Pittsburg Senior High School

the new school is beautiful, the teachers are great but some of the administrative decisions leave me baffled. i understand that the economy is bad but we need to make wise decisions and ensure that our kids are ready for college.
—Submitted by a parent

Pittsburg is a city in transition, the high school reflects this. The new administration has set high standards and some do not like this. I've taught at other schools and personally think that it is better to have high standards and allow some to fail than to have low standards so everybody can be a winner. I've never worked with an administration that worked so consistently hard to make sure that everybody gets an opportunity to learn.
—Submitted by a teacher

Pittsburg High School has the potential to be a GREAT place. New (outside the community) administrator has killed the spirit of the high school - what all alumni and staff remembers that made us a family is gone. And that's too bad. I hope they will be able to get that sense of Pirate Pride back. The school has great students and great staff who make the school a success. They've got to get back and keep those things that made us the proud family we used to be. The new school looks great but all the familiar faces are gone. Why is that? Did the current principal have to clean house so no one else can question or challenge his authority? Many think so. And too bad. He needs to learn, a good leader is only as good as those who support him. Support comes from encouraging and accepting participation in decision making and buy-in to those decisions. No one person knows it all and should never presume to think they do. Respect for others and their ability to also think and make logical choices goes a long way. Otherwise, you alienate everyone. The new school is beautiful. So far, it's a building with no heart.
—Submitted by a teacher

great school with a lot of diversity! its not the school that makes the grades but the students determination! this school has tons of pride and Im glad to be part of the graduating class of 2009! go pirates!
—Submitted by a student

i love this school. everyone gets along with eachother, the teachers are fun to hang out with and learn i love p.h.s.!!
—Submitted by a student

a very bad school to put your kid in, my B kid became a F student,,and became a.. whole..in this schoool..... very bad influence,kids there.. my mistake for not doing my homework on this school...
—Submitted by a parent

During my first year in college I knew I was not properly prepared after graduating from here. Ranking in the top 10 students and maintaining a high GPA throughout all four years at PHS does not translate into being well prepared for college. I was fortunate enough to have a few teachers who genuinely wanted to be in the classroom to teach; they wanted their students to learn and understand the material. They made you THINK! They did not want you to just regurgitate what you read in the textbook or what they wrote on the board. Most of these teachers, however, have transferred to other school or were offered administrative positions. A majority of the teachers seemed more like baby-sitters than teachers; they rarely provided any type of mental stimulation.
—Submitted by a student

If you are into sports then this is the school for you,if you want to go to college don't go here
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent and alumni of PHS I'd have to say this school is pretty good. The key to any school aside from the staff is parent involvement. As a working parent it is/was not always easy for me to drop in to talk with the teachers/counselors, but the staff has always been willing to discuss my child s progress and always responsive to my e-mails. The resources are available for students to be successful, it's what you do with these resources that MAKE you who you want to be. Strive for excellence!!
—Submitted by a parent

Pittsburg high is not as bad as everyone thinks. The students that complain are often the ones that don't go seeking help. Help is always available if you look for it! plus, Pittsburg High is a a great place of diversity and is a major example of America's melting pot. I was given many oportunities to succed myself, and there a so many programs at pitt to help a student succed, such as advid, puente, bridge to college, bsu, and so many more that encourage sutdents to go further, all one needs to do is get up and really look!

My son is having a trouble time getting feedback from his teachers. They only give homework once a week and they do not go over it so they will have something to study for the test.
—Submitted by a parent

Me as a parent that has one child attending and one child I had to take out and send her to another district was and is disappoint with Pittsburg HS as a whole. While it is the responsibility of the student to take care advantage of their education, sometimes I feel that the teachers at a whole does not get as involved as they should. Especially with the next Exit Exam for kids graduating in 2007 and beyond, it doesn't seem to me like the teachers are helping the kids out,and unfornately with only one school in Pittsburg for high school students you are basically stuck with the school district.
—Submitted by a parent

I was born and raised in Pittsburg. Throughout my years at Pitt, I found myself both proud and severely disapoointed. I adored the different types of people I met. Pittsburg is truly one of the forerunners in America's melting pot. It's possible it's more of the community than the school for this. However, the teachers I had were truly not the best educators. Certainly, some of them stood out as true teachers that cared what they were doing. Yet, I felt as though many of my peers left school feeling as though all they needed was their high school diploma to make it in life. Both the high school and the community failed to encourage us to go further in life. It was disappointing and to this day I wonder how much has really changed.
—Submitted by a former student

This school is less a learning environment than a prison camp. It is not the fault of the teachers or the administration but the town itself. The shining exception to the poor academic experience of this school is the outstanding music program which produces an award winning marching band yearly. Peer pressure is not just about drugs, but lifestyle. If you want your child to value education and have halfway decent standards for learning, do not send them to this unfortunate school which just has too many kids whose parents don't give a damn to adequate educate the few that do.
—Submitted by a teacher

This is a okay school, oh sure most svchools have its problems but it is decent. It is nothing like oakland or richmond though
—Submitted by a parent

I attended PHS from 1998 to 2002. I'm sorry to say but frankly, I believe the only way to success for anyone attending that school are for those who can stay focused on their education and/or get out of Pittsburg.
—Submitted by a former student

I have had 2 different experiences with this school. The first was Not good; the second is turning out good.
—Submitted by a parent

Very good commited teachers but it's the environment that is disliked by most of the students who want to learn but there are a few who disrupt school time. Many clubs and classes. Auto, wood, spanish, green house, many, many activities, soccor, golf.
—Submitted by a student

PHS is a great school with exceptional teachers who dedicate there lifes around there teacheres Mrs Berqueast, Mr Pyle, Mr Ford, and tons more. My sons life was changed when he attended this school 'in a good way' his grades and his attitude improved and now at collage he is becoming a electrical engeneer. He gradutes in 06 thanks to the great influence of PHS.
—Submitted by Hendrix Loushad, a parent

After reading all the reviews on this school it is clear to see the only thing good at Pittsburg High are the Band and clubs! The school is only worried about money not education. They are not concerned about student/staff safety only money thats why it takes an act of God to suspened or expell a student no mateer what! The 'security' staff is a joke! About the only people I do see when I visit there is the custodial staff. ( I can't believe with the square footage and student population there are only 12 of them)
—Submitted by Bob Zook, a parent