Principal's Message
At Los Gatos High School, we are proud to be a part of a diverse and supportive learning community with our students and parents, as well as our partners in the Town of Los Gatos.
The staff at LGHS strives to create an environment where our 1,906 students fulfill their academic and career potential, have a myriad of opportunities to participate and find success in
their varied extra-curricular activities, are supported in their social emotional well-being, and are encouraged to be a positive, thoughtful contributor to our community.
Our students are supported to achieve at high levels in their academic pursuits and are prepared to pursue their post-secondary opportunities at highly selective colleges in the nation. 20 Advanced Placement subjects are offered across all academic departments, and our students take well over 2,000 A.P. exams annually with an 86.4% pass rate. 77% of LGHS take at least one A.P. course. 61% of our LGHS students have a 3.50 GPA or above, and 80% of our LGHS students have over a 3.00 GPA. Our World Languages offerings include Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Japanese.
LGHS also provides 85 elective options, including International Cuisine, Fashion & Design,
Yearbook, Newspaper, Art, Ceramics, Graphic Design, Robotics, Engineering, Business,
Computer Science, Manufacturing Tech, Digital Photo, Orchestra, Band, Choir, Chamber
Singers, Music Theory, Silicon Valley Career Technical Education classes, among others. LGHS
has a 98% graduation rate, with 94% of students going on to a two-year (22%) or four-year
college (72%). 80% of LGHS students meet A-G completion in their four years.
With over 100 clubs, two LGHS Theater productions, multiple marching band competitions, nine band, orchestra, and choir concerts and 60 competitive athletic teams in 28 varsity sports, LGHS students have ample opportunities to acquire leadership skills, strive for goals together as a team, and help shape and inspire the school community in their extra-curriculars. In 2023-2024, LGHS won 16 varsity league championships, five Central Coast Section Championships and one NorCal Championship in our athletic program’s pursuit of excellence. Academically, our 1,300 student-athletes held an average unweighted GPA of 3.50. In addition, LGHS students lead by example by volunteering on service projects through both their club affiliations and their athletic teams throughout the community, as well as annually raising over $100,000 for
charities and non-profit organizations.
Los Gatos High School students develop critical thinking, as well as partake in activities that
develop their talents, leadership skills, and character. Our teachers and staff understand how
important it is to build positive relationships with students to help them develop as
independent thinkers within a collaborative community.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.
Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
It is an honor to work amongst a community that supports both students intellectual and
character development.
Dave Poetzinger
Principal
Los Gatos High School
Weekly Principal's Messages are emailed to LGHS families and viewable on the Parent Square platform by LGHS parents, staff, and students.