Bishop Kenny High School

I attended BK and I can say great athletics, academics, traditions, location, etc... Great education at half the price of Bolles and Episcopal and a powerful Alumni Base.

ive been a student here for 3 years and it has been terrible. freshman year was alright, everyone was nice and sincere. But until sophomore year things started going downhill. The students tend to interrupt the teachers a bit too much. most students are very arrogant and vulgar. it is a catholic school but all the acts at the school are non-catholic. during sophomore year my chemistry teacher was constantly interrupted by a group of kids and we never learned much in one day. unfortunately the teacher left the following year. there are several good teachers out there but the math teachers are terrible. an algebra 2 teacher doesn't even teach the math. for a lesson, she gave us a formula and that was it. we had to figure it out ourselves and we didn't know how to do the homework. we did homework on an online program which provided help, but it doesn't teach like teachers do. the math teacher is too reliable on technology to teach us so we don't get the material. I disliked going here and hopefully am moving to another school.
—Submitted by a student

I was a student my freshman year of high school and I HATED it there. Students are so rude to other students that I went home and cried everyday. It got so bad that after freshman year my parents pulled me out and I put me in another school that I enjoy a whole lot more.

Bishop Kenny might be a Catholic school, but it is certainly NOT Christian. The teachers are by and large good and decent people, but the administrators are not. The administration does not seem to care about the teachers one bit. I have several good friends who are on the staff there, and they report that teacher morale is very low, and that the administrators cannot be trusted as far as one could throw them. Each administrator is a petty little tyrant who is only concerned about his or her own position and power. And as far as the students go, although there are some good students there, on the whole the students are vulgar, mean spirited, self-centered brats. Discipline is a joke. Teachers cannot discipline their students because if they do, the students or their parents will complain to the administration, and because the administration is so scared of a drop in enrollment, the teacher will be the one that gets in trouble. When will the administration figure out that an unhappy faculty makes for an unhappy school?
—Submitted by a parent

I LOVED going to Bishop Kenny! I graduated in 2008 and when I went to college Kenny MORE than prepared me! Compared to MANY of the students who went to public schools, I felt I was not only better prepared academically but socially as well! When I went there I had so many amazing teacher and faculty members who REALLY cared about you! Yes, in today's world EVERY school has its bad points but compared to other private schools of similar caliber such as The Bolles School or Episcopal, Kenny is the best all around school. I have very close friends from both Bolles and Episcopal alike, but I think Kenny does a better job of preparing their kids for socialized with all types of people.
—Submitted by a student

Five reasons NOT to send your child to Kenny: 1. The academic programs here are a little less sophisticated than other college prep schools in Jacksonville, but they are definitely more expensive. 2. Here, the fine arts (unlike athletics), are not worthy of monetary investment. But apparently, they are worthy of ridicule by about 88% of the student population. 3. The religious educational classes provide little to no spiritual benefit for the student body, a majority of which is actually failing them. Your Catholic children will still be brats even after sitting through a Bishop Kenny religion class. 4. Valuable student time is wasted attempting to pass required religious educational classes which do not help to strengthen student values, and which colleges don't care about anyway. 5. The student atmosphere at Kenny is appalling! There is no large "community" of scholarly young Christians. Instead there is a great pack of malicious (and snobby) teenagers. Don't send your kids here! It isn't worth the cost. Spiritually, monetarily, whatever. I am a Bishop Kenny student and a Catholic, and I approve this message. I can also guarantee you my children won't be attending this school.
—Submitted by a student

This is my last year the school. The teachers are good and so are the classes. the students are normal high school students. We all have our own personalities and opinions. The students that I have class with always make me laugh and those I don't have class with or don't know I can't say what they are like.
—Submitted by a student

I am a 2nd year student at Bishop Kenny, and I am highly disappointed. While the teachers and classes are good, the students are very vulgar and their behavior is innapropriate. A lot of students are very disruptive during class.
—Submitted by a student

The staff is caring and helpful. They motivate the students and keep them involved. When the students misbehave the administration calls immediately and handles things in a very professional manner. I think BK strives to do whats best for each and every student. The religious education required is good for everyone regardless of your particular religion. My child enjoyed going there.
—Submitted by a parent

I sadly cannot say that I graduated from this school. My family moved away from Jacksonville and I was forced to attend another high school. From my time at the other school that I will not name, I found Bishop Kenny to be a more challenging place where the faculty expected a lot from the student. While I was there I did not enjoy this, but now that I am in college I appreciated it. This is truly a college prep school meant for those that will pursue higher education.

I'm attending BK right now, 3rd year. I find that the school itself is extremely good along with the majority of the teachers and staff, but te students can be fairly rude, obnoxious, and just flat out mean.
—Submitted by a student

Bishop Kenny is a top notched school which has a very good learning environment for its students. On top of this it has numerous clubs and sports for students to participate in.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from this school a few years back, I won't lie and say it was the best school ever, but I received an amazing education which jump started my future academic pursuits. The teachers and staff genuinely care for the students, the education is top-notched, and the environment allows students to excel. Not to mention it's amazing athletic and extracurricular activities.
—Submitted by a student

I disliked this School Very much for my child. He was unhappy there everyday and received very little help when he needed it. He Attends Bartram Trails this year and is much happier
—Submitted by a parent

Our oldest daughter graduated from Kenny and our youngest attended for 2 years.We recently transferred to another private school in the area.While we were satisfied with the school initially, our satisfication quotient steadilly decreased.The qualifications, attentiveness,concern,education levels, morality,integity and ability of the teachers,coaches and adminstraters left much to be desired. Both of our children attended parochial school all of their lives until we decided to make this move. In hindsight, we wish we would have done so much sooner .It is very sad for us to see how Catholic education in this diocese has declined.We have gone from being its biggest advocates to its biggest detractor.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful School. Lots of involvement and great education. Student
—Submitted by a former student

I am extremely pleased with BKHS. The teachers are great, plenty of extracurricular activities and school spirit is high. I highly recommend it.
—Submitted by a parent

My husband and I have been very pleased with BKHS. My son was placed in Honors classes, and I like the fact that the school offers regular classes, Honors, and AP. There are many clubs and activities available for a variety of interests. BK is well known for its sports, but there are lots of other options as well. Parent involvement is encouraged, and the school does a good job with communication to parents also.
—Submitted by a parent