Carmel High School

Carmel High School is an exceptional school with great teachers and a great principal.It's random drug screening program to help parents and students is fantastic.
--Submitted by a parent

Some of the staff and teachers here are wonderful, and I have nothing but praise for them, but Carmel High is severely lacking in intelligent leadership, and it is plagued by racism and a class based system in which all but the wealthiest students are treated poorly. I do not blame the students, because they are only following the example their snobbish parent's set. However, anyone who is perceived as different will be an outsider and will be targeted for harassment and bullying. They also do not listen to the majority of parents. They only listen to board members and the wealthiest parents. Each year there is a parent survey. Each year parents make their feelings known. Though most of us are concerned with bad leadership, poor communication with that leadership, and a horrible counseling department, the admin and board instead say their primary goal is to beautify the school.
--Submitted by a parent

I find many kids are doing some for of illegal activities including under aged drinking and use of marijuana. The rate at which these kids do this seems to be 50% or higher, which is awful. The classes offered there are nice, but limiting, as most schools are these days. There is a general lack of discipline and the 'bullies' go either unpunished, or not punished severely enough. Over all, I found the school to be a terrible learning environment.
--Submitted by a student

I love this school so much. The teachers are amazing and they teach so well. I feel as though Carmel High has given me oprotunites that other schools havent
--Submitted by a student

Five stars! Incredible academic counselors that go above and beyond the call of duty, engaged active student leaders, friendly warm environment and a welcoming of diversity in all ways. Anyone paying for a private school tuition is wasting their money when they have CHS as an option. My son just graduated and was accepted into a program at a private University in Southern California with a 5% acceptance rate, obviously he was more than prepared. The creative arts, music and video production programs are impressive. There is also a great ROP program so obviously CHS gets that kids want viable options. They also have impressive programs for addressing alcohol, drugs and teen depression issues. They are realists! Still have two more there and I could not be happier!
--Submitted by Kathryn Olivas, a parent

I think this High School does a good job of including a more diverse population than you would think for Carmel. It is all there. Something for everyone. A lot of AP courses and ROP courses for those wanting to work. THe expectations for this school are unrealistic. People are looking for a private school in a public school. The principal keeps it together. You can go anywhere from here. Why go to a private school?
--Submitted by a parent

Carmel has wonderful academics and extracurriculars. Staff and students couldn't be better.
--Submitted by a parent

I read the reviews, something that has changed in the last 2 years is adding Mary Bull to CSUD in charge of curriculum. She initiated changes, backed by PADRE Parents that support the academic accomplishments over the teacher comfort zone. Also PADRE Parents provides a system to award teachers that are innovative and interested in teaching. I think the foundation is there to improve the results in this school. As far as parent involvement, we have an average of 30 parents at the PADRE Parents meetings, all are welcome. We have a smaller group at the business meetings. Currently there is no one from the school board who is running the meetings. They attend, but, are not in charge.
--Submitted by Chris, a parent

I am actually a current freshman student attending Carmel High School and i have read all of the other Parent comments and i find them to be completely unrealistic. Some of them said that CHS has poor parent involvement from Padre Parents. But this is completely untrue. Just this year(2007) Padre Parents have provided thousands of $'s to our brand new pool(just Finished this year). they always help us out. CHS is a great school.
--Submitted by a student

Carmel High would be a great school if the Padre Parents were relpaced with more open minded parents. The parents that head these meetings also tend to head the school board so it's always their way and no one else has any real input no matter whether or not they attend the meetings. Padre Parents is treated more as a social event than something to help the students. And when they do try to help the students, they invest in websites like naviance that are completely useless to students. A fear that their child is doing drugs has now enstated drug testing at this school, which is also ridiculous. Though it's voluntary, if the parents want their child tested, the kid really has no choice. Parents at this school are so set on preparing their child ready for college, yet they baby them through every step of high school.
--Submitted by Hillary Havens, a student