About

Penn High School is a large public high school in Mishawaka, Indiana - a suburban community of the city of South Bend and the University of Notre Dame. As the flagship school of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, Penn serves all the district’s 9th through 12th grade students, as well as hundreds of out-of-district students who have made Penn High School their school of choice.

Penn's national reputation for excellence is based on its outstanding academic, athletic, and fine arts programs. Penn has been featured on national TV network news for students’ ingenuity and creativity.

The Penn High School community is focused on graduating responsible young adults who are college and career ready. Penn’s graduation rate is 97%.

The Penn Bands are part of a comprehensive Fine Arts Academy at Penn High School that includes Choir, Orchestra, Music Theory, Music Technology, Dance, and Theater, as well as Photography, Ceramics, Sculpture, Painting, Drawing, and Graphic Design.

Over 300 students participate in Penn's five concert bands, three jazz ensembles, various percussion ensembles, pep band, marching band, jazz combo, and winter color guards.

The Penn Bands have enjoyed a tradition of passionate support from our community, administration, parents, and students. The Penn Freshmen Bands, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band have consistently earned Gold Ratings "With Distinction" at ISSMA Organizational Contest, and the Symphonic Winds have placed in the Indiana State Concert Band Finals for twenty-two consecutive years. In 2015, the Penn Symphonic Winds were named State Co-Champion, and in 2009 and 2024 they were named State Champion Runner-Up. The Penn Marching Kingsmen have placed in the Indiana State Marching Band Finals in Open Class A twenty-one times. In 2019, 2020, 2023, and 2025, the Penn Advanced Jazz Ensemble qualified for the Indiana State Jazz Finals.