Sandalwood High School

Sandalwood was a great school whenIi attended. Many extracurricular activities & programs offered. Some include work programs, and available dual enrollemnt for college credit.
—Submitted by a former student

I am highly disappointed in Sandalwood. First of all, there are too many students to properly educate our children. Secondly, I have come to realize that all students are not treated the same. There are students who get punishment for things that other kids do not. During class there are numerous students walking around the halls without hall passes. Some are punished others are not. Don't get me wrong, this is not a race related bias. Personally, I believe that the security guards, who regulate the halls, allow some students to slide by without a pass for whatever reason and then other students are punished. There are wonderful teachers at Sandalwood and there are horrible ones just like anywhere else. I regret that it is the only neighborhood choice for my child. The principal is new so I hope that she can make positive changes.
—Submitted by a parent

I find that the teachers are willing to help students if the student is willing to meet them half way. However I have found following through on disipline is slow.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic programs are week. There are extracurricular activities and parents are not very involved.
—Submitted by a parent

Well the school promotes it's students to play sparts and sandalwood has on of the best sports teams in florida. I find that the administration is kind of wacky, with the rules they imlement, but the school overall is a decent school.
—Submitted by a student

I feel that sandalwood high school is a very apropriate school for my child to be atttending because I have met the teachers and they really are trying to help the students pass. Other schools teachers may have there degree but they dont really care weather the student passes or fails cause eather way they are still getting paid. Sandalwood in my opion has one of the best bands and choirs though you rairly hear from the choir now. The real problem with the school is the parents of the children who go there.
—Submitted by a parent

A large urban school, ninth and tenth grades organized into communities. Offers exceptional education in a mainstreamed environment. Good honors program.
—Submitted by a teacher

Very diverse therefore lots of opinions flying around. But other than that its ok
—Submitted by chris, a student

Too crowded, not enough teachers to work with students where needed. Hour lunch was great. Way for one on one tutoring.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers. School needs work to motivate kids. Parents need to be more involved with kids. Alot of kids here have learning problems.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers that work hard and are committed to the students.
—Submitted by a former student

It's my experience that the administration of this school, including the guidance office, don't know what is going on. No one can give you a correct answer.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had nothing but trouble with son at this overrated, overpopulated, undermonitored school. Too little staff, too little guidance, too little parent/teacher communication when issues are arising. I have really had to struggle, and my very bright boy is foundering because the public school system can't teach and guide our kids and won't go out of their way to communicate with parents when issues are coming up - until it's too late.
—Submitted by a parent

Large high school with plenty of extracurricular activities. Honor classes are well taught, but discipline and learning in regular ed is hit or miss.
—Submitted by a former student

I'm a parent. My child attended Sandalwood for 6 months. I thank god I was able to get my child out of that school! After checking Sandalwood on the internet, I had a good picture of this school in my head. I was horrified when I brought my child for his 1st day & vowed to get him out of there. The internet information was so wrong. The kids are the ones who run that school. The teachers are not the brightest. There's 'no' homework. There have been many lockdowns & serious fights where security & teachers have been hurt. In January (2005)kids were running through the halls out of control. Students are allowed to leave school grounds during lunch. I am so glad my child is out of there.
—Submitted by a parent

most of the students are very intelligent students, the majority of the bad things doesnt reflect the good things of the minority. The school needs to toughen up its school security, and enforce more anti-violence policies if it has any at all.
—Submitted by a former student

I have attended Sandalwood High as well as several siblings. The school is very crowded! The hallways are cluttered and the classrooms are very very small. The new addition to the Freshman Inst. is a good idea for students who are not up to state educational standards, though this singles them out so everyone knows they are not as well educated. Extracurricular activities are limited currently from the choices in the past years. The crime, violence and other behavior of the students is high due to the overcrowding and limited funds for classes such as: art, music, drama, computer, and other interest specific courses. This school has gone down hill and is still sinking, send your child elsewhere!
—Submitted by a former student

Like many schools Sandalwood is overcrowded and was not looking forward to my kids attending it. However they have dealt pretty well with the constraints and they have some good leadership in house. The grounds and the bulding itself could use some work and are not the cleanest. They do offer a decent amount of extra curricular activities bu there are many students vying for spots. The average scores for SAT, FCAT and ACT are not very good but they do offer honors courses and advanced placement where the students do much better.
—Submitted by a parent

I believe that the standardized testing is about the most insane thing I have ever done. We students spend the entire year studying for F-cat, having information crammed down our throats specifically for the purpose of passing a test. The school has made it so that the students don't care anymore about what it is they are not learning, but we simply try to retain information so we can pass F-cat at the end of the year. I personally am tired of memorizing information for a test, and learning nothing. Plenty of people at this school can barely read, and if they can, then it is at a pace that a first grader would read at. Teach us something! Don't just make us memorize to pass one test!
—Submitted by a student

I am a student here at Sandalwood High, A senior class of 2005. And I love it! The teachers are great the Principle is awesome! Sercurity could do a little better though watching out for some things but its great.
—Submitted by Lauren Williams, a student