Mount Pleasant High School

I began teaching at Mount in 05-06 so I found reading these reviews interesting. It acuratly portrays the changes in the school over the last 7 years. I am pleased to share that we made AYP this year and our students scored in the same range or above students in the other high schools in our district. As a member of the faculy, I know what hard work has gone into creating the positive academic results and educational climate in the building. Our faculty has worked with our administration, students, and families to make the Mount commjunity one we are all proud to be a part of. This is the year for others to "Adjust Your Perceptions" of Mount as we celebrate making AYP and work even harder to do it again this year.
—Submitted by a teacher

Mount Pleasant is a great school. Yes, it's home to the IB Programme and yes, those kids tend to be the most involved, but... so are their parents. Kids who are not in IB and AP who do well also tend to have parents who are involved. So a big key to your child's success is to take an active role in something at the school. For the kids, there are lots of opportunities to enjoy their high school years... music (choral, symphonic, concert, jazz, early music, marching, pep band, special choral groups), sports (year round offerings), an excellent culinary program, an in-school radio station, the only student-led Relay for Life in the state, the only student-led Tri M in the state, Invisible Children, academic competitions, etc. One of my daughters graduated from MPHS last year and I have another there as a freshman this year. Both had great experiences, teachers who care, and lots of opportunities. It's a great school if your child and you get involved and take advantage of all it has to offer!
—Submitted by a parent

It is now 2009 and in reading the other reviews, things have changed at MPHS! Administration is great, teachers are involved and positive. My son is a sophomore and couldn't be happier. Like ANY school, children AND parents must be involved for everyone to thrive. Be the parent and your child will be a great student in many ways! Want your child to be happy and try hard in school, then encourage them to get involved (sports, music, clubs, anything!) They are basically living there for 4 years so they should become that school. I'm talking about any level student. I see many kids active and having fun at Mount. Positive thinking and action brings positive results!
—Submitted by a parent

this school is such a great school my son goes there and he loves it. :)
—Submitted by a parent

The school's graduates go on to attend ivy league and other prestigious universities. Newsweek magazine ranked Mount #588 in their ranking of the top 1000 high schools in the country. The school ranked 3rd in the state by the same rankings. Our school has the only student-run Relay for Life on the northeastern seaboard. It is a safe place, but there is a big cross section of life here. The school is like many - if you come to learn and to participate in sports and clubs, it is a great school.
—Submitted by a teacher

If you look at the other reviews you can tell who is a parent of someone in the AP or IB classes. 20% of mount pleasant students are, and they have it pretty well, the other 80% are not and they are the ones that have it rough. There are 2 huge problems I see. Lack of school participation and behavior.
—Submitted by a student

I attended this school and was very satisfied with the education I got as well as the activities such as art, music, etc. programs. I would not hesitate to recommend or sent my own child there. A lot of the staff love what they do and it shows in their work.

I would NOT recommend this school to any parent who wants their child to get a decent education. The staff lets the kids run the school. The biggest challenge these students face is getting through their day unscathed.
—Submitted by a parent

One of my children graduated from MPH, and one will be a senior next year. The course offerings are excellent, and some of the staff are supportive and knowledgeable. The problems in this school are the lack of control over misbehavior and the sorry condition of the building.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic quality of the program is excellent. Music, arts, sports and student council activities are well supported and coached. Parent involvement is growing and student morale and pride has improved.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic programs would be much better if the teachers would discipline the disruptive students! They never discipline them, and as a result I must suffer. I do think the addition of the new music director was a great acquisition! There needs to be more parental involvement for sure! But the best way to improve this school would be to correct kids, and stop allowing them to behave in a manner which is disruptive to those of us who wish to learn!
—Submitted by a student

I dont understand these ratings. A school with no doors on the stalls in the bathrooms, no lights, smoking, rules are constantly made to cator a few students. If your car breaks down or dosnt start, and your late, thats an automatic detention. On a society where majority rules, how is it our school is base on a minority. I like how the administration can pay for pizza parties and dvd players for people who took the dstp, as an incentive, but the test is manditory. Parents are very involved and thats a good thing. I would not rate this as a good school, coming from a different district in NY. This school lacks many programs, and has trouble getting people involved. Overall i would rate it a 2/5, and thats being generous.
—Submitted by a student

Mount Pleasant is a school that is anything but pleasant. The principal has little involvement in anything. He is rarley even seen in school, and if you do happen to see him, he is just standing and staring at students passing by. The administation is strict and dominating. Though, I have to say that The administration is fair. They have a fair variety of extracurricular activities. Though, %75 of the students if not more, in my opinion, do not get involved. The negative influence at mount is extreme. I would advise any 'Good' student considering enterting mount to reconcider. Any student headed in the 'right direction' should go to a school where that kind of attitude is appreciated. Mount compared to the other schools in the brandywine school district by far fails all the tests.
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of the academic programs at Mount Pleasant varies according to which teacher is teaching a course - some teachers are very good, but there are teachers who project an 'I could care less about these kids' attitude. This attitude reflects the four or five years during which the school had a different principal every year. Lack of effective leadership certainly hurt the school. Students choiced away from Mount Pleasant at an alarming rate. The students who stayed suffered from a very small peer group of students who make 'good' choices and a rather large peer group of students indifferent to learning. The International Baccalaureate Program improved the climate for very bright students, but the average 'good' student still suffers from a dearth of other average 'good' students to interact with. Peer friendships are extremely important at this age; there needs to be more average 'good' students for positive growth.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a graduate of Mount Pleasant and I just want to make sure people understand what a great school it is! I was involved in athletics and clubs and I could not have asked for a more positive experience. The teachers are great and are always available for extra help or just to listen if a student had a problem. The best part about Mount Pleasant was and still is the involvement of the faculty, they are always at athletic events and other activities. Also Mount Pleasant students are very close and are all friends!
—Submitted by a former student