Florence High School

Being a new student at this school, I haven't been helped at all from the teachers or faculty. The teachers and faculty that don't know me give sarcastic remarks and don't really care about me or what I need help with. I've even been harassed by students just for following the rules and I know that even if I do report it, nothing will happen besides this "contract" that will be signed, which is illegal since schools must get a parent signature for contracts for it to be a legal document anyway. Much of the staff at Florence High School gossip about other students and seem like they don't do much while working. They are so lazy for out of district students that they won't even check for the required testing in other areas so students just have to take the required testing in Arizona.
--Submitted by a student

This school has had a 100 percent turnaround. My daughter graduated in 2007 and the place was a nightmare. The teachers were horrible, there was no organization, customer service, security, or accountability of any kind. Now my youngest son is a JR and we have experienced the change for the better of Florence HS. Mr. Knutsen took over last year and he is very positive Principal. There is also another good principal who does the discipline and he is excellent and he doesn't take any crap from disrespectful kids, gang members, or pushy apologist parents who don't think their kids need to be held responsible. School spirit is at a all time high, my son and his friends love going to school, they feel safe and they are happy with their teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is a joke. From their academics to their athletics to their staff. Unfortunately you cannot complain about this school to the disctrict because all of the disctrict representatives were born and raised in Florence, have taught at FHS, and their children are now teachers at FHS. This makes it impossible to get anywhere with a complaint or suggestion that goes against their small minded way of doing things as their opinions are completely bias. Florence is the worst city I have ever lived in and their school system has made it the miserable experience that it is. Stay as far away from this town as possible!
--Submitted by a parent

The principal has done an amazing job turning this school around academically, athletically, and in raising morale and school spririt. Florence H.S. is better than ever. Mr. Knutson rocks!
--Submitted by a parent

I am a proud parent of (2) children attending Florence High School. This school has improved so much in one year thanks, in great part, to the school's new principal, Mr. Chris Knutsen! Mr. Knutsen came to FHS when strong leadership was desperately needed & proved himself equal to the task. Statistically, academics have improved, as well as safety & school spirit, all under his lead. We should all be grateful to him & to Dr. Gary Nine (the district's super) for making the 2008/2009 school year such a success and look forward to a promising future at FHS for our children's future.
--Submitted by a parent

I was a student at florence from 2003 until I graduated in 2006. This was the best school. The teachers truly care. Florence is a small town school trying to hold kids from the largest school district in arizona, what do you expect? yes the school is over crowded, no there are not books for students to take home. This school has it's problems, but you will find problems at every high school. The point is the teachers care and that is much more than most high schools can say. Florence is not a place for skate by students they have to want to learn, and if they do then they will have every chance to do so. So many of the teachers at florence are exceptional. I got some of the highest test scores there, I owe it to the teachers who were always dedicated.
--Submitted by a student

They do not have enough books or paper for the teachers or students.
--Submitted by a student

This school is really trying to get students a quality education. Teachers are only there for about 8 hours, parents should have the other 16. So we need to have a cooperative effort from all parties to succeed.l
--Submitted by a teacher

the school is getting better than it was last year but it still needs improvement. and i think that the students will benefit if the parents are helping, and yes the school is small but if they did start on the new HS then yes there may be a grater improvement number than we expected
--Submitted by a student

I am so dissapointed with this school. Way to small and way over crowded and to much violent. I am taking my daughter out and home schooling her.
--Submitted by Heather Douglass, a parent