Dickinson (John) High School

My son has been attending Dickinson since his freshman year. My son has had interpersonal issues throughout his freshman-junior time at Dickinson. The teachers have always been supportive in helping him work through those issues and gain a better understanding of himself. This year my son has not had any behavioral problems and is academically attempting to excel. The only problem that I have come across is that some of the teachers will "hold grudges" on students who have had issues in the past. I have three younger children and I plan on sending all of them through Dickinson high school.
--Submitted by a parent

I was concerned with my daughter going to Dickinson. I had heard many stories about the school that left something to be desired and was reluctant to keep her in her feeder pattern vs. choicing her into another school within the district. I attended the Back To School meeting prior to her Freshman year to learn more about the Freshman Academy and am here to tell, our choice to be a part of the change at Dickinson has done us proud! We have had support on ALL levels from day 1 and I am very comfortable and confident with the faculty and academics. My daughter is now a sophmore and we have every intention of being a 2014 graduate of John Dickinson High School. GO RAMS!!!
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in the IB Program and the teachers in the 9th grade academy were great. They would stay after school every day and there was always some available to help with academics. The school would contact me every single day if there was a reason, and the reasons were usually to deliver good news! These types of calls never cam from our prior schools. I cannot say enough good things about Dickinson. I heard a lot of stories about the school before my daughter went there, but none of them were true. I think the school is great and my two younger children will be going there in the future. I just hope they keep the same staff that they have there right now. The people make all teh difference.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attends and is doing well because we have him enrolled in the CP/AP/Honor classes. Most of the kids in the general classes do not seem to care about their education and thus disrupt the rest of the class. Also, the school has gone through 3 principals since 2007 without even notifying the parents. The school also doesn't enforce the dress code policy - When I have visited the school I've seen kids with clothes that are clearly not approved, and there seems to be a large amount of kids just walking the halls.
--Submitted by a parent

the school isn't as bad as people make it out to be, the teachers are great. no matter what level of classes your in. im not saying dickinson is the greatest school but people are make it out to be a nut house when it really isn't. fyi, im a student, i go there. so i know what im talking about.
--Submitted by a student

I think Red Clay failed the students of John Dickinson when they took Mr Lasorsa from them. He had the most respect for the kids and guided them to success.
--Submitted by a parent

The administrators are tyrants. They talk a good story but don't really enforce the rules. Nor do they support the staff. Example: no one is allowed in the halls the first or last 10 min. of a period. So why are all of those students in the hall? Adminstrators seem to have no control over kids. They are so busy trying to be a buddy to the kids and 'understand' that they don't understand that basic behaviors and courtesies are necessary no matter who you are, what race you are or where you live! Dangerous atmosphere. I crawl along the hall edges to avoid danger!
--Submitted by a student

Seriously, when i started there as a freshman, things seem to be under control, but since i've been there, it has really started to go down hill. I would never sent my child there. No way. Not a good atmosphere, too many students that like to push past you in the hallways.
--Submitted by B Moore, a student

Naw i think that Dickinson is a great school for students to attend for playing Basketball. My son Cornel goes there and he says that their sports program is excellent.
--Submitted by Mister Taylor, a parent