Wallenberg (Raoul) Traditional High School

All parents with special education children should avoid this school. The principal lacks the leadership to properly assist the special education staff. The general education teachers are also equally unmotivated by the lack of leadership. The teacher moral is so low that the annual teacher turnover rate over 30%. The special education department is inexperienced and is capable of doing more harm than good. Students that are enrolled in special ed inclusion with diploma are now being informed that all of their school work has been modified since being first enrolled (without prior parent notification or parent authorization) and they re now disqualified from graduating with a high school diploma. Some students are being informed of this after attending the school for years. I regret ever enrolling my kid in this school.
—Submitted by a parent

Wallenberg has a very good counseling department and conscientious, accessible teachers. The campus and student body is smaller than other neighborhood high schools, but this allows your student to stand out. The school s community service requirement is a great tool for teaching kids to reach out in their communities. Kids are able to enroll in the classes that they need and are showcased well. Their acceptance rate to good colleges is high. We have not encountered any incidences of bullying. The school is located in a good neighborhood, halls are immaculate, classrooms are well lit and conducive to learning. No, the school does not have a football team, but unless your kid has his heart set on playing football, who cares? Overall, very pleased.

I am a Wallenberg graduate and I think Wallenberg is a good school. If you were to send your child to Wallenberg, s/he will come out just fine. The class offering isn t the largest often due to budget issues. Most students that stay for all 4 years are in it for the grade. It s pretty easy to do well, but for those who do not do well, lack of effort plays a big role. But the real gem here is the ability to form and/or join any kind of clubs one wants and the ability to join almost any sports one wants as well (as well as multiple sports in one season). If you want to get into true school politics, students can run for the Student Site Council and/or run as the Student Advisory Council. SSC and SAC positions have the most power to make true changes. It is not difficult to participate; anyone can actually join the meetings. Self-initiated is the most concept one must understand in order to have a great experience at Wallenberg. They should challenge themselves by taking on ridiculous task like managing a library and becoming the project leader for yearbook. Admittedly, most students and faculty at Wallenberg tend to hate the administration. I partly blame the education politics.

This school has a lot to offer. It's up to the student and parents to make things happen. There are lots to do. We got music (they always had it...band), computer, art, languages just like the other schools. We have all the sports, just not football. We've got clubs galore. Want drama, cooking, sewing, photograpy, glee, BSU, Latino, Muslim, Asian, string club, pholospy, ecology, science, health pathways, so much more. New renovations, beautiful clean new campus, and it's a breath of fresh air. We are also climbing the charts of the API score and have done better then most other SFUSD high schools. Tours on Tuesdays. Come make an appointment and check us out!

This school was the last choice for my child and now he is stuck there. i am really trying to move him to a charter or other high school that can offer more creative outlets. why doesn't this high school have music or drama classes? they offer some idiotic yoga class now but no music. last year at least there was choir and a play for kids. now nothing- even after school has no clubs for creativity. i would never choose to send a student to this dull place. and by the way the principal is very uninformed and a really rude person.
—Submitted by a parent

I was so impressed at last nights Meritus dinner. As a new parent to Wallenberg I m very excited for my son to be involved in a school with so many resources and helpful dedicated teachers. It was a powerful experience for my son and I to hear the personal account of a student who was struggling, in and out of foster care, low GPA, had no motivation for school until the Meritus Program offered him a chance and opportunity to turn his life around. They followed this student through high school, tracking his academics and making sure he rose his GPA above a 2.5 now this student is enrolled at SFSU working for a degree in Biology all paid for and sponsored by Meritus. I want the Best for my Son and I believe he will succeed and Shine like a STAR in his next 4 years of high school.
—Submitted by a parent

I highly recommend and invite you to visit our school and get involved with the school governance. The reason being is so that you can get to know the awesome staff, teachers, parents and students. You should see for yourself the different types of resources and organizations that the school has to offer. Look at the positive and leave the negative at home. Come help/tutor our students help them rise academically. Give teachers strength and support so they can continue working hard with more passion and dedication than ever before. I invite the parents to come see for your selves the activities, events, and meetings the school has to offer. Get involved with your child s education. Everyone working towards these goals together we will reach a successful school year.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent using my child's email as I don't have an account. I just want to say that this new principal is so rude and NOT acting on behalf of the students. I sent my child to this school because it was small but the classes are so big now and unsafe due to overcrowdedness that no one can learn. Teachers are frustrated.Even the wonderful security guard that was at the school for so many years quit because of the mean principal. Other key people have also left. There are no electives and not even any after school fun clubs anymore. I suggest they get a good, experienced, understanding principal. She does not even deserve one star!
—Submitted by a parent

i was a previous student at wallenberg and i have to say i had a pretty bad experience. the administration was poor. mostly the principal and vice principal. there was no order. you would see students in the halls during class playing around and there would b many fights. all i have to say is that im glad i changed schools. i am a much happier person now.
—Submitted by a student

My son is a freshman here and I already love it. The previous principal has been replaced. The teachers are excellent, they push the kids hard but also are very supportive. It's a great size -- with 750 students big enough to run most major sports and activities, but small enough that kids can really participate. Only drawback is the building -- a converted elementary school, but you get some relief as the cramped hallways open onto spectacular views!
—Submitted by a parent

Wallenberg is small which makes it possible for the teachers to be much more concentrated on each student individually and help each student reach their full potential.
—Submitted by a parent

Its a great small school with many opportunities in sports.
—Submitted by a parent

I really love that we have a microwave,but the best thing about the school is all the clubs and stuff we can do.
—Submitted by a parent

We're smaller than most high schools in San Francisco yet we offer as much as the big schools. We have the same sports, classes, and diversity that all the other schools have. We might not have as much fame, but we're a small community who cares for each other.
—Submitted by a student

The school is horrible, bad students and teachers, there are only a handful of good teacher, like Mr. Free, probably THE best history teacher. The administration is so bad, it's not even funny.......do your kids a favor and do not send them there!
—Submitted by a student

The school has an excellent basketball program under Coach Mulligan, probably the best in the City, despite the so-so caliber of the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I was an exchange student at this school this year. Teachers are great. They are very nice and helpful, but the principal and assistant principal were just horrible. I appreciate that they gave me the opportunity to learn there, but the administration was very very bad! Student are really unhappy there. Assistant principals standing on the front doorf every monring clapping and cheering to make the students run...horrible!
—Submitted by a student

We have never seen a school where everyone seems so unhappy.
—Submitted by a parent

Get a new administration at WTHS. Administrators that supports the original goals of this wonderful school. The school was established in 1981 as the first Traditional High School in San Francisco. The first principal, Mr. Jim Kearney and the first teaching staff established a curriculum and student behavioral policy that made WTHS one of the top educational institutions in San Francisco for 20 years. It is a shame that in 2006 an admistration took over and has, all but destroyed this wonderful school.

Wonderful teachers and staff but terrible principal and assistant principal. School is run by inexperienced and micro-management. PTSA is weak and cannot stand on its own. Hopefully, solidarity between the teachers, parents, students and the newly elected PTSA officers, we can bring back Wallenberg to the top again.
—Submitted by a parent