Buena High School

As a soldier who has been assigned at Fort Huachuca for several tours, I must warn others to avoid Fort Huachuca if you have High School age students and pick up an assignement elsewhere until the children are through school. The facility is fantastic which it shoudl as it cost twice as much as was promised the taxpayer in 1990, complete with rotating stages etc. The downfall is seemingly the attitude of the staff. Lesser funded districts in other states do far better than SVPSD does with more. The only program that seems to succeed is the JROTC, the rest seem to just attempt to get by. The school receives adequate funding, but instruction is poor, and no apparent discipline. Perhaps if the students did not look like rag bags in shorts every morning more pride in instruction would come forth. Additionally, this is the only school district we have lived in that is totally dependant upon busing ALL students to their campus regardless of location. Great savings could be harvested for those who seek greater flexibility in funding on that effort alone.
—Submitted by a parent

I read the two previous reviews with some concern and chagrin. Yes the school has around 2000 students and 800-1000 computers. Also many sporting events require some long travel distances. For the last several years the taxpayers have had the opportunity to step up to help bring the equipment, facilities and everything associated with a top notch school to provide the best opportunities for our students. They, the taxpayer, have failed miserably resulting in a reduction of over 14 million dollars for the budget. In spite of their failure, the professionals in the teaching and administrative staff and students have preformed admirably. 2012 class earned over 7.3 million in scholarships for 520 students. I challenge the complainers to step up and put their money where their mouth is.!!!!!!

I read that Buena HS with an enrollment of 2100 has 843 computers available for student use and that the only open computer lab is located in the school library.Also that they are equipped with Windows 2003. There are other statements in the article, "Buena's Technology lags behind other schools," (The Pegasus, April 17, 2012, author Madelaine Braggs) that indicate that Buena high school students may not be prepared for higher education or the workforce. Is this an accurate account of Buena High School's computer status? And if so, does the community know about this and understands the negative implications?

An ok school. The education Program is pretty effective, and the school has quite a selection of clubs. This school has to work on their sports. Then it would be a stronger and more popular school.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved to Sierra Vista in 2008 with a sophomore. If I could go back I would have homeschooled him for his last 3 years over the ONLY choice for a high school in this city of 40,000! It's ridiculous that the city didn't see the smarter choice would have been 2 or 3 SMALLER high schools where there would be more individual attention in the classroom and better competition for the sports programs. Every away contest is AT LEAST 70 miles away so the athletes get home very late. The admin/school board is a joke and they all need to be replaced. The school routinely gives contracts to businesses in Tucson (70+ miles) or Phoenix (200+ miles) then wonders why they get very little local community/business support. I'm glad we're done with Buena and advise anyone to homeschool and use the online K12 program. I wish we had!
—Submitted by a parent

The school is very poorly designed for the amount of students. There's something like 2600+ students in a school that should have about half as many. There's some good teachers though. Not just from a teaching perspective, but quite a few of my teachers really gave me (as well as the other students) advice that will stay with me forever. Not to say that there isn't any bad teachers. I've had the misfortune of being the student of some of the most rude, lazy, and incompetent teachers that may ever exist. If you aren't determined in this school, you will not succeed. Most teachers really do care whether or not you fail their class -- they just don't have the ability to help every student when they have over 150 students. If you work hard, it is not difficult at all to maintain good grades in Buena.
—Submitted by a student

Buena has some of the most caring and effective teachers you could hope to find. It's a shame they are hampered by such inadequate leadership at the top. With so many highly qualified administrators out of work because of our present economy it's sad we have no one who knows how to do a nationwide search for talented candidates for our top offices. Isn't it nice we have more options in Sierra Vista now?
—Submitted by a parent

i love being here at buena i feel safe just knowing that there are so many people who are willing to protect us and be here for us every morning with a smile it warms the studdents hearts to see mrs. carlson there to tell us good m moring and trie as well we really do appretiate it and i would like to say thank u
—Submitted by a student

We moved from Northern CA where the school was outstanding in my opinion. Buena High offers so much more than any school I have seen in CA!!! The staff is great, and the city supports the school phenominally!!! Truly amazing!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Buena High School offers exceptional education. The 2009 AIMs scores just out show this. Buena High scored the highest of all Cochise County's High Schools and well above the AZ state average. The Teachers are dedicated ; the students are supported; the parents are welcomed, the administration cares. The Head principal was voted AZ Principal of the Year by his peers. And this is just a glimpse at Buena.
—Submitted by a parent

I previously attended Buena High School and my opinion of the school is very disappointing. When I was attending there was very low expectatinos most of the teacher could care less if you passed or fail and there was no encouragement for bettering yourself. I don't recommend for students to attend this school unless you have low expections for your child.
—Submitted by a student

I have had two of my children attend Buena and I have mixed feelings about this institution. Unfortunately my son joined the football team and after two years was so discouraged that he never participated in any other sports affiliated with Buena. Educationally he was not challenged as was my daughter who was fortunate enough to have a decent AP English course that encouraged and challenged her analytically. Buena s teachers should not be sold short but this being said the institution is way too overcrowded and unless you are a naturally driven student you just become a number. I have been told that the reason we keep only one high school in Sierra Vista is to maintain the 5 A status for sports if this is the case shame on administration and the city fathers.
—Submitted by a parent

I personally think this is a great school!The teachers, at least the majority of them, care enough about the students to email the parents/guardians when the student isn't doing well in their class -- like not turning in homeword or have less than a grade C in the class. The Freshman Academy they have come up with is super! I'm sure we will see that when these students are upper classmen, they will do better in school because of this. Also great about this school is that they have tutoring for the students Mon-Thurs for 1 hour after regular classes are out and even have a late bus to take them home! Now that is what I call a dedicated school and teachers! Keep up the great work, Buena High!
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently attending Buena, and yes, the school has problems, but what school doesn't. They try their hardest to make it a safe place for us to go to every day. It doesn't help that this is the only public high school in the city. Why are the administrators and teachers being blamed for the students goofing off and not doing what they are supposed to do? Buena is a good school to attend, because the teachers do care, and the claim about each class having 25-30 students is ridiculous. The classes will go up to about 20-25 sometimes, but most classes are relatively small, ranging from 10- 20.
—Submitted by a student

I also wanted to add that the school is way over crowded..I have heard them speak to the kids in such a rude way, then found out that they talked to parents the same way! We have got to get a better school in this town.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent, I took two tours of the school. One tour was for incoming freshman and their parents. Several of the classrooms that we toured were very disappointing...unorganized, students using profanity without being corrected, couples with their desk pushed together and arms around each other. As a parent, I was not impressed! One year later I took another tour with the assistant principal. We entered one classroom to find the teacher asleep! The school is very over crowded and unable to control the kids. Many children leave the school ill prepared to succeed in college. Unfortunately, there are few alternatives in Sierra Vista. Good luck!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is way over crowded which leads to no personalization with any of the students. There is very low supervision which leads to many fights and drama among students that goes unnoticed. There are gangs in the highschool that aren't monitored. There are just to many students for the staff to be aware of anything going on around them within the student body. My child is scared to go to school everyday.
—Submitted by a parent

Ilove the theater program at this school it is the top of the line and the teachers know what there doing GO COLTS.
—Submitted by a student

I recently graduated from Buena High, and only after you graduate do you truly realize what an awful institution it is. After a couple college classes, I can already see that Buena's teachers are terrible. Buena has few lecturing of discussion leading teachers; most just retreat to their desks after assigning busy work. If your want to help your kids, move and enroll them somewhere else.

I was a student in Buena High School and I just recently graduated. Personally, I liked Buena and everything about it was fun. I mean, yeah, some other students could be a bit, dumb, but overall, it's a good school and I don't regret going to it.