Gulf Coast High School

As a sophomore & potential Laureate candidate at Gulf Coast High School, this school is phenomenal. It provides many different electives and areas of interest for students to further expand their ideas as to what they want to go to college for (i.e. Medical Academy, Drafting, TV Production, Marketing Academy). The Model UN Team in currently 10th in the nation, marching band having around 375 kids a year with many accolades in both performance and marching, GREAT teachers, as far as AP classes and honors are concerned. The people that I notice that complain the most about Gulf Coast are the kids that don't do ANYTHING and have NO GOALS. By "no goals" I mean, they take all regular classes, think it's funny to fail a class, don't behave, bad influences, and just do not take school seriously and can't wait to get out. When they talk about the "stuck up" people at Gulf Coast, they are mostly talking about themselves. Gulf Coast HIgh School has a wonderful set of teachers and are always willing to help. I actually enjoy going to school. They have not only of variety of classes, AP classes, and electives; but clubs and after-school activities too! Proud to be a Shark :)
--Submitted by a student

Absolutely love the school. Escaping from Palmetto Ridge to GCHS is a dream come true, as the school offers an immensely better learning enviroment, safer campus, dramatically better administration, and many more oppurtunities.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a recent transfer student from another county, and I have to say, what I've experienced so far is phenomenal. After having attended for 3 months, I'm doing better than I had the last 2 years of high school. While they do not offer the kind of variety of classes as my previous school, what they do have is just great. All of my teachers are amazing, and they're genuinely interested in their students and will do anything in their power to help anyone struggling (and they're all AP classes). For the first time in my high school career I am interested in my classes and I look forward to learning the material. This is a good school for DEDICATED students, and it has much to offer. If any one child is struggling, it is because he or she chooses to do so. I don t know all of the teachers, but my younger sister who is a Freshman is taking all regular classes, and even those teachers, she says, are stupendous. We have never experienced this type of student/teacher interaction. Of course, there are kids who will say otherwise, but they must be trying especially hard to fail. Bottom line is: if you want it, they'll help you achieve it.
--Submitted by a student

I am a recent grad. I can't say I liked "school" in general, but I did like Gulf Coast. The school has a large outdoor courtyard, but the indoor portions of the school are completely clean. I had only a few teachers who I could consider "bad", and more who I could call "boring", but overall the teachers were actually pretty good, even if I didn't like their classes at the time. The student body is absolutely not stuck up. Any student who's attended other schools can tell you that this school has no "cliques" and no real bullying or fighting problems. Great extracurricular and academics in general. I honestly didn't like school, but in hindsight, if I had to go through high school again, I would not hesitate to do it at Gulf Coast.
--Submitted by a student

Don't believe these postings. We went through a nasty rezoning hearing where GC students who didn't want to get transferred to a poorer performing school were targeted for all sorts of slander by students of the other school and no doubt, these posts are from them. As a parent in Naples, Gulf Coast is considered one of the best high schools and my son has had amazing educational and extracurricular activities afforded to him while attending there.
--Submitted by a parent

Boring, uneducated, and disgusting. Those are the three words that come to my mind when I hear the name Gulf Coast High School. I am currently a Senior and have attended Gulf Coast all four years of my high school career, and in the years that I've been here I have been extremely dissatisfied with the curriculum, teachers, and students. I am an honor roll student and I have yet to be challenged to where I am actually interested in learning. The teachers are poorly educated and I have sometimes sat in a class where the teacher could not even explain what he or she was supposed to be teaching, and when you do not understand something they get angry at you for asking a question when they are the ones getting paid to answer students' questions. Also, the maintenance is poor. Bathrooms are poorly kept up with. One word: run!!
--Submitted by a student

I am currently a senior at Gulf Coast High. I have attended this school all 4 years of my high school experience. I am actually ashamed to say that I attended this school. The teachers are un-educated and the adminstration is awful. The maintence is extremely poor. Everyday in the bathrooms there is no toilet paper, water on the floor, broken soap dispensers, profanity on the walls, and it smells like death. The school is dirty. It appears as if the floors never even get washed. Students are extremely stuck up and cocky. They do not care about their academics and in result, the teachers don't care either. Half the time we watch movies about pointless things in our classes or have 'free days.' If you are planning on sending your child to Gulf Coast, run as fast as you can.
--Submitted by a student

I last posted in the fall of 2007. With the economic effects being felt, here is my update. While there have been cutbacks, the quality is still good. There are still AP classes and teachers committed to helping the students succeed in the exams. But some teachers are not committed and it is the responsibility of the parent to guide their child and get extra tutoring in those cases. But I still say 5 stars because I am certain all schools are facing the same challenges. Rock solid administration and leadership.
--Submitted by a parent

After 2 years with a student that can be challenging at times, I have to say that Gulfcoast is only ok. There have been times when the administration is too rigid and unwilling to work with us on issues that have arisen. Teachers for the most part are good. My son has felt that you either are in (have money) or are not. This may just be his perception, but in a city with more millionaires per capita than anywhere else, that should not be surprising.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is completing her first year at GCHS after moving from up north. I was very concerned about my kids attending schools in Florida. I am very satisfied with Gulf Coast High and all the programs offered. The only thing I would like to see is a program for the incoming freshman especially those who are new to the state. GA big salute to the teachers.
--Submitted by a parent