This is a very chaotic school which the public knows little about. Students eat in class and take cell phone calls in class. The walkways each period find students walking during class and they are rarely questioned as to where they should be. Last year during Market Day, students put together a t-shirt with a pro-drug message, there were no consequences, and were allowed to take part in this event. Ask the school what percentage of those who enroll in an AP course actually sit for the AP exam. Last year there was a large fight during lunch which looked like a small riot. Another good question would be to ask the teachers which if any administrators do they think actually have leadership abilities. There is no discipline, students are very poorly behaved, class size is ltoo large for the school to be effective. This is a very, very poor school. If you are serious about your child getting a good education, do not send them to this school.
I am so pleased with the growth that my child has achieved since he transfered to this school.
—Submitted by a parent
Arcadia is a great school! Have soooo many options classes wise. the enviroment is friendly and the students get along great. The new school is finished and its beautiful, and yes it might get a little corweded at some point but its alright! we get to bond more this way! :]
—Submitted by a student
Arcadia high school is awesome! the teachers are great and are willing to help the students out if needed. There are also many tutoring programs like gap and fast
—Submitted by a student
Arcadia is a wonderful school with many otions academicaly. Teachers are VERY willing to stay after school, during lunch, or before school to help kids better understand their homework or the lessen taught that day. Although there is some drug use, the great teachers and the small school atmoshpire make up for anything bad you may have heard about Arcadia. With the new buildings almost being done, Arcadia will excel in everything it does in the future. If you are really into computers, or technology then you should go and enroll at Arcadia this instant! We have the best Media Com. program in the state and have many other computer technology classes that are fun to take.
—Submitted by a student
A pretty great school, despite its grinning lack of leadership at the top. Woolsey has got to go. And the school is overcrowded this year by several hundred students. But these things can be rectified. C'mon, let's push for new leadership at this school, before it's too late!
—Submitted by a parent
This is a fantastic school, and the absolute least stress for your child -if you can get him or her in. Top notch education!
—Submitted by a parent
Arcadia High School is a great school. My daughter and son attended the school and I was extremely happy with the administration and teachers. They both had a wonderful experience at Arcadia. The Scottsdale School District is one of best in the state and Arcadia's test scores are at the top of the list.
—Submitted by a parent
My son transferred into Arcada recently and loves it. He joined Young life and the kids have been great accepting him and feel a part of the school. He commented that the school is more challening educationally then his previous one. The teachers are outstanding! I have had great responses and quick response times to my questions to the teahers. My wifes daughter went to Arcadia also and loved it. They have great selection of classes. The thing that impressed me was they told me my son is here to work on his acedemic resume. They are very forward thinking and do all they can to help your child get into the best college for them and get the most scholarship money available.
—Submitted by a parent
This is a great school in an established neighborhood of Phoenix. Parent involvement is highly regarded and the parent base in this area is highly educated. New facilities being built right now promise even more good things to come.
—Submitted by a parent
My daugher transferred from Texas high school. Definite change with so much less stress placed on extra curricular activities. Her teachers were not very helpful with her move, and not very understanding about her not having taken same classes in TX.
—Submitted by Michelle DeLaGarza, a parent
I'm an Arcadia graduate and an Arcadia parent. Arcadia serves its talented students well. It offers honors classes in math, science, English and history and has decent AP exam pass rates (50%+). Arcadians compete and succeed in state and national competitions in art, music, sports, academics and other areas. Many Arcadians go on to highly competitive colleges. Arcadia is an unusual place: old, by Phoenix standards, small (only 1300 students)and more urban and more ethnically and economically diverse than many schools in the area. I've searched and can't find data regarding drug and alcohol use at Arcadia. I don't believe substance abuse at Arcadia is worse than the national average, as one reviewer stated. Drugs and booze are around, but they don't permeate the culture and they're easily avoided. My wish is that the new administration would be less complacent and would strive to make Arcadia even better!
—Submitted by a parent
To an outsider, Arcadia may seem like the perfect school. Small, community feel; great parent involvement; great students; and mainly great teachers. But speaking as a former student, Arcadia is filled with many problems. The AIMS scores are among the lowest in the district. If you have the choice, don't put your child in a Scottsdale School District school.
—Submitted by a former student
I am currently a parent at Arcadia and I have been very happy with Arcadia High School on many levels. The school is small which is an advantage to the close community feel that is at Arcadia. There is a lot of parental involvement and, on the whole, the teachers are excellent. The administration is really good as well. No complaints!
—Submitted by a parent
I'm not a parent yet, but my family has had a Di Tullio graduate from AHS every decade since it's been open (even the 1st year). My parents both attended Arcadia & were very please with the school. So pleased that they moved close to the school so my sister & I could follow thier footsteps. Arcadia is a special place filled with special people getting along with one another. My parents are deceased now, but I'm sure that my children will someday attend Arcadia with pride.
My daughter started 9th grade at Arcadia HS this year. She is enrolled in their Special Education Program. I have found the faculty and staff to be very involved in my daughter's overall academic success!
Arcadia High School is in an affluent part of Phoenix, and on the boarder of Scottsdale. In fact, it is part of the Scottsdale Unified School District. The Scottsdale School District has had some problems and I am not to thrilled with them.
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