April 10, 1976. The school underwent two renovations in 1978 to recover from the fire. In 1996, the Richmond School District converted all senior (Grade 11 and 12 only) and junior (Grade 9 and 10 only) high schools to full spectrum grade 8 to 12 schools. Palmer officially reopened in May 2000 as a full grade 8 to 12 secondary school.
Motto and Colours
The school colours, navy blue and powder blue, were chosen in 1959 by the student council. The school's Greek motto, KUDOS, can be translated to "for valour" or "for honour" and it is a part of the school's crest designed by the first art department.
Palmer Griffins
The Griffin represents the Palmer family and is a part of the Palmer Family coat of arms. It is a mythological creature that is a hybrid of both lion and eagle. Griffins are a symbol of wisdom, strength, and loyalty. The Palmer Griffin name is often used for Palmer's athletic teams.
Curriculum and Programs
Robert Cecil Palmer Secondary School utilizes the full-year linear system. The school year is divided into 3 terms. Students take a minimum of 6 courses to a maximum of 8 courses for the full year; students attend four 75-minute classes on one day and another four different classes the next day. Each week is divided into a rotational basis.
Grading Scale
Palmer uses the same grading scale as established by the BC Ministry of Education.
For anything less than 49%, students will be assigned an "I" (Incomplete) which will turn into an "F" (Fail) if course requirements are not completed.
Pre-AP/Incentive Program
Palmer offers honours level courses through its selective Pre-AP/Incentive program. The program develops academic excellence and offers acceleration for subjects in Math, Science, and Socials Students. The Incentive program also challenges students with leadership opportunities, outdoor and physical education, and community service, with the intent of building strong personal character. The Incentive program is established on the basis of promoting a well-rounded education for high school students and to develop learners to think critically.
Entry to the Program is by application, followed by an entrance exam and an interview.
As of 2016–2017, the program offers: Enriched (honours) courses in English, Math, Social Studies, and Science 2 year accelerated track for Grade 8, 9, 10 Math and Science Preparation for AP courses and exams in Grade 12 Trips and outdoor camp experiences to complement Incentive classes Leadership and community service opportunities Develops personal character
As of 2022/2023, the following IB courses are offered:
English A1 HL
French B HL/SL
Mandarin B HL/SL
Japanese B HL/SL
Spanish B HL/SL
Geography HL/SL
History HL
Digital Society HL/SL
Business Management HL/SL
Chemistry HL/SL
Biology HL/SL
Physics HL/SL
Mathematics AA HL/SL
Theatre Arts HL
Visual Arts HL/SL
Music HL/SL
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) Extended Essay (EE)
AP Program
Advanced Placement (AP) courses are offered at RC Palmer Secondary School and are taken by qualified Grade 12 students by selective application. Palmer's AI Code is 821315, as assigned by College Board.
As of 2016–2017, the following five AP courses are offered:
ACE IT Career Prep Program
The Accelerated Credit Enrolment in Industry Training (ACE IT) program is the in-class component of a high school apprenticeship. ACE IT students are Youth Apprentices registered with the Industry Training Authority (ITA).