The Aviation Academy is a program that runs in the afternoons, designed to prepare students for careers in the aviation industry, from piloting planes to maintaining aircraft, and everything in between.  The program’s afternoon courses allow juniors and seniors the flexibility to take classes at a traditional high school or running start in the morning to complete their schedule.

We share a space with Henderson Bay High School, with our classes running after the traditional school day.  This flexible model allows students to enroll in a combination of classes, including Running Start, traditional high school, and/or the Aviation Academy.  

Our curriculum consists of 12 classes over two years, as well as time in our flight-simulation lab, which includes multiple flight simulators and a simulated control tower.

Year 1
Private Pilot Ground School
Aviation Weather 
Aircraft Systems
Aviation History & Careers
Aviation Law
Uncrewed Aerial Systems / Drone Operations

Year 2
Aviation Human Factors & Safety
Aerodynamics
Air Traffic Control
Airport Planning & Management
Airline Operations & Management
Airline Dispatch & Operations
 

The Aviation Academy program runs daily from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, offering a consistent schedule that ensures students receive the full benefit of this hands-on, immersive experience. Operating after school hours allows flexibility for students outside the traditional comprehensive high school structure, including those enrolled in alternative programs or part-time schooling. Attendance is crucial for success in the program, as the curriculum is designed to build skills incrementally through active participation in daily activities. Students are expected to fully commit to this schedule to maximize their learning and development in aviation studies.

The program is open to any 11th and 12th grade students interested in exploring careers in aviation.  It includes everything from drone certification to private pilot ground school preparation to learning about airport management.  This current year, 2024-2025, admission is by lottery.

No, the Aviation Academy is open to all students within the Peninsula School District who attend any of our comprehensive high schools—Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor High School, or Henderson Bay High School. While the program's home location is in the lower level of Henderson Bay High School, it is not exclusive to students from that school.

The Academy provides hands-on, immersive learning experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. Students will spend a significant portion of their time engaged in lab-based activities at the Vintage Airplane Museum at the Tacoma Narrows Airport, participating in field trips to the Museum of Flight, and more. These experiences are designed to create a dynamic and comprehensive aviation education for all enrolled students, regardless of their primary high school.

Students interested in enrolling in the Aviation Academy must participate in a lottery process. The lottery application window typically opens in the spring for the following academic year. Specific dates and detailed information about the application process are provided on the Peninsula School District's official website. For the most current details on enrollment procedures and timelines, please visit the program’s enrollment page.

The Aviation Academy is open to all students residing within the Peninsula School District and attending any of our comprehensive high schools: Peninsula High School, Gig Harbor High School, or Henderson Bay High School. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in Peninsula School District schools, either as full-time or part-time students. The program welcomes students from all backgrounds and encourages those with diverse academic or extracurricular interests to apply. Participants will maintain part-time enrollment at their primary high school while attending the Aviation Academy for three sections.

Transportation needs will be assessed during the registration process. Families can indicate if they require district-provided transportation, and the academy will work to accommodate these needs wherever possible.

This depends on scheduling and the student’s total full time enrollment. Students interested in combining these opportunities should work with their school counselor and the academy registrar to determine if it’s feasible within their schedule.

We are working on developing additional offerings for younger students, and will have more information about that in the next school year.

We’d love your support!  Click on this one pager to learn more about how you can be involved: hosting field trips, guest speaking, donating physical materials, participating as advisors, and/or mentoring students.