Dobson High School

Not a very good school. Teachers are very disorganized and the office staff seem to dig for reasons to send kids home and suspend them. I moved my kids to a charter school where they are now very successful.
—Submitted by a parent

my children went to mesa schools worst experience of my life and thiers.One of my kids graduated dobson high but not before the band teacher tore apart her dream.The rest of the band students were sleeping with each other and had thier own little click.The material the band teacher had them playing was boring and so far behind what my kid was doing in jr. high it wasnt funny,I tried talking to him about the issues and he kicks my kid out of band and broke her heart.I dispise mesa schools worst in the country.I can say they left lasting memories and nothing good.If you dont want your kid tramatized or you want a decent education for your child take them somewhere else.
—Submitted by a parent

The overall rating is deceiving because of comments from past years, and people should focus on more recent ratings and comments. I would not recommend this school. The administration at this school (particularly the Principal) and at the Mesa District do not listen and try to cover things up rather than fix problems. My student and I experienced disrespectful treatment and inappropriate behavior and a very defensive response to concerns that I raised. My student hated school and felt like a failure but has been excelling since we changed to a different school district. The new district listens to parents and students and has a better academic program.
—Submitted by a parent

Lots of issues- counselors are unavailable, Witness a principal putting a student down in front of a parent and insulting the parent, allowing male security gaurds to touch and pat down female students, teachers rude and don't care in helping your child pass and graduate. My children came to a point where they just didnt even care. When tried ask questions or file a complaint, was ignored.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has too many students for any of the staff to really care, and is very unorganized. The school is also very strict and have a "i dont care what you say, your in trouble no matter what" attitude. As a student at the school i highly recommend NOT attending this school. The budget cuts have just turned this once a great school into a below average school. Classes are overcrowded with a 30-35 students to 1 teacher ratio, lines at lunch are a usual 15-30 minute wait with very limited inside seating areas which is no fun in the 100degree and above weather. Sports are not exceptional here,except for swim,track,and cross country. On a high note the school exceeds in Speech and Debate and band. So ignore all the ratings from years ago because this school is not what it used to be.
—Submitted by a student

I have one child who just graduated last year, another graduating this year and another in 9th grade. We have all been happy with Dobson. It's not perfect, but my children have had opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities and have had teachers who were interested in their progress. I do recommend Dobson, no school is perfect, but our family has been very happy with the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Decent school, but if your child is an athlete, please do not go there. The athletic program is ignored and is not managed very well. In my opinion, a student must be well rounded. Academics is a must, but they also must have a high intensity release. my child has a full ride to one of the most respected engineering schools in the U.S. When they were a senior at Dobson, they were lucky to have a decent athletic program for them to have a serious release of tension. The lack of attention to a well balanced experience for the students does not exist at Dobson. Mt. View h.s. will continue to rule Mesa, because they make sure that subpar athletic directors survive while delivering zero.....
—Submitted by a parent

DHS is an amazing school! Especially if you want to be a part of the performing arts and excellerated classes! They teachers work very hard and they stay strong with all the budget cuts and most are always willing to set up a help. This year we added ninth grade so campus is a bit crowded, but not extremely crowded. It is as crowded as any average high school.
—Submitted by a student

My child graduated last year and now my 9th grader is there. WAY TOO OVERCROWDED!!! Don't send your child here! My cousin moved here & is sending his child to Chandler (he just lives a mi from Dobson) because of the HUGE CLASSROOM SIZES. ALSO VERY STRICT. My daughter decided to walk home; she cut through the church lot & Dobson security made her feel like a criminal-took her name, yelled at her, etc. She came home crying. I spoke to a police officer and he said he would have cut through the lot too. They rarely even get to eat lunch as the lines are too long! If they are lucky enough to get lunch they have 5 min left to eat it and have to go outside in 100 degree hear because the cafeteria is packed! When they added 9th graders this year they made offices into classrooms!! Some classes were standing room only. The teachers and staff dont return calls until the 2nd or even 3rd time. Teachers rarely available after school to help students. I could go on and on...
—Submitted by a parent

Unresponsive administration, poor communication, overcrowded campus, and substandard. I would not recommend this school to people.
—Submitted by a parent

my son is special education. just started dobson he got confused and didn't go to his last class. he mistaked his 5th hr class for his 6th hr class. witch he started school on a friday. on monday they gave him in school suppention. staff does not understand learning disablities. punishment to harsh for an honest misunderstanding. asistant principle needs more education about childre with disablities.
—Submitted by a parent

The school itself is alright. Kids are fairly descent but the school is really outdated and the campus is slowly withering away. The football team is an absolute joke, GO COACH JACOBSON! No really, please go away coach. On average, all their sports teams tend to be mediocre at best. Band and speech/debate are the actual strength here. Staff for the greater part is caring but tensions are running high as the school district is falling apart from the top down. The last three years we have seen enrollment drop an average of 2300 kids each year, which puts the district in dire financial turmoil. If ya got a choice, send your kids to Tempe, they're more stable.

Great extracurricular activities and clubs - like Speech and Debate, Language clubs, Dance. Their Band and Orchestra groups are awesome.
—Submitted by a parent

Dobon High School takes a student wanting to excel and to do their best, and gives them oppertunities that anyone could just stumble upon. I have been apart of Dobson's performing arts, which are among the finest anyone could ask for. After joining clubs that involve the mentally disabled classes i know that the teachers there are superb and doing the best they can. Also the honors,CP, AA, AP, etc. classes are designed to prepare students for what they will be facing as they are in the years that will shape the rest of their life. Dobson as well has a good selection of languages that are offered to the students, all of which are a good stepping stone to a college. Dobson is a great school that has an excellent number of good aspects.
—Submitted by a student

I attended this school 10 years ago and it set me up for my full ride scholarship to Northern Arizona University! Dobson gave me the foundation to pursue my dream career.
—Submitted by a student

it has a great band and sports

Three of my grandchildren have attended Dobson High. I feel the faculty is some of the best in the country.

All of the parents that are ragging on Dobson obviously have little insight. Dobson is an amazing school. Excellent teachers. I currently attend Dobson and couldn't ask for a better place to learn. And for the parents who are complaining about students writing reviews on this website: Don't we as students know better than anyone the way that dobson works and the oppurtunities it offers? Any student who wants to learn has a great oppurtunity at Dobson. It is your job as a parent to light a fire under your child, that is not the job of the teacher. Especially in high school.
—Submitted by a student

good school.learning deparment perfect 10 out of 10 for dobson! go mustangs!
—Submitted by a student

It seems that the good ratings are from Students who think that they are better than those who do not get good grades or did not have the best experience. I was under the impression that this was a parent review. Well being a Parent having one child graduate with honors at a different high school and the other have very disinterested teachers and a not so good faculty at Dobson. As well as a not so good learning experience. I would have to say that Dobson failed my second student. It can't be the Theory of the parenting if one was honor role and the other wasn't. fortunately the promise of an education is not just for kids that it comes easy to. Therefore good teachers should be prepared to teach every individual student and realize their individual needs. My student enjoyed the music program.
—Submitted by a parent