West Haven High School

I was a student from west haven high and I just left cause i had to move. I was in the Alternative program and is was the best thing that could've happened. I went from being in regular classes, failing, not understanding, to the alternative program and getting honors and staying out of trouble. This school looks run down but it makes up for it with wonderful teachers who made my experience here excellent. I will never forget my teachers cause they all helped me so much. They went above and beyond to help me with school and i never would've made it without them!!
—Submitted by a student

I am a current Junior at West Haven High. I personally have had a great educational experience. I believe that if you are determined to succeed in life, get a degree, and high paying job, west haven high may be the school for you. There are security guards and officers there to ensure student safety. There has never been a bomb threat here for a long time. West haven high is all about achieving excellence and pride and you an do soooo many things other schools cant allow you to do. For ex: You can do band AND chess AND soccer. The teachers are flexible and everything is great academic. The school has awareness groups for bullying and teens suffering from depression. This school has shaped me into the mature person I am today. And because of the great educational experience and college links I have gotten over the years, I can not wait to start college next fall of 2014 and continue my experience.
—Submitted by a student

West Haven High School has a incredible history of close to 150 years. Unfortunetly as a public school it has been caught up in the degradation of schools by unions, local, state, and national politics, My family has had six generations walk through it halls. If the school could disassociate itself from all outside influence and run itself like a private prep school it would become the envy of the state. There is still incredable pride in West Haven by residents but these parents by in large send their children to private or New Haven Schools like I did. I only wish I could have home schooled my kids. I will with my grandchildren.

I got great writing classes there

this is a horrible school.the teachers are bad,the pricipe doesnt do anything.there is a lot of fights,and groups of diffrent races are starting to gang up on each other.not to mention,there are bomb threats,there were about 5 this year incluing the first day of school,and the school is always on lockdown because of it.dont send your children here.worst experiences here ever.and theres no action taken or punishments for rude kids or bullies.
—Submitted by a student

I am a freshman in WHHS and so far, I am liking it. Before school started, I was pretty nervous because there were bomb threats, but it turned out that a student just wanted a day off from school. I am in about 4 honors classes and thinking of taking some again in my sophomore year. There are plenty of activities that I want to join, so I am pretty excited. I am willing to put a lot into the school because the more you put in, the more you get back. The teachers are very helpful, they always stay after which I think is great. From the outside, it might seem like a bad school, but truly, it has many opportunities, so good school!
—Submitted by a student

I graduated in 2005. I played Ice Hockey and Tennis for the school. I was in the school marching band, Honor Society, and was apart of many other school activities. I was in a honors or AP class every year. I enjoyed West Haven High School very much. The teachers, guidance counselors, and principal are great people. You get what you put into it. I put a lot in, so I got a lot.
—Submitted by Don, a former student

Very good sports program for a public school but many problems accure off the playing fields. Gang fights while boarding buses, drugs being sold right outside the front doors, open up the newspaper and you are sure to find something bad on WHHS. Teacher seem to teach those that want to be taught and the rest are left behind, no effort to reach out to the troubled students that need leadership and a point in the right direction. It all stems right done from poor principal leadership.
—Submitted by Resident 3yrs to many Teacher, a parent

WHHS is a great school u get what u put in. You could fool around and get in alot of trouble but u could also be deticated and get alot out of the school. Depending on how much u put in you will get back in return. The sports here are amazing atleast one of the teams is always in contention for a state championship and seeing they play the best schools if they win a state championship they will be number one in the State. The princepal is very active and has a huge role in the student conduct at the school. Parents know everythign that is going on if they get the mail. It's a great school if u work hard and try at the school. You can go very far with WHHS if u work with the school rather than against it.-George Chambrelli-
—Submitted by George Chambrelli, a former student

Being a senior at WHHS, I believe that the teachers as a whole are extremely dedicated and show a genuine interest in the well being of their students. The principal is one who personally interacts with students and teachers on a regular basis; he also takes time out of his busy schedule to speak with parents if need be. Parents are sent progress reports between report cards and also remain informed of the school's current events with a monthly announcement packet mailed to each student's home. The extracurricular activities of this school are highly involved and varied, giving students necessary leadership and planning skills outside of the classroom. The athletic and musical programs are also worth the time after school. The Honors Program is composed of many rigorous AP and Honors level courses that challenge students intensely.
—Submitted by a student

The teachers at West Haven High School are good teachers. They try to teach the kids as much as possible in 9 months. In my opinion West Haven High is a good school. The teachers care about the children and try to keep them busy with activities. I hated the school when i first went there, but my teachers pushed me to graduate because they didnt want to see me stay behind again. I would send my children there if i still live in West Haven. Give the school a chance. The children have to want to be there and have to want to learn because if they dont then they wont like the school at all. on a scale of 1-10 i would rate the school a 8 for effort, caring, teaching, etc. They also have alot of after school activities for the children to get involved in.
—Submitted by Heather Deschene, a former student

West Haven High School has a great honors program and is highly recommended to students who intend to take accelerated and Advanced Placement courses. In addition, the extra-curricular activities are abundant and varied, enough so that every student can find at least something that they can become pleasantly immersed in. As a recent graduate of the class of 2004, I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and one day hope to send my own children. West Haven, at least the honors program, restores my faith in the public school system.
—Submitted by Melissa Fernandez, a former student

As a former graduate and a parent of two former graduates and one child currently attending I would like to say That I am very proud of West Haven High School. With its current leadership and dedicated staff I am very satisfied with my childs educational needs being met. I am also glad to see that the guidance dept has been revamped with a number of new and enthusiastic counselors having been newly hired. This truly had been one of my few concerns with the school and I am looking forward to great strides being made this year in the guidance area, both with pupil and parent interaction.
—Submitted by a parent