and staff. Karen M. DeVillier was named Pearl River's first female principal and stayed from 1998 to 2003. PRHS has been led by principal Michael E. Winkler since 2003. In 2010, he was given the 'Principal of the Year' award for St. Tammany Parish. He retired from the post of Principal on June 14, 2018. John Priola, former principal at Boyet Junior High in Slidell, Louisiana was appointed the school's new principal in May 2018 and has since assumed his post as principal. Pearl River's strong elective program, including vocational courses, complemented a full range of traditional academic subjects. In 1985, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education changed the diploma requirements, which triggered a curricular shift to one of a college preparatory nature. Because of the increase in the number of credits needed for a diploma and the type of academic requirements, it became necessary in 1988 to move from a six-period to a seven-period day. This extra credit per school year afforded students a greater chance of graduating within the usual four year time frame. The school still runs of a seven-period day with two lunches due to construction during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years. It also stimulated curricular expansion which included classes such as speech, newspaper, yearbook, psychology, twentieth century American history, gifted and talented, AP calculus and a multitude of dual-enrollment courses. As the population of at-risk students increased parish-wide, so did the number of programs aimed at meeting their needs. Career Opportunity Preparation Education (COPE), Focus on Youth (FOCUS), and Technical Instruction of Mainstreamed Students (TIMS), are some of the major initiatives to address the special concerns of this new student population. Athletics Pearl River High athletics competes in the LHSAA. References External links Pearl River High School History of Pearl River High School Class of 2012 website Public high schools in Louisiana Schools in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana