Vail Academy & High School

I am a teacher at Vail Academy and High School, and I am also retired from the Air Force. I know how hard it is to find a good school when one is moving to another state. I highly recommend Vail Academy and High School because the school is safe, has a positive environment, and the teachers go above and beyond to help students. The class sizes are small, and the teachers get to know the students well. The teachers are highly qualified, and they provide a rigorous curriculum that is meant to prepare students to succeed after they graduate from high school. Both of my children attend this school, and they love it. The school welcomes visitors who are "shopping" for a great school; this is a great way to find out if the school is a great fit for your child.
—Submitted by a teacher

Vail Academy and High School has worked out great for both of my children. One is in middle school and the other one is in high school. Both of them are getting a great education, and although the classes are challening, the teachers really help the students succeed. The school also provides many extracurricular activities (Student Council, NHS, FBLA, Runners Club, Drama Club, Science Club, Robotics, etc.), and family-oriented events. The small environment allows my children to feel safe and welcome. My children are very happy at this school, and so am I.
—Submitted by a parent

VHS is amazing school with amazing staff. I have learned so much just with the first quarter of being here. I am sadly moving away over break, not bye choice but because of family. Overall i had an amazing time at this school and think that anyone to choose this school would too. Yes the curriculum is a little bit higher i think; but that's better
—Submitted by a student

I love this school. I have gone here for 3 years now and I have seen my grades improve and go from a 1.5 to a 3.5. Its been a hard climb, but I have enjoyed it. The staff is wonderful and knows you by name, unlike the other schools, where you're not noticed unless you play a sport.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a former student at this high school. I attended classes there between 2000 and 2002, and after a year at the 'other school', went back to VHS for my senior year, and graduated at 2004. I admit, I, like so many others who attended the school, didn't think very highly of it at first. However, the small environment made it easier to get to know the teachers, which made it easier to work with them and them with you. This small environment also allowed me to make close friends with other students, and to this day my friendships with them are still standing strong, even after I joined the Air Force and got stationed 1500 miles away and some of them are married and have children, etc. I highly recommend this school to any parent who feels threatened by traditional high schools.
—Submitted by a student

I do not believe that vail high school is a good school. The current principal and vice principal I believe are terrible at their job. The vice principal is very judgemental and rude.The teacher's and staff there favor the kids that are very smart and have great academic achievement. the teacher's tend to have manydifferent rules and a couple of them act as if they are teenagers themselves. Many of them are unprepared and i dont believe they are fit teachers. I am a senior at vail high school and plan to leave as soon as possible. I dont believe that this is a good school for kids who are not very much above academic average and even then they will have a hard time with other students and some teachers who act as if they are children.
—Submitted by a student

The teachers are mediocre. They lack supplies and money. The computers that are available have so much restrictions, the kids cant accomplish their goals. I think this is a absolutely horrible school and I don't recommend it one bit.
—Submitted by a parent

Vail High School has always been dedicated to its students and staff. The meaningful mentor relationships that form every year between the staff and the students are remarkable and have clearly made a difference in the students' lives. This school truly cares.
—Submitted by a teacher

I feel that Vail High School is a superior educational institution. Both the administration and teachers are very qualified. My son is a sophomore and his and our experience with the school has been nothing but pleasureable. Since the school is small, the students don't get lost in the masses, and 'extra' attention can be given when needed. I for one would give Vail High School a thumbs up.
—Submitted by Susan Giuliano, a parent

My son began his h.s. career at the other, large school in the Vail Area. He quickly got 'lost in the crowd' and his grades and his attitude took a negative dive. By the end of his 1st ninth grade semester, I was dispairing that he would drop out. I had a personal consultation with the principal at Vail High, and she agreed to bring him in. The teachers all began to work with him after school, and he was able to take advantage of a self-study program after school to make up his F in World History. I was able to check Power School every Friday to see his grades and make sure his '0' grades were turned in. By the end of that year, he had made up his F, and received a '3.0' GPA second semester. Now he is a Junior, and determined to go to college after a time in the Marines.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Vail High School for her junior and senior years. Vail H.S. is a small and unique school located at the U of A Science and Technology Park. The administration and teachers worked with my daughter's schedule to allow her to take dual enrollment classes in conjunction with the U of A. This made it possible for her to enter college as a sophmore. She participated in Vail High School's outstanding School to Work program which enabled her to get a great job at one of the reserach companies on campus. She kept that job all through her Vail High School years and while she attended the U of A. Because of its size (about 200 students) administration and teachers know students well. No one gets 'lost in the shuffle'. We found VHS to be a perfect fit for a motivated, focused student.
—Submitted by Rosemary, a parent

Vail high school saved my daughter from being a dropout like my older daughter. She had been to the large high school in the district, but was making a 1.2 average in the first semster. Her friend transfered over to VHS, and so she insisted on going. The principal had a conference with me and my daughter and told her that she would be on 'academic probation' until she got a 2.0 average. This meant she had to go to school on Saturday and make up any assignments she hadn't done. The second semester, her grades came up, but she still had 4.5 credits from her 1st semester to make up. She was enrolled in the afternoon,self-paced session and made up all of the work she had missed-with a's and b's. Now, she is getting a 3.2 average, has helped her volleyball team to the state tournament, and is a teaching assistant because of her high level of responsibility. The staff never gave up on my daughter, and now my daughter won't give up on herself. Although she is only a sophmore, she is looking forward to attending trade school or community college. Thank you, Vail High School!
—Submitted by a parent

Vail High School provided an excellent education for my son. The staff is highly qualified and professional. The atmosphere is personal. Opportunities provided by the setting in a University Research Park are outstanding.
—Submitted by a parent

Vail High School is a Charter School sponsored by the Vail Unified School District. The principal does not have good leadership skills. Most of the teachers are very qualified, but seem to do whatever they want in terms of discipline. District rules and procedures are pushed aside to accomodate individual egos. What is acceptable for one student is not always acceptable for another student even in the same classroom. The district superintendent and the school board are not accountable to the students or the parents. If your student is above average intelligence, this is not the school for them.