Sylmar Senior High School

I have two children in this school. One started out badly and pulled herself out of bad grades to get on a sports program which she loves... However it took alot of hard work from her to get to where she needed to go and unfortunatley thru the overcrowded classed and overworked teachers and councilors it took her over a month and a half to get an appointment with her councilor to see what help she could recieve.There are some really great teachers but students who dont try make it really hard for the ones who want to try to succeed. The softball program is a joke and it is ran by favoritism. The coaches (except for one new one) unfortuntley are very juvenile and make up rules as they go (depending on the child). They do not show leadership amongst the girls or responsibilities and most of all team comradery. The old players (favorites) are told they dont have to re-try out year after year. And it shows. If a parent dares to confront a subject with one of them the player is sure to suffer for it. Kids are being highly discouraged about something they love rather then disciplined and encouraged to keep on going and fight hard for what you belive in. It's a sad thing.....
—Submitted by a parent

You CAN get a great education at Sylmar High if you are willing to put in the effort. There are many fine teachers that go out of their way to help students. My two children got an excellent education at Sylmar High. There was a comment that Sylmar students do not go on to top universities. Here are just a few of the universities Sylmar students are attending. Cal Berkeley , UCLA, Davis, UCSD, Cal Poly SLO, Caltech, Claremont McKenna, Cornell, Embry-Riddle, George Washington, Harvard, Howard, MIT, Notre Dame, Occidental, Stanford, Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, USC, Vassar, Wellesley, and Yale. I personally know Sylmar High graduates who attend these schools.
—Submitted by a parent

My son was a Sylmar HS student and everytime I had to contact the administration, unfortunately, I received-as a parent, a very, very poor service. I entered the office and being ignored by the staff; I filled out paper work several times and the records never updated in the computer. True, the parent needs to contact the teachers, but I never received any note about anything -good or bad about my son. I have a very poor concept about the school.
—Submitted by a parent

great school? you have to be kidding! even for a lausd. it's very overcrowded, it's filthy, and most of the teachers are uninspired (and uninspiring). and i say this as a former magnet student. very few of this schools alumni go on to great university (cal state northridge is not in this category) . it just doesn't happen. seriously...if you are a parent, try getting your child into a different school.

As Sylmar High School student I recognize that many of the 9th grade T-House seems to be all critisism and only recognizes their one teacher who refers them to the website. But unlike their critisim toward the rest of the school I would love to recognize all the Business Academy for thier great efforts in trying to help all its students succeed! I also want to recognize the College Summit teachers for thier graet effort toward helping students though the college processes. I am proud to announce that I am a Business Academy Student and if it wasn't for the help of my teachers and couselers I wouldn't be presented with the chance to graduate due to my previous mishaps in my classes. My name is Vivian and I am a proud Business Academy and Sylmar High student!
—Submitted by a student

this school is great i am currently a student here. the teacher really care about you and help you succeed
—Submitted by a student

this school is great it provides many diffrent programs and pushes students to push there education to college
—Submitted by a parent

Sylmar is great school. My daughter goes there. If your their to learn u can make the best of it. They also prepare you in every way for college. Thanks Mr.Delasante! My daughter is in the magnet at Sylmar
—Submitted by a parent

I am a alumni and believe that Sylmar is an amazing school if you know how to get the most out of it. The academies extremely useful in preparing the students for careers and vocations. There is a great Magnet program as well as plenty of honors and AP courses offered. Sports,Clubs, and activities make it all worth while. I loved it!
—Submitted by a student

Your right the school staff and volunters are trying to better the school environment and teaching. But it does take parent participation and support. There are many activities for students to participate in to keep their interest up and off the streets, unfortunately there are also countless students who just roam the streets without any parent support or guidance. By the time students get to high school their values and morals are set, you cannot blame the school for not being able to change what parents have not instilled in them all their life. Its like trying to straighten up a tree that has been let to grow crooked, it can be done but it takes cooperation also from the parents.
—Submitted by a parent

I had five children attend Sylmar High School. Currently, there are two children of mine still attending. This year I had to take my son out early and was given a very hard time. I was sent to three different departments before I reached the right one. Each dept had to put my son's name in the cumputer. It was so unorganized it was pitaful and fruatrating at the same time. They should have lefted everything alone.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a SHS alumni and I truely believe that the Magnet prepared me for college life. I felt really supported by my teachers and counselors.
—Submitted by a student

As a parent and volunteer I see how hard the parent center and school works to try and get parents more involved-unfortunately not many parents come and that is because most are either holding down two jobs or are single parents and don't have the time it is not because the school is not trying
—Submitted by a parent

My child graduated from Sylmar and got a full-ride academic scholarship to an east coast school. She passed all 6 AP exams and had a great social life. Sylmar HS is what the student makes of it.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school Sylmar , my son Brandon goes there and he also likes it, both of us believe it is much more better than his previous school bless you all god is love!
—Submitted by a parent

Sylmar seems to have its share of problems but my child sticks to his studies and seems to have teachers that are doing a good job. I would like to see more teacher/parent communication. The school does the best they can with what LAUSD gives them, which is not alot. The area is not so great so kids seem to get out of hand and there have been a 2 'lock downs' within a week. It was a disappointment not seeing many parents on back to school night.
—Submitted by a parent

There are many classes/ courses to choose from, great extracurricular activities. Their is many clubs to choose from. I would rate parent involve in 1-10 scale 8. Great dedicated teachers. Tons of sports and art classes+art clubs. School band has many stages, if its your first time or coming back from previous year.
—Submitted by a student

Im a former student at sylmar high, I belive thay have some pretty great teachers working there, just the students dont pay much attention. I belive they could have a little more extra curicular activities like field trips and more involment with just regular students. Teens my age could use more encouragement from other teens as well as teachers and school staff. I belive there out to be more class rooms or at least a bigger campus, they also should ask the students opinion on the teachers because who would want to pay attention to a teacher they dont like or is verry rude.
—Submitted by a student

The Magnet School is exceptional. I really enjoyed my 4 years there. It prepared me for on-going studies at a 4-year university. I felt challenged an motivated. Music and sports dominate extra-curricular activities.
—Submitted by a student

this scool has a great extra cirricular activities program.
—Submitted by a parent