South Pasadena Senior High School

My child is a senior this year, and we have been very, very pleased with all four of his years at SPHS. Most of the students are interesting, lively, engaged kids; most of the teachers are very good and dedicated to their students' success; most of the activities are well-run and designed with the students' best interests in mind; and most of the administration is top-notch. Anyone who thinks they can buy perfection in the form of private school is living in a dream world. If your kid is motivated and you're willing to cut the umbilical cord and let them do some of the hard and necessary work of learning for themselves how to get the most out of their high school experience, SPHS is an outstanding place for your kid to be! We are grateful for everything the school has done for our child.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very unhappy that I did not pursue private school for my child. He is doing badly in science and geometry even though he previously had good grades. I now am paying for a tutor for both of those subjects. I would tell anyone to send your kid to private school if you want them to get a good education. You will end up using tutors and that is quite pricey anyways. Once you are at this school you will hear many stories of how awful the science and math teachers are. Too bad because SPMS was pretty good.
--Submitted by a parent

My 9th grade daughter has an amazing counselor who is always looking out for her. She takes the time to know her on a personal level and is always interested in her personal as well as academic growth. This family is blessed to have Mrs. Strickland-Vadell in our lives.
--Submitted by a parent

South pasadena High school would not be much if it was not housed in a wealthy nieghborhood. The students are not very interesting or creative for the most part (most of the really brilliant, interesting athletics, etc kids in the area do not attend SPHS). The teachers and the facilities are mediocre compared to the reputation. Though a few of the teachers are quite good, the high scores are really because the wealthy parents can afford tutors and test preparation classes, which are a MUST given the largely mediocre faculty. Though there are some great kids that go to SPHS (just like any where else) the young people seem especially uninspired, catty, shallow and fearful. They do not tend to attend their own dances and other events out of fear that it will not be considered "Cool". I am looking to find a more interesting scool for my child.
--Submitted by a parent

Good school - with a great ESL (English as a Second Language) program. My sister went there: she lost no time in picking the new language and she quite enjoyed the whole experience. Moreover, she mentioned that you get individual attentions from the teachers and generally speaking, most students are scholastically motivated and well-behaved. The only compliant she had was that the math program was a bit weak.

SPHS has a diverse community, economically & ethnically, for which we are proud. We all come together well. We have wonderful community involvement, a great principal, and stress great values in addition to academic achievement.
--Submitted by a parent

This is truly an outstanding high school. Students realize they are part of something special...not just rote learners attending class. I'm very impressed by the extra attention paid by faculty members to student success. And Janet Anderson is a very special person, we're lucky to have her!
--Submitted by a parent

Great school! The spirit and friendly community is awesome! The faculty is amazing as well, except the math department is not so great. Tigers for all four years of high school! :)
--Submitted by a student

I have had two children attend SPHS. I can't speak highly enough about the caring devoted staff. It is because of these people that my eldest son has had such success in college and now sees the difference that his education has provided him in comparison to his current classmates.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has moved to this school from the middle school and we expected great things fromt he high school as well, but i was dissapointed to see that they have failed to encourage and offer those who are not the best or great at things. Especially the sports program which only took the kids who had experience with the certain sports and isolated all those who were willing to try out. It seemed unfair, sense colloges look so much towards those sports and activieties done during high school years. Some teachers also failed to provide our children with help when they were struggling. I understand that thier school system push kids to achieve greater things at school. But they need to knw that all kids arent born smart they need the knowledge from thier teachers in order to succeed.
--Submitted by a parent