Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Good helpful teachers who take the time to help students plus a good variety of AP & honors courses for advanced students.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved into this area specifically for this specific school and have 3 kids who are currently attending or soon to attend. Wow, if this is a 10, I would fear to see a 5. There are lots of benefits at this school due to it's size including wide array of course offerings and lots of extra activities. Problem is that "average" kids cannot truly benefit from the range of these options as it is a very, very competitive school where "average" kids can get sort of lost. And, I am not overstating this .. the school would be better if the guidance staff just stayed home. There is absolutely NO support, advice, assistance from this department and such is critical in a high school. They arrange a couple of college fair nights and leave kids to figure it all out on their own. It is abysmal. Teachers are the usual range of excellent to adequate ... a few who really care and go the extra mile ... lots and lots who collect the paycheck. We have found precious few teachers there who are available outside of class hour for extra help (many tutor for pay .. I have actually had to PAY my son's teacher as a tutor for extra help). I am underwhelmed and we are changing schools.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the worst school I ever sent my children to I moved to the area for this school dont fool your self by the rating. From the top of the chain on down the staff have no intrest in helping at all they are there only for a pay check.Ask around before you put your kids in this school.I give them1 star
—Submitted by a parent

I have been nothing but disappointed by this very very overrated high school. Lazy and uncaring teachers and very rude and disrespectful staff is abundant. The students are loaded up with homework and given difficult tests that have nothing to do with the homework. The teachers chat about their personal problems and social life rather than teach. Thank God my daughter is bright and a good student because if she weren't she would be failing.
—Submitted by a parent

MSD is a great learning environment for our son. Teachers help before and after school for those who need extra attention, there are many clubs, and the AP classes are harder than UF (we have compared.) If you get an A here - you have truly earned it! Other schools we have experienced give out an A like it is expected. Too bad it can hurt a GPA, though, because it is so tough. Some extra/partial credit in some math classes would be prudent. The admin is very helpful when needed, and to talk about colleges.
—Submitted by a parent

TERRIBLE TERRIBLE TERRIBLE 2 THUMBS AND FEET DOWN i went there i moved here from new york and the kids are just like the teachers and adminstrater all they do is smoke pot and talk about it its a zombie zone and there all stuck up they think they have money their parents are in debt up to their eyeballs no education teachers are useless and i transferred out to coral glades il never walk on that campus definitely an F rated school
—Submitted by a student

Have you noticed that the good reviews are students - current and alums - but parents seem to have a very different opinion. My child is a very smart person but got sidetracked at MSD and so had to transfer to homeschool. Smart students are not encouraged to excel unless they fall into AP/gifted group. MSD dropped from A to B grade this year and if they have any hope of getting back to an A grade, they need to figure out a way not to let peer pressure cause a smart student to fail, and instead find ways to encourage them. Parents do not see how personality changes when they get to school around their peers. My child has gone from a C/D student to a straight A student in homeschool. In addition, teachers in Parkland tend to assume that because a student is not Asian or Caucasian, they cannot perform at a higher level. MSD will continue to fail and our Parkland schools which we are so proud of need to recognize that we belong to a global community. Parent involvement is an important factor that separates bad schools from good/great school. MSD has great parent involvement within a certain clique/group. Hope this does not mean special treatment for their children.
—Submitted by a parent

About 1/2 the teachers are B+ or better....the other half are typical...school boasts about being great. ha their counselors are terrible...bullying goes on and they "high light the students that complain which puts them at risk, and they bus in kids from F schools and put them all in the same class where they take over! 3 years straight we have had 2 teachers not use the tools the others do,...example. we had to device if student could move ahead with advanced math and yet the teacher had not posted a grade from September to March. tyhey are not even allowed to do homework in Detention, how stupid
—Submitted by a parent

I have never seen a school that discourage more the study like this school. Teachers confuse strictness and challenge with inconsistent, subjectiveness. Students live in a endless terror and stress waiting for the next unpredictable, subjective response or request of the teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

This high school is a joke. Many people who have only lived in Florida love the school, because they don't know what they're missing. I have lived in 8 states and know what real school is. The courses were far below where children should be. I guess if you just want your child to go to school inside the state of Florida, going to this school with incompetent councilors will probably be just fine, but it really does anything but prepare for college. The social atmosphere is non-existent. My daughter said she never saw the principal once. I have lived in 16 school districts and NEVER have I been this unimpressed. If I could give 0 stars, I would, I'm just trying to help you before making the big mistake of sending your child here.
—Submitted by a parent

I have heard this school called "The Mini College" and now I know why. Now that my son has graduated, I can say without fear of retaliation, that most of the teachers are lazy. The kids pretty much teach themselves just like in college. I have only come across a few really exceptional teachers in the four years of attendance. One of the exceptional teachers was from the ESE department.
—Submitted by a parent

MSD is a great school. The teachers try their hardest to teach us. It is not true that if you are not an AP student, they don't want you there. I am not an AP student and the teachers still try to motivate me to do my best. One of my favorite things about MSD is the variety of classes. I have taken Drama, Creative Writing, Guitar. There's Forensics, Psychology, and many other great classes. Unfortunately they have cut Creative Writing, Forensics, and German. And they nearly cut Photography. Other than that. I love MSD.
—Submitted by a student

this school is absolutely horrible . the teaches could care less about there students , the administration sais that they have all around school security ... dont belive it . on a daily basis i have witnessed kids form marjory stoneman douqlas just walk off of the school campus durinq school hours . its unbelivable . uqh it makes me sick .
—Submitted by a student

This is my thirs child sttending douglas. This neighborhood school has tons of parental involvement which is welcome. The school team spirit is palpable as you walk around the nighborhood. The teachers are stellar, very accomplished and the younger ones are very eager and bring a fresh face to the school. The staff is very approachable. Guidance is really on top of things this year. I continue to be impressed.
—Submitted by a parent

great academics as well as extracurricular opportunities!
—Submitted by a parent

I recently graduated from Douglas... honestly I loved the four years I spent there. I played several sports there and it is a school that fosters competition on the field and in the classroom. There are plenty of phenominal teachers and it is a great place for a student to develop into a young adult. I hope there are more people who feel the way I do about that school. C/O 2009 show me some EAGLE PRIDE! p.s. go lady eagles soccer & flag football!
—Submitted by a student

I am a parent. At first I thought the school was too big and the students would get lost in the system. I have come full circle. The teachers are caring and really enjoy the students and are willing to help them in every way. The academics are amazing and these students go on to some of the finest universities in the country. They do well there, because they earned every point at Douglas. They worked very hard for every A and B. They aren't pampered, so they are ready for the real world. Mrs. Bloom tells the students the truth about the admission process. It is competitive. Douglas is over-crowded so sometimes the administration can appear overwhelmed but if you treat them with respect they will treat you with respect. They put up with a lot.
—Submitted by a parent

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High is an amazing school. Not only does it send a number of kids to top schools in the country and state, it provides a nurturing environment, great academics and a wonderful social life. I'm a senior in the school right now, and I am taking five AP classes. The personal attention you receive is incredible, teachers really *do* care. Anyone who has the determination to succeed, can do it here at MSD - as opposed to other schools where there is more unhealthy competition. Of course, MSD IS competitive in every way, but there is no unhealthy competitive feel like schools of Pine Crest, and magnet schools (where they really do burn out kids for no reason!). People tend to help each other here rather than step over you. Come to MSD, and you'll have an amazing four years of your life. :)
—Submitted by a student

I'm a senior at the schools and I must say that it is excellent. Although some may not think so, it is completely obvious when you look at the other schools in the area. Douglas has the broadest selection of AP courses and courses in general, and has very strong academic clubs. My teachers have all been good (especially the AP teachers, who devote a great amount of energy towards preparing us for college and helping us out academically), and despite what people say me and my friends always manage to find a seat in the cafeteria without a problem, even if we get there around 5 minutes into lunch (although usually there are only 4 or 5 of us, a large group may be trouble). Sometimes I eat outside just for a change of scenery, and the school is not as dirty as some claim (especially for an open-air school).
—Submitted by a student

My son will be graduating in May 2009, and he has had a wonderful fours years at this school. Stoneman Douglas High offers some of the most rigourous AP classes in math and science, whereas students at other schools do not get the opportunity to take these college level classes. The teachers are wonderful, and for the most part, truly love their job.
—Submitted by a parent