Florence High School

Florence High School has been the worst thing to happen to my child since day one of his school career. It seems that wealthy children and those in the college bound classes and those who play sports are the only students who receive any attention and respect. The others are treated and spoken to very horribly and disrespectfully. The administrators made it a point to call the me for any minor infraction (such as my child forgetting their Ipad or being late to a class), but when my child's grades dropped to failing due to the stress of his treatment there by teachers and staff, not once did I get a phone call. Bottom line: they don't care about each individual student.
—Submitted by a parent

I believe that a school should operate on the premise of what is best for each child. If you are looking for a school to hold to that principle, avoid Florence High School at all cost.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with this parent. My son attends FHS and there is a problem with the communication with the administration and faculty. The school wants more parent involvement, but they do not want to communicate when the parent has something to bring to the table.
—Submitted by a parent

Florence High school teachers do not hae enough time in a class period to even teach!!!! My daughter always comes home with homework she doesn't even know how to do and she is very comited to her studies!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Florence City Schools are good with the exception of this high school. Teachers send home letters with improper grammar and punctuation. There is no cooperative effort to help students excel. There is an enormous problem with getting administration to help with anything. If I were moving to North Alabama, I'd avoid Florence High School.
—Submitted by a parent

It's a great school with over-worked teachers, etc. Lunches are not the Ritz. But the students are rough & harsh with others, and that;'s a big distraction. But they also have after school tutoring for free by seniors who care. I know that my student does better when it is one on one and relaxed with another student, sometimes they are distraught in the classroom. And need the help from another student who talks in teen. I wish they had a class in good manners and worked more on special needs of new disorders which require some special exceptions.
—Submitted by a parent

I happened upon this website by accident because I was searching for information about Bradshaw High School. I was a member of the second graduating class and I can tell you that at that particular time, both students and parents were very proud of this school and its faculty and staff. The faculty worked tirelessly to help prepare us for what life held in store, whether we chose to continue on to college or join the workforce. That was many years ago, though, and times and people and attitudes change. It was such a disappointment for me to read such disparaging remarks about my alma mater. My advise to the parents is this. If you feel strongly enough about helping to ensure that your child gets the most out of his or her high school years, then get involved. Find out how you can help make positive changes! CLC
—Submitted by a former student

First of all i would like to say parents please check your history before you put in your two cent.Because that about what your commments are worth. Teachers are doing the best that they can with what they got.So sometimes think before you speak about a place you never knew and not willing to learn about get the facts first.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a senior this year at Florence High school. She has enjoyed her two years there after the consolidation of the two high schools. The school has improved dramtically with new administators and schools spirit continues to rise. The new dress code has improved not only the way students look at school, but their attitude. ACT scores for the school are above the national average. National Merit scholarships are higher at FHS than at all other schools in North Alabama. Curriculum choices are abundant including AP courses, dual enrollment with area colleges and an excellent career tech program. This school provides students with exactly what they need to go to college or prepare them to enter a the work force.
—Submitted by TW, a parent

I graduated from Florence High School last year and it was one of my favorite years, except for the parents. Reading these comments about the school is just something to laugh about. Here is what i will reccomend about Florence High School: This school is preparing students for their future. I love Mrs. Howard, yes, she is hard, but when your sitting in a college english class, you will want to thank her! I promise. Parents just like to make things a big deal and that's the you are reading in these past few comments posted. There are parents that have nothing else better to do on their hands so they just nag on about things that are irrelevant towards the school. I hope they learn to find something to do. Florence is an awesome school, beware of drama, but overall, a school thay will prepare you for your future!
—Submitted by a former student

I was part of the first graduating class of Florence High School and a former Bradshaw Student. I really think the people writing these reviews are completely naive about Bradshaw and Coffee. It seems as though they have gotten then two mixed up. First of all, there couldn't have been more parent participation than there was. Parents were always there helping, throwing in their ideas and concerns and the faculty/administration at Bradshaw took to heart everything the parents and even the students said. We were not loosely disciplined either. We had rules and consequences. Our teachers were very helpful and we had the best all around, accademically. My Coffee friends told me theirselves about how Coffee was such a laid-back, fly by school. They told me theirselves of the many times they would walk out the doors in front of teachers. Do the research and find the FACTS before you speak.
—Submitted by Danielle Fore, a former student

I am a current student at the Florence High School and must say that the combined school is nothing like the old Bradshaw High School that my three older siblings attended. Ever since the schools combined, the administration has been a wreck and the students have been extremely unhappy with a total loss for school spirit and interest. The teachers that I have had were, for the most part, very professional and qualified. But certain aspects of the school such as the extremely restrictive dress code, lack of parent involvement, and an administration unworried about the needs and fears of its students must make any prospective parent/student cautious.
—Submitted by G. F., a student

As a past parent of high school students at Bradshaw (now Florence High School), I would just urge prospective parents to watch closely and speak to other parents before enrolling a child in this high school. There are a lot of positive comments about other city schools, but the high school is what most area parents dread. Also, be very aware of the extremely rigid and restrictive dress code. Once again, the Superintendent has ignored the cries of parents and implemented a dress code at this school that is horrible.
—Submitted by a parent

As a graduate of Bradshaw High School, I strongly disagree with the negative feedback that has been posted. Mrs. Howard and Ms. Montgomery of the English department could not have done a better job in preparing students for college English. Also, I never had a problem meeting with a math teacher before or after school if I needed extra help. Bradshaw High School had great academic programs. It seemed as if I always had an event to look foward to. I will always remember the good memories of Bradshaw High School.
—Submitted by B. P., a former student

Parents Beware of Florence City High School formally Bradshaw High School. This year so far has been a nightmare for me and my daughter who is a 11th grader who falls under the special education program. They are not addressing any of her issues and the principal that they have now is not a good leader at all. He doesn't like parent participation. I feel that he just don't like dealing with troubles or parents. This school has gone from bad to worst. Her reading and math teacher has made her feel so inferior to everyone else. She is so far below her reading level. Their math and english department is very weak. I would consider another school. The kids are expected to be respectful and follow rules but the principal and teachers don't follow suit. It's like do as I say not as I do.
—Submitted by a parent

Make no mistakes about it, florence high is no bradshaw high school. Secondly, as a graduate of bradshaw high school, i am offended at the notion that we were lax in discipline and saftey. Its funny how this is coming from someone who did not attend my high school. So please refrain from trying to do anything to show my alma mater in a negative light. I won't get into any stories about coffee high school, because i would be just as bad as you, but i will say this. When it comes to schools and the quality of the two, we know which school was truly the best school in the area. Lastly, if you have such a problem with your child being disciplined then you should try parenting your own child and not looking for an institution of learning to do it for you. Thank you, marlon bankhead
—Submitted by Marlon Bankhead, a former student

We enrolled in Florence High School (Bradshaw) with great trepidation. There has been a merger of Coffee High School and Bradshaw, so that only one high school exists in Florence. Bradshaw has a reputation of being very loose on discipline, with a lot of problems with students being tardy, cutting classes, etc. The Coffee parents were very concerned about the merger because of these sorts of issues. It is extremely difficult to assimilate into this school. You are a number and a student can easily go unnoticed. There is no feeling that the teachers really CARE about the students. It is very difficult to get help from the teacher who teaches your class. Instead, you have to go to open tutoring with whoever is available. This makes it extremely difficult to address the specific issues that a student has. I hope new administration can make improvements.
—Submitted by a parent

As a product of Bradshaw High, I must say that they other two reviews are completely wrong. It is a well known fact that Bradshaw is (was) one of the best high schools in the state of Alabama. Every department had outstanding teachers and some had bad teachers. However,the person who said the math department was weak is like seriously not in the know. I may be wrong, but all of Bradshaw's math teachers have master's degrees. Additionally, two of them are National Board Certified. I would suggest to parents that are looking into enrolling their child at Florence High School (Same location but a new name. The school is going to have Bradshaw's standards of excellence.) to contact the school system for information. Bradshaw has some of the highest test score of any school in North Alabama and the most national merit scholars. There is a reason for this.
—Submitted by Terrance Doxie, a former student

Prospective students and parents, beware. Bradshaw is joining with another city school this year. Already a school with a complete lack of parent/teacher communication, I would be extremely hesitant to enroll a new student in this school. If you're looking for a school where teachers really care about kids, Bradshaw is not the place to be. The science teachers are excellent, but the math and english departments are very weak.
—Submitted by a parent

We were very disappointed with Bradshaw High School. Poor teachers, tolerance for bullying, no parent communication.
—Submitted by a parent