Vanguard High School

Our daughter just graduated from the IB program and I cannot say enough about how great the Vanguard experience was for her. We have a great appreciation for the amazing teachers and what they do. Thank you for all your hard work and inspiring these young people to think about their role in the world and just do their best to be good people.
--Submitted by a parent

My child just graduated from the International Baccalaureate program at this school. While some of the faculty and IB administration thought that my child was not IB caliber and perhaps should not complete the program, my child stuck it out. Now with IB diploma in hand, my child is headed off to a great college, well prepared and fortunately well rounded through involvement with the non IB students at VHS. Get involved and stay grounded with the entire experience offered at Vanguard and it will be worth your while.
--Submitted by a parent

The staff and students at VHS has an unique relationship. They care about what happens to each other and families and has shown through their leadership that unity means a lot. Go Knights!!
--Submitted by a parent

Vanguard High is a wonderful school. I graduated in 2005 and feel I have learned a lot. VHS offers a lot of clubs, activites and wonderful programs for your students. IB is a great program, they also offer wonderful Honors and AP classes for those not in IB. If you are putting your child into Vanguard, make sure to get them involved in clubs. There are plenty of clubs they would love: WVHS, Band, Football, Cheerleading,Anchor,Pink ladies, Basketball and track the list goes on and on! Overall I had a great time at Vanguard and would go back in a heart beat!
--Submitted by a former student

The most challenging program in Ocala (meaning the IB program)Excellent for kids whit desire for knowledge.
--Submitted by a parent

I feel Vanguard is geared for the student that is an honor type student or a student that is above average. It does not help those students that have special needs in: Reading or Math. Students that need additional help will suffer and get lost in the shuffle. I have had both types of students at this school. I have had 3 children at Vanguard. 2 of them were honor students and graduated with high honors. The third child had a reading level so low he could not get caught up and the help was just not their. Football was his love and because of his grades he could not play. The system is messed up for needy children. I have seen so many kids fail at this school. Vanguard is no place for those kids with low self-esteem or kids that need that extra push.
--Submitted by Danna, a parent

If you're not in the IB program, its not worth it. Even in the IB program, the choices of courses to pick is very limited, eg - they make you take HL English and HL History, which is a difficult since my daughter is a math/science person. The extracirricular activities are mediocre at best and there is a significant lack of parent involvement.
--Submitted by a parent

Vanguard: is not the nicest school in the area...actually its rather ugly. So, above all, what makes this school any good? Well, the IB program one thing, and the fact that it's hosted in a public school. That diplomma will get you in for free/BIG DISCOUNT in most of Florida's universities. Knowing that the IB is hosted in a public school assures you that the student will be around other students who are striving for an education by their own free will, even if it means going to an otherwise ugly high school!
--Submitted by a former student

Vanguard is an overall great High School. I feel that my children are safe and learning while they are at Vanguard. At Vanguard your child will get to meet great people and have great teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

I feel that this school needs alot of work. Some of the faculty do not have integrity and many show visible dislike of the inner-city youth.
--Submitted by Novel Williams, a former student