Gainesville High School

I'm pretty sure all these ratings are from parents which kids are doing great in schoo, but when it comes to the ones that are doing really bad in school, it's another story. They never answer e-mails (they're using technology), I sent two of them. Once, they asked me to go to school to talk about my son, and instead of trying to help him realize how important an education is, all that person (that doesn't even deserved to be mention by name) did was tell him he wasn't going to accomplish anything in live, he wasn't going to be able to work not even at McDonalds, she was really rude and disrespecful to my son, my husband and I. The English he speaks to his friends it's not the same English (the proper one) used in classes, and she was completely ignoring the fact that Spanish is his 1st language.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a student who is not in the Cambridge program and it's difficult for me to find something positive to say about this school. The Cambridge program has absolutely destroyed the school for anyone who's not in it. Even the AP classes are now worthless because most of the decent teachers and resources went to AICE and pre-AICE classes. The discipline problem is also very serious. If it's possible, this school should really be avoided.
—Submitted by a student

As a former teacher at GHS, I would strongly urge parents to research and visit the schools prior to enrolling your children here. The school has changed over the last 10 years. There are some great programs and some absolutely outstanding teachers and youth at Gainesville High School. The Cambrige Program is excellent and the band, chorus, and drama departments are full of teachers who go above and beyond. Unfortunately, GHS also has some serious problems with discipline that tend to outweigh and out shine the positive attributes of the school. Teacher turn-over is unbelievably high and classes are often taught in sub-par classroom conditions with excessive mold and extreme (extreme!) lack of materials. The physical structure of the campus makes it possible for anyone to just walk into the student areas. Safety was a high concern of mine while teaching there.
—Submitted by a teacher

Gainesville High School has provided an absolutely outstanding education for my daughter in her freshman year. She is in the Cambridge program, and the quality of her teachers cannot be understated. GHS has given her the benefits of a private school education in a diverse student population (minus the cost!). We are very impressed by both the faculty and administrators that we have encountered at GHS. This is truly a 'great school'!
—Submitted by a parent

I have been fortunate to have a child currently in GHS and a older child that graduated from another school in town. GHS has shown to be be a more friendly atmosphere for both parent and student. Academically, I think GHS has just as much to offer if not more than the other two high schools in town. To the parents that didn't think there was enough challenging opportunities for their children, you obviously did not check out the Cambridge program. That program is more rigorous than any honors program I have looked at. There is no room for looking left or right for those students. Even the elective schedule is purely high level academics. And quite frankly AP is AP.
—Submitted by a parent

GHS is a good school that could be a great school. There needs to be better control of students and bad students need to be more harshly punished. Class sizes are too big, in the lower level classes, and there is not enough teacher/administrator/resource officer presence around campus to prevent the problem students ('the bottom 10% of the bottom 10%') from getting into trouble. The county will need to address this population and provide increased vocational training if GHS is to become the school it used to be, academically.
—Submitted by a parent

This school was a big disappointment. It is probably fine for the majority of kids whose parents have lived in the Gainsville area since theie children were young, but ninth graders needing accelerated learning opportunities were not available. I also found that if your child is not directly involved in a group sporting activity than you were looked upon indifferently. The caliber of most of his teachers has been shockingly poor. It has therefore given none of the advantages of a city school, with all of the disadvantages. I can recommend it only in contrast to most of the other public schools in the district.
—Submitted by a parent

Although GHS is a large high school, the faculty meets the varied needs of its students. My children have been successful in the Advanced Placement curriculum offered at GHS, and I have been impressed with the educators who have prepared my children to pass their AP exams. High school is about more than 'book learning', so I am pleased to say my children have enjoyed being involved in the many extra curricular activities offered at GHS. Sports, Clubs, and Student Government are accessible to all students at the school as long as they get involved and keep their GPA's up.
—Submitted by a parent

Gainesville High School is a school in training. It is geered towards lower to median middle class and has a mediocre curriculum and education.
—Submitted by a parent