Seminole High School

I'm not actually a parent; however, I was a former student of Seminole High School ergo, I believe that I am entitled to speak my opinion. I must say that I enjoyed attending this school for four years. It was an exhilarating experience in both education, fun, and in learning the values of life. There are so many types of students here with various cultural backgrounds. The learning never ends. It is no secret that Seminole High School has a bad reputation, but like someone once said in the overused and trite saying: 'Don't judge a book by it's cover'. I have never once felt unsafe or unhappy being at Seminole. I was a part of numerous extracurricular activities and clubs. Academic Excellence is stressed, and the encouragement of the teachers gives every student something to strive for. Students here have the opportunities to better themselves; what, with the International Baccalaureate Program and Health Academy, along with Advanced Placement Classes and Honors the ability to learn never ends. The atmosphere of the entire school including faculty and staff is one of a 'homey' feel. I don't think anyone who hasn't experienced being a Seminole firsthand should 'put down' the school. I was proud to be a Seminole...I still am.
—Submitted by a former student

I think there are much better schools out there, Seminole H.S. has teachers that aren't that involved with the students as far as them needing help during class....I don't feel they make the classes/schoolwork interesting enough to the kids, no wonder alot of kids don't like going to school...they also need to moniter the so-to-speak 'bullies', kids go through so much just growing up, they don't need kids making them feel worthless, that effects kids for years after highschool, I am 20 and still get butterflies just thinking about seminole high school...there should be more diciplinary action taken....
—Submitted by a former student

SHS still has a long way to go to compete with the other county schools as far as classroom instruction and extracurricular activities are concerned. We always seem to get the short end of the stick as far as budget goes. (What happened to the construction that was slated to begin three years ago? Instead, more portables are brought in.) IB and Health Academy are impressive but regular mainstream instruction is lacking. Our student watches way too many movies and never seems to have homework or reports due. With Karen Coleman at the helm, leadership is strong and very school spirited. I feel it's one of the more conservative schools in the county and the students who attend are the kinds of kids I want my daughter interacting with. If given the choice to move to another school we would stay at SHS. Go Seminoles!

Personally I feel this is the unsafest school in Seminole County. After viewing the campus several time during a year, also seeing for myself students selling drugs on our Middle School campus, fights, language, even hitting parked cars, I feel it is totally unsafe. Even after reporting it several times I was told to bring a camera. I would hope we as parents would take a greater interest in High School as our children are still growing, and changing. Not take the position now that they are in High School they don't matter. I wish to transfer out of Seminole but as this is not an option unless I move, which I feel unfair we had chosen her elementary school and Middle School, we should have been provided the same curtesy over High School. I have tried speaking to the school board and several others, the response was more then dissappointing. I feel they really don't care if you are willing to drive your child to another school or not you have no choice, or was not given a choice because it is the only choice. At this point I feel we are being forced to send my child to this High School, we deserve a choice, or at least the curtsy of a conference. Many may feel I am harsh but I have one child and have seen much with my own eyes. I am not impressed with the school. No respect is shown to the child or the parents. No one wishes to speak to a parent or help one, at least I have found no one yet. I understand now why so many parents opt for home schooling over this school, as I myself know of 9 parents unwilling to place there children in this school, nor have they gotten the curtosy of a responce when coming to them about transfer.

As a family we are very happy with Seminole High. They have a very dedicated and caring staff who are all working to give the students a quality education. The family atmosphere is a reflection of the team spirit all Seminole's strive to exhibit. Great school.

Seminole has it's high points and it's low points. From the outside it is not to pleasing to the eye and it is in a somewhat not good neighborhood but inside students get more of a taste of the real world because they are not babied whatsoever. They see things there that may happen in the real world. There are all types of people there that the students may not get to see in other schools that only include upper-middle class caucasian students or lower class hispanic students or whatever the case may be. Some would see the diversity of seminole as a bad thing but what people need to do is look on the bright side and see what the students get out of the experiences that they have at seminole high school.