Southside High School

The main goal of educators at Southside Highschool is to afford each student, regardless of their economic or socio status, the best highschool education possible. Southside does a great job educating the students. If you are focused on cultural diversity or how much money you have or don't have, you have lost focus and need to get back on track with your education. Southside maintains a higher standard of graduating future college students compared to high schools in surrounding areas. So if you are interested in going to college; consider Southside for your highschool education!
--Submitted by a parent

I am a Southside Alumni. Of course you cannot deny the fact that there is a lack of diversity at Southside, but I felt like that did not contribute in any way to decreased quality of a high school experience. I have recently graduated U of A Fayetteville with my bachelor and masters degrees. When I got to college and compared my high school with that of other students I felt really fortunate and proud to have had the opportunity to attend SHS. I not only had a lot more classes to choose from than those from other parts of the state, I also had a lot more extra-curricular activities. Although, I will probably not be returning to Fort Smith, I will always be proud of my education I received at SHS. I am sad that my children will not get the same opportunity I did.
--Submitted by a former student

I attend Southside right now. I will be a junior this year. I love the school. The teachers are great and the classes are challenging for us. The extracurricular activities are so much fun. There a thousand you can choose from. Most of the parents that are involved are PREPS parents. The only thing I don't like about this school, is that all the rich kids get treated differently then us normal and not so rich kids do. I will not send my kids to this school.
--Submitted by Sarah, a student

I am also an alumni of SHS and I loved this school. True that it is a predominantly white school because of the district lines in Fort Smith, but it is a great school to go to attend. I was involved in the Honors AP classes which were great for me. I was involved in different clubs and sports they had and enjoyed them all. They have something to get involved in for anyone who is interested.
--Submitted by Misty, a former student

I have had 4 children attend Southside Highschool and all of them have had great experiences while attending. Each of them took very different directions while students and there was never a time when the school did not offer something for all of them. The AP programs offered at Southside where challenging and prepared them for success as they went on to college. Three of my children have graduated and one is a junior. They have all been on the deans list every semester and have continued that excellence during their college years. We are lucky to have such a great institution and great support from the parents, teachers, staff, and our community.
--Submitted by a parent

I currently attend Southside High School (SHS). I think that the teachers are wonderful. They are very willing to help anyone who does not understand something that they are teaching. There are some very challenging classes and more clubs than you could possible imagine. The only thing that I don't like about SHS is the student body. Even though the teachers are great. I would never attend this school by choice. The only other problem that I have with this school is that it is that it has no cultural/racial diversity whatsoever. Out of almost 1500 students about 1300 of them are white! I don't enjoy attending this school.
--Submitted by a student

My daughter graduated from Southside in 2004. She absolutely loved every minute she spent at the school. The teachers, coaches and staff are exceptional people. There are clubs and activities to cover anyone's interest. These teachers push the kids to a higher level and do it in a way that is encouraging and rewarding. They are not only respected as teachers, but are life-long friends in a lot of cases. The sense of pride and tradition is like no other. If you choose to be involved, as a student or parent, you will have experiences that will not soon be forgotten. Mr. Haiver, the principal, is an excellent role model and has helped to build the pride and tradition that has become known as 'the Southside High School - Home of the Rebels'.
--Submitted by a parent

Southside is a great school. My oldest son will graduate from Southside this year and my daughter will be attending Southside in the next couple of years. My son is in the AP program and is constantly challenged to do the best work possible and is taught by his teachers exactly how to do that. He is well prepared for college because of the teachers he has had at Southside. There are plenty of extra-curricular activities in many diverse areas so that no student should feel unable to participate. This is an excellent school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am an alumus of Southside high School. It was a great school then, but lacked cultural diversity. It seems to still lack diversity. The district lines in Fort Smith need to be re-drawn so that Northside and Southside are no longer segregated. The student are the ones suffering.
--Submitted by a former student