Miami Palmetto Senior High School

this school is rather over rated. i switched into the school this year as a junior. it is my third high school in three years. and i must add the worst! yes there is no uniforms which is a students dream now-a-days in public school. but the school is very dirty. the locker i have is located in a hallway that is not accessable during lunch so i cant get my stuff for the afternoon unless i carry it all day. the teachers do not focus on individual students who need more help. they have an attitude as if you dont understand then too bad. my parents have tried to come in several times and are always told to make an appointment but when they call to make an appointment they wait forever. my teachers have spoken to my parents and they are rude and demeaning to them.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter attended Palmetto only three years ago and graduated in 2005 and the school has changed drastically since then. My son now goes there and is finishing up his last year and I'm very concerned with how much this school has depreciated over the past couple years. Weiner has not done anything positive as an administrator and the leadership is diminishing. I was very disappointed when I went in for a counselor appointment last week and they had booked someone else in my place. The school is dirty and the students seem very disenchanted. I can't believe how things are rapidly changing for the worst here. This school definitely needs new administration!
—Submitted by a parent

Good school but you need to be a proactive student to succeed. The large student population will prevent educators from noticing you if you don't make your voice heard.
—Submitted by a student

My son is new to MPSH this year as a freshman. He attended very reputable private school in Hawaii last year, so this a quite a change. He tells me there are 35-40 students in every class. Unsure how this can happen since a was told Florida a state law restricting classroom size to 25. He has been is school over a week and his schedule is still not right. he flew all the way from hawaii to audition for the comprehensive theater program and it was not on his schedule. The buliding where his locker is located is locked down at lunch, so he is unable to get his books for his afternoon classes. Ona positive note, the curriculum is expansive. He is taking an AP european history course which appears to be topnotch and he loves his honors english, math classes, as well as the Theater Program.
—Submitted by a parent

After working for 35 years at Palmetto I can tell you that amount of students attending good universities in our country, our SAT and ACT scores are the highest in Dade county. We have the best AP program in Dade county. But if you don't like it you can try other private schools and pay over $18,000 for a babysitting work we have many educated and caring parents. Why are we an A school if some of you say that we are so bad?

This school is horrible. It is so overcrowded that the teachers cannot recognize their own students even after being in the class for a year. The main office is unorganized and it is nearly impossible to get an appointment with a counselor. I'm so glad my daughter is in SAS Homestead now!
—Submitted by a parent

great school my daughter attend there now my son is following in her footsteps, a little too overcrowded, also lots of spanish speaking students , other than that the school is great.
—Submitted by a parent

What a disappointment. We're misled by the high national ranking and the guidance counselor before we moved here from New York State. We have since learned that the rankings are based on state assessment scores, e.g. FCAT, and all assessments are definitely not equal. We were also distressed to see the lack of parental support in the school activities - evidenced by such things as the extremely poor attendance at school concerts.
—Submitted by a parent

Good school for the self-motivated student, nice mix of academic (AP courses), sports and other activities. Physical plant is dated. Some excellent teachers. Principal Weiner is not too effective. Needs better leadership.
—Submitted by a parent

Miami Palmetto is an average high school. The teachers don't contact parents when the student is having difficulties nor do they return phone calls or emails. There is not an effective monitoring system in place to track students having academic problems. The administration is not readily available or supportive of parent needs. Teachers that I spoke with were rude and demeaning.
—Submitted by a parent

Miami Palmetto High School is a fine school with the potential for excellence. The talent and dedication of the teaching staff is impressive. The level of academic challenges is incomparable for a non-magnate high school with considerable diversity. Opportunities in sports, art, music and clubs abound. There is however, a lack of pride in the school that emanates from the top. It is embarrassing for a high school in an upscale neighborhood to have such deplorable conditions. Administration must demand that custodians and security personnel perform the jobs for which they are compensated. Parents, residents and taxpayers are stakeholders in ensuring that the Principal and Administrators not only offer a high level of education, but also provide a safe and hygienic environment for our students to succeed. It is incumbent upon the school administrators to maintain a physical structure that promotes academic excellence and preserves property values and community pride.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter graduated from this school in 2005 and is now in her Junior year at University of California at Berkeley. The AP classes she took at Palmetto gave her a year's worth of college credits. I took her out of a top notch private school to go to Palmetto and that is where she got the best well-rounded education, including all the activities - sports, clubs, etc. in a very challenging environment.
—Submitted by Susan Brown, a parent

This school is a great school! Even though I won't be attending my senior year because I am moving out of the state, I do recommend this school..The only problem is that the slow is starting to overcrowd because of the students that are not suppose to be going to that school. Two years ago, we did not have as much students as we do now. But besides that, this school has it all!!
—Submitted by a student

Outstanding school! The teachers have been my daughter's finest.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school. Concerned with the fact that too many socioeconomically depressed and minority students are moving in greater numbers. Still, as long as this school is predominantly represented by students from within Pinecrest, then it will be safe and will provide a great environment for kids to study. The water polo team is also great, as well as the Math (mu alpha theta) Team.
—Submitted by Georgette Andrews, a parent

Palmetto is well run with great teachers compared to most public schools, however it has become overcrowded! Also the students at the school can be difficult to swallow at times because of their unrelenting spoiled attitudes. All in all if this school is in your district you are very lucky, however private schools offer the small class sizes with which Palmetto (even in their AP classes) cannot compete.
—Submitted by a parent

The academic program is fair, they have done away with the gifted program which is a detriment to the system. The availability of acitivities is excellent yet competition his fierce since there are so many students. The level of parent involvement is lacking significantly.
—Submitted by a parent

Phenomenal school. Ethnically diverse and great AP program. Would highly recommend.
—Submitted by a parent

My son has been at this school for two years after transferring from a very good private.I have been very pleased with the school so far,My son has taken very challenging classes and the teachers have been excellent. I think this is an excellent school for motivated students.
—Submitted by Gladys Vazquez, a parent

Good academics with many opporunities for AP courses and accelerated/honors courses. Good instruction/challenging homework requirements.
—Submitted by a parent