Carlsbad High School

Both of my children graduated from CHS. Each attending there all four years. The diversity of classes available is a plus. Surf PE and Skate PE are good and unique options made available to students. The quality of the AP courses and Honors classes are excellent. My son had one math class that was a waste of time due to the teacher s disorganization. He is now a 3rd year Civil Engineering major so it did not cause irrespirable damage. Both of my children have gone on to attend one of the nation's top public universities. Due to having taken CHS AP courses the adjustment to college level classes has been fairly easy. Hopefully now that building a new high school has been ruled out the upgrades to the current location will bring the facilities up to grade along with the academics.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter, a 9th grader, transferred from a private school to Carlsbad High. It's not a very attractive school since it is quite old, however, when all the renovations are done it should look like a gem. My daughter joined band & has really enjoyed it. There are many outstanding teachers at CHS. My daughter is doing better (academically & socially) at CHS than at her former school. There is plenty of opportunity for kids to excel at CHS.
--Submitted by a parent

Three of my children have graduated from CHS, and soon a fourth will graduate. What is so sad about this school is that the students realize the low standard this school allows from both teacher and student. Each of my children have gone on to attend major universities, and each has commented how tough it was to adjust to high expectations. Yes, I agree if your child is not enrolled in AP and Honors classes then they are attending classes taught to the low end of the curve where teachers are providing more day care than education. This is a great community, to bad it's high school is such an embarrassment.
--Submitted by a parent

Carlsbad High is a big school with a wide variety of programs. To get an excellent education, stick to Honors and AP classes as much as possible. This is VERY important! My oldest daughter graduated in '08 and is currently a pre-med student at UCSD. She said Honors/AP program is almost a school within the school. Students in these classes are highly motivated and tend to go to either elite private universities or one of the UC campuses. They all get to know each other very well, but they don't really associate very much with the other 85-90% of the students. I don't know much about the rest of the student population, but I am sure it is a real hit-or-miss proposition. Some do well, some not. Some are motivated, some are not. The administration seems mediocre (at best) and the facilities are an embarrassment to the entire community. My daughter said the restrooms are atrocious. I realize the district is planning a major renovation but in the meantime it would be nice if someone would make an effort to pick up at least some of the trash laying around. Once again, to get an excellent education, stick to the AP/Honors program and teachers. Have I stressed that enough?
--Submitted by a parent

Currently, I am a senior at Carlsbad HIgh School. Yes, initially attending the school was a difficult transition because I came from a small private school. However, thats the same at any school. Its new and you need to make good choices, but after taking advantage of the rigorous AP and honors courses, I adjusted quite well and made great friends. My teachers invest there whole lives into there class and are deeply concerned for there students including outside of the classroom. If parents want there students to have a rigorous course load, sign them up for honors course. If a student is a not getting a quality education, then they probably don't care about there grades in the first place. Carlsbad High gave me the tools to go to college and do well, but I had to make the choice to take advantage of them.
--Submitted by a student

I have a student currently attending CHS and must say that I have mixed opinions of the school. The academics seem to be decent (difficult to really ascertain after one year) but the safety issues are a definite concern. Gang violence seems to be growing in our community and appears to be filtering into our schools. Overcrowding is a big problem, as well. Hopefully the new high school will help alliviate some of these issues.
--Submitted by a parent

I pulled my son out of CHS because I felt he was getting a sub standard education. The district seems to have neglected this school, the teachers have had to strike for pay increases and the grounds as well as most of the classroom buildings are in extreme disrepair. This is a public high school that is significantly under-serving its students, and their families. I feel strongly, that the students are not being well prepared for college, and that the curriculum is designed to strictly get them through HS. Passing grades are given for below average work. This ultimately hurts the student. My son is an over achiever, he has a 3.9 GPA, and is a varsity athlete. I pulled him out of CHS, knowing that he would likely not be able to participate in varsity sports at his new school, because I have been so disappointed with CHS.
--Submitted by a parent

The students here respect each other and the faculty. It's a tight-knit school, and will continue to be for years. The students also have high school spirit, mainly stemming from the array of sports here. The sports here are some of the best in the county (and possibly state). This school also has award-winning dance classes (Lancer Dancers & Xcalibur), music activities (band & orchestra), and broadcasting (CHSTV). Most of the teachers here are great (although some students may disagree).
--Submitted by Andrew, a student

The school is a mess but hopefully the referendum will get things fixed. You can find true educators if you get involved. Don't be afraid to transfer your student out of a class. The school has a terrible history of cuts for the Arts, watch out for the future years there. Open campus at lunch is a disaster waiting to happen. Special Ed dept. is fantastic with lots of money there. Not enough parent participation but an ok school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am currently a sophomore at Carlsbad High School and I would not recommend it at all. This school has very little diversity, is overcrowded, and the buildings and facilities are not in the best shape. I've wanted to transfer out of this school since I was forced to come here freshman year. If you are deciding on a school, I would not suggest Carlsbad.
--Submitted by a student