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Aviation Academy
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Frequently Asked Questions
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The Aviation Academy is designed to prepare students for careers in the aviation industry, from piloting planes to maintaining aircraft, and everything in between. The program’s courses allow juniors and seniors the flexibility to take classes at a traditional high school or running start to complete their schedule.
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We share a space with Henderson Bay High School. This flexible model allows students to enroll in a combination of classes, including Running Start, traditional high school, and/or the Aviation Academy.
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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 OperationsYear 2
Aviation Human Factors & Safety
Aerodynamics
Air Traffic Control
Airport Planning & Management
Airline Operations & Management
Airline Dispatch & Operations
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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We are working on developing additional offerings for younger students, and will have more information about that in the next school year.
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We’d love your support! Email us at cte@psd401.net
Program Updates:
Aviation Academy Newsletter – January 2026 Highlights
The Aviation Academy kicked off 2026 with hands-on learning and real-world aviation experiences. Students continued their Private Pilot Ground School, developing complete flight plans and flying them in the simulator lab while strengthening skills in navigation, air traffic control communication, and aircraft performance calculations.
This month also spotlighted the incredible professionals supporting our students. Academy mentors Mike Gofman (Alaska Airlines First Officer) and Jeff Cotton (retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and current 787 Simulator Instructor Captain) brought decades of airline and military aviation experience into the classroom, offering students invaluable insight into aviation careers.
Students also heard from inspiring guest speakers, including Christine Gregorich from the FAA, who shared how data, engineering, and systems oversight keep aviation safe, and Capt. Jason Sherman, U.S. Navy, who highlighted leadership and service pathways through naval aviation.
Looking ahead, students will participate in industry briefings, field trips with aviation partners, FAA medical briefings, and an upcoming visit to the Museum of Flight as enrollment opens for next year.
Aviation Academy Newsletter – December 2025 Highlights
December was an energizing and impactful month for the Aviation Academy, filled with hands-on learning, industry engagement, and real-world aviation experiences. Students wrapped up 2025 with growing confidence, curiosity, and a deeper understanding of aviation pathways.
In the classroom, students completed the Aviation Weather course, strengthening their skills in understanding weather systems and interpreting METAR reports. They also had the unique opportunity to teach Henderson Bay staff how to fly using the simulators—highlighting both student leadership and the technical demands of aviation.
Throughout the fall, students learned directly from an impressive lineup of guest speakers from the FAA, commercial airlines, military aviation, and aviation instruction, bringing real-world expertise into daily learning.
December also marked the start of college credit sign-ups with Green River College. Each Aviation Academy course is articulated for 5 college credits, allowing students to earn up to 30 credits in a single year.
Students participated in unforgettable industry field trips, including behind-the-scenes access at the Museum of Flight with an Aircraft Systems tour of a Boeing 787, and a visit to Alaska Airlines Maintenance & Engineering, where they explored careers in aircraft maintenance, engineering, and aviation operations firsthand.
As the year closed, we celebrated an incredible first semester and looked ahead with excitement to continued partnerships, learning opportunities, and student achievements in 2026.
November:
October was full of progress and hands-on learning at the Aviation Academy! Students explored Aircraft Systems and Aviation Weather, practiced takeoffs and landings in simulators, and connected classroom learning directly to flight.
The month wrapped up with Rainier Flight Service Family Night—aircraft tours, flight instructor meet-and-greets, and real-world insight from Alaska pilot Oliver Gordon Alvord. Students also visited the Vintage Aero Museum, hearing from a panel of professionals whose careers span the Air Force, Boeing, and commercial airlines.
Every experience brings our students closer to their dreams of flight.
Click to learn more and join our mailing list for future updates.