The Paly Voice

News

Charen Yu (left), the Palo Alto Unified School District chief business officer, presents the updated 2026-2027 budget during Tuesday's board meeting. According to Yu, expenditure changes are the primary reason for the deficit. “[Compared to the adopted budget], certificated salaries are up $18.8 million (which translates to 13.4%), classified salaries are up $11 million (or 17%), benefits are up $5.6 million and all other objects are down $2.9 million,” Yu said. “These are settled agreements with our bargaining partners. They are contractual obligations and they are the primary driver of the change.”

Breaking: PAUSD looks to cut $33 million next year to address budget deficit

Jasper Veer Tuteja and Oscar Varodayan • August 19, 2026

Editor's Note: This article's title was changed because the previous title implied a $33 million budget deficit, when instead PAUSD looks to...

A police presence overlooks Palo Alto High School as a lawsuit over a field trip to a mosque brings significant media attention to the school. Superintendent Jason Glass said in a statement to the public that the claims in the lawsuit are yet to be substantiated. “We learned of this filing through news coverage," Glass said. "To date, we have not been served. I have now read the complaint, but we have not yet verified the allegations.” When asked, the Paly administration declined to comment on the police’s presence.

Community weighs in on district mosque field trip lawsuit

Priya Tamura and Navya Narayanan • August 18, 2026

Editor’s note: Names of students quoted about the field trip are presented as pseudonyms due to the sensitive nature of the field trip and...

Associated Student Body president Katie Kim welcomes freshmen to Palo Alto High School’s freshman orientation on Wednesday. Kim said students should come into orientation with a positive attitude. “Please be open-minded throughout this entire tour and orientation process,” Kim said, “Be respectful of your Link Crew leaders. They have sacrificed time out of their summer to make sure that you are all caught up with the Paly culture and know your way around school.”

Freshman orientation emphasizes community

Juni Thurston and Naomi Espinoza • August 12, 2026

“Welcome to the best school in the world, Palo Alto High School.” These words from Paly principal Brent Kline reverberated through the...

New apartment complex Colibiri commons opens up in East Palo Alto hoping to bring more affordable housing to the area. Resident Max Vasquez said the new complex will help the EPA community and offer more affordable housing. “It's going to help the community by giving it more housing for more people,” Vasquez said. “I also think it will bring new jobs to the community.”

EPA opens new affordable apartment complex

Sebastian Tung and Jack Lindauer • June 4, 2026

More East Palo Alto families can find affordable places to live after a new housing complex opened on May 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended...

InFocus students set up the press box at Earl Hansen Stadium in preparation for the livestream they will be conducting during the Thursday graduation ceremony at Palo Alto High School. According to Rod Satterthwaite, the adviser for the broadcast journalism class, the livestream is a great way to open up the accessibility of the ceremony. “It provides the community benefit," Satterthwaite said. "It offers people who can't come because of disabilities or because they live far away the opportunity to watch their grandchild or child walk across the stage and be present for that moment.”

Graduation to be streamed by InFocus

Mack Reller, Reporter • June 3, 2026

InFocus, Palo Alto High School's broadcast publication, will be livestreaming the graduation for the Class of 2026 at 5 p.m. Thursday from Earl...

Palo Alto High School math teacher Daniel Nguyen, who will be teaching Multivariable Calculus next year, prepares to teach his Algebra 2/Trig A class Monday. According to Nguyen, he is eager to begin teaching students the applications and concepts that the course entails. “I'm really looking forward to showing a lot of cool material that shows up in these classes,” Nguyen said. “There are a lot of applications and just a lot of interesting concepts that I'm glad students are going to be able to learn.”

Students look forward to on-campus Multivariable Calculus class

Diego Hakeman and Oscar Varodayan • June 3, 2026

For many Palo Alto High School students working through the school’s on-campus advanced math program, AP Calculus BC has been the end of the...

Palo Alto leaders offer contrasting perspectives on the proposed parcel tax renewal at a May 18 community debate at the district office. Speaking in opposition to Measure B, former Palo Alto Unified School District board member Ken Dauber said high reserves mitigate need for extra financial padding, and that he believes voters will step up if a need returns. “I trust the community to do what it has done for the last 25 years, which is to recognize the need when it sees it,” Dauber said.

City debates parcel tax renewal ahead of June ballot

Priya Tamura, Editor-in-Chief • June 1, 2026

As Palo Alto voters prepare for the June 2 election, community members are weighing whether the school district’s $100 million reserve justifies...

Senior Shalin Dwivedi walks past a now-removed mural, gifted by the Latinos Unidos, depicting a variety of influential social activists, including César Chávez at the top that Palo Alto High School administration took down. According to visual arts teacher Tracey Atkinson, making a new mural would be a big time commitment for students interested. "People think it [a mural] can be done in like 5 hours, but really it's more like 100 hours," Atkinson said. "Sometimes students get very excited about an idea, but then don't actually want to put the time in to make it happen because they're very busy and that's understandable."

Chavez allegations prompt removal of school mural

Ava Knapp and Joy Tan • May 29, 2026

Yesterday, Palo Alto High School administrators removed a Student Center mural honoring social activists following recent sexual abuse allegations...

Features

Students await receiving their diploma during Palo Alto High School's Class of 2026 graduation this afternoon at the Viking Stadium. According to PAUSD Board of Education President Shounak Dharap, failing is a step before success. "You will find that if you can fail over and over and over again, then when the time comes to do the new thing ... and when everyone around you is frozen and paralyzed by the fear of what could go wrong, you won't be," Dharap said.

Class of 2026 closes the chapter

Navya Narayanan and Sebastian Tung • June 4, 2026

"It is my pleasure, my privilege and my joy to authorize the diploma of graduation to be presented to the Palo Alto High School Class of 2026." These...

Two students use the library printer to print their next assignment. According to English teacher Sarah Bartlett, students learn better when using paper. “Most kids do better with paper handouts.” Bartlett said. You can write on it, you can find it, you can physically put your hands on it, you can have three handouts out on your desk at once, versus searching through Schoology and splitting the screen.”

National paper use is declining: Paly’s isn’t

Jasper Veer Tuteja, News Editor • June 4, 2026

It’s a tale of two schools. Paper and digital. Old and new. The past and the future? Not necessarily. As digital technology falls short, some...

Palo Alto High School students play hacky sack on the main quad. Liam Dahl, one of many Paly students who enjoys playing hacky sack, said hacky sack is overall a fun and simple activity. “I play sometimes during class, I'll play after school, but not much far from that, it's fun to play with friends,” Dahl said. “All my friends can play and it's easy.”

Hacky Sack takes over the Quad

Alex Rytokoski and Andrew Zhao • June 4, 2026

If you've walked around the Palo Alto High School campus lately, you may have noticed how a small woven footbag has taken over campus, as dozens...

Opinion

A computer screen shows a slide from the 2025-26 Palo Alto High School Humanities course at the heart of a field trip controversy that has resulted in a lawsuit against the Palo Alto Unified School District. Mary, a Paly senior who went on the field trip to the Santa Clara Muslim Community Association, said the context of the field trip is important. “It was a part of our class’s religion unit where we were learning about all religions ranging from Christianity to Hinduism,” Mary said. “I thought that, on the field trip, there was no pushing of religious ideals. It was essentially just a way to learn and be exposed to different forms of religion, faith and prayer.”

Opinion: Lawsuit over mosque field trip leaves out significant details, misses important nuances

Juni Thurston, Editor-in-Chief • August 19, 2026

Editor’s note: Names of students who attended the 2025 field trip to the Santa Clara Muslim Community Association are presented as pseudonyms...

Members in South Korean boy group BTS say their goodbyes during the Arirang World Tour on Tuesday at Stanford Stadium.

BTS sends Stanford Stadium soaring

Veronica Qiu, Former Editor-in-Chief • May 25, 2026

I need the whole stadium to jump, put your phone down, let’s get all the fun. Fans lived by these lyrics at the BTS concert...

Culture

Manager Zanda Robinson prepares drinks at the new Ralph's Coffee, which opened April 16 at the Stanford Shopping Center alongside the Ralph Lauren Store. According to Robinson, the ingredients used are of high quality and standards. "Most of our coffee is from La Colombe. ... They have a very serious rep with their coffee and very serious standards. ... All of the baristas that work here have to learn from a La Colombe representative."

Review: Ralph Lauren brings polos and espressos

Sophie Zhang and Allison Ma • May 20, 2026

Ralph Lauren Co. is most known for its polo shirts, and maybe you’ve seen its fragrances, but have you ever considered its coffee? The company...

Alyssa Bond, director of the Associated Student Body, plans out Prom logistics for Palo Alto High School. According to Bond, the BTS concert affected the prom’s setting but not the planning. “We had to move the pick up and drop off location away from Paly to Gunn due to the heavy traffic that will be in the Paly area,” Bond said, “It didn't affect too much besides that bit of logistics. In fact, we work with a wonderful event planning company that is partnered with the venue that handles most logistics. This allows students to focus on the fun stuff like decorations, activities, and the menu.”

Preview: Prom promises pizzazz

Veronica Qiu and Sarah Hsieh • May 15, 2026

Under colorful lights and grand chandeliers, an exciting Night in Rio awaits students at Palo Alto High School’s Prom on May 16 at the San...

Staff prepare orders at the front counter on May 1 at Yutori, Palo Alto’s newest Japanese-inspired café and market. According to co-owner Lily Peng, the restaurant attracts a wide range of customers from around the neighborhood. “We have families that come with their kids because we have a lot of offerings for children,” Peng said. “There’s also a ton of businesses in the near area.”

Review: Yutori brings Japanese tastes, experiences to Palo Alto

Allison Ma and Sarah Hsieh • May 12, 2026

A café, a market and an upcoming full-service dining experience — all in one space? A newly opened Japanese restaurant in Palo Alto brings...

Devon (Sadie Sandler) and Celeste (Chloe East) lie on their bed in their dorm watching a movie, in the movie "Roommates" directed by Chandler Levack.

Before you pick a roommate, watch ‘Roommates’

Joy Tan, Senior Staff Writer • April 26, 2026

It's late April. Finals are breathing down your neck, but let's be honest, most of you seniors aren't thinking about exams. You're doom-scrolling...