North Park Junior/Senior High School

I have to agree with the recent poster, North Park (a school district that is Preschool-12) is climbing back to where it used to be, with academics and the students as the focal point. As with everything, work is needed in some areas, such as the library, which is being run very poorly, with little student use in the middle school and high school due to clutter and books sitting in the aisles in boxes, but the teachers and staff are once again confident and are amazing. This school has been put into the proficiency area of the CSAP as of last year.
--Submitted by a parent

As a former student at this school, I've seen the reviews that complain about students from North Park being unable to handle the academic rigor that 4-year colleges thrust upon their students. Quite frankly, this is absolutely untrue. I am currently a teacher in another school system, and I can say that while students do drop out of 4-year programs, their rate is less than that of most school districts around the country. My districts rate is around 45% drop out, which is definitely higher than North Park. Students at North Park are lucky to have the individual attention and generally excellent opportunities for learning that North Park provides. As a college graduate with a bachelors and masters degree from 2 prestigious universities I can say that North Park prepared me for the challenges that I faced in college. All that I had to do was to take advantage of the opportunities that North Park provides.

I am a parent of two students that went to this school. One was in the Elementary and one in the Jr. High. I was completely and totally satisfied with everything that the school did and provided. I also worked at the school and loved my job. I have now moved from the Walden area and regret it everyday of my life. Walden was a beautiful community and the school was great. I left behind a lot of great friends that I met and now miss. I would return tomorrow if I could. Both my children had a wonderful experience there.
--Submitted by a parent

This school recently underwent a change in superintendent/principal who obviously has a lot planned to improve the system. New programs such as the R.O.A.R. program emphasizes more on what students do right instead of wrong. An academic recognition board was recently put up that lists all students who have either had great improvement or consistently good scores on C.S.A.P. or A.C.T. for seniors. A new counselor has also moved to Walden this year with her husband who is a coach and social studies teacher. They are younger, and can relate more with the students. The change in counselor has been quite the relief for me as a senior. She has dug up scholarship information for our class that no one had ever really even heard of. The school is also above average in almost every class and subject. it seems to me the school is on the up and up.
--Submitted by a student

My children went to this school their entire career. By the time they graduated, the school had earned a Blue Ribbon Award as one of the top schools in America. Ten years later, this school has lost its grasp on what a high 'quality' school is about. Most students cannot handle the first year of college. let alone finish successfully. As a teacher, I see this as the result of resistance of the administrators to grasp the positive concepts of NCLB and CSAP. Too much emphasis one one, and not the other. Our children and their present and future success should not be affected by inaptitude, incompetence, and detachment from the problems all school face. Regrettably, the administration acts as if school is about them, and not the students.
--Submitted by a staff

If you are looking for a school where the students are #1, look elsewhere! This school is not zoned in on the students, the focus is on the teachers and administration. The teachers run the administration and the administration runs the school board. Very few courses are offered and the student will not be able to attend a four year college graduating from this school. The high school and middle school math programs are very poor with very low ratings in the CSAP test results. The schools curriculm is geared to try and beat the CSAP tests, this is done in order to appear to be rated higher by the state, which at the present they are rated low to average. The entire K-12 grades will be under one roof in the 2006-2007 school year, a sad disadvantage for all of the students. The administration uses NP for a pre-retiree haven.
--Submitted by a parent