Introduction. A scientific school is a historically established form of organization where the key aspects are not only the generation of scientific ideas, but also the training of new scientists to preserve traditions, transfer knowledge and ensure the viability of science as a socio—historical system. Modern science is inconceivable without scientific schools, which are organized groups of researchers who create and transmit new knowledge and have a mechanism of self-reproduction. A striking example of such a school in the field of natural sciences is the Department of Physical Electronics at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU). Materials and Methods. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was the work on the theory of communicative processes in science and the concept of a scientific school. The works of the staff of the Department of Physical Electronics of SPbPU are widely used. The following methods were used to identify and analyze the department as a scientific school: systematic, comparative, historical-genetic, historical-typological, historical periodization method, as well as a sociological approach that considers a scientific school as a social institution. Results. An analysis of the activities of the SPbPU Department of Physical Electronics confirmed its high status as a recognized scientific school with authority both in Russia and abroad. The study showed that throughout its history, the department has been headed by reputable scientists (academicians P.I. Lukirsky, L.N. Dobretsov, M.A. Eremeev, A.R. Shulman), who laid the foundations of the school. The key characteristics of the school are: the unity of scientific interests, the relevance of research, the high level of scientific results, the continuity of generations and the leading role of the leader in the development of new areas of physical electronics. Conclusion. The organization and activities of the Scientific School of Physical Electronics of St. Petersburg State University provide training for first-class specialists who demonstrate outstanding scientific achievements and are internationally competitive. The scientific results of the department clearly reflect the trends and patterns of development of this scientific school. The preservation and development of its rich scientific potential is a prerequisite for the further progress of scientific research in the field of physical electronics.