King High School

I am currently a student there and have been going for about two years now. The school is horrible. When the teachers try to enforce rules, the innocent get in trouble, the IB program gets everything good whereas traditional gets left overs or the used things. You might as well bring a bucket of pop corn to watch the (near) daily fights. The school is just dirty, and horrible. I had wonderful grades and in a matter of a year, my life was turned around completely just by the negativity in this school. The teachers just don't care, and seriously, if you're white... don't go there. You will be used and taken advantage of. If there is any other option and you actually care about your child.... do not send them to this school, unless they will be in IB.
--Submitted by a student

I'm a current student at King and it is a very bad school. It is dirty, poor, and the curriculum is pretty horrible. Firstof all, all of the money the school gets goes to the IB program. They all have new books while everyone, even honors and AP classes, in the traditional program get their old books or just have to deal with books from 10-15 years ago. The teachers are on the lazy side and the school does not enforce the "zero tolerance policy". Kids fight all the time and don't get in trouble. I myself have been teased because of my race. If you're white, this school is not for you. The teachers know this and do nothing. The school itself is dirty. I'm not even sure if we have a janitor., although the IB hall is always nice. I have been to another high school before and I enjoyed going to tha school. I was proud to go to that school. I'm not proud of KIng. If I had knwon that King was like this, I would have picked a different school. King needs to follow the district policy and also need to pay more attention to the traditional students.
--Submitted by a student

This school has been nothing good in my life over the course of my four years. I found it rather impressive that king had such a high rating on the site, but I realized that it was obtained only from IB students. From my point of view, the school lacks good leadership and needs a new principle. Most of the Staff tends to be on the lazy side. I learned don't drive a car to school that costs over 10,000 dollars because it will get decimated out of hatred. I realize one star seems harsh, but unless your a student going into the IB program it is Unsatisfactory. Spend the extra 30 seconds and drive down the road to Tampa Bay Tech.
--Submitted by a student

I am currently a student at King High School, and in my two years at King, have found that this school has its pros and cons. To begin, I am a student in the IB program at King, which is a phenomenal program with a great director and countless experienced and caring teachers. Although the workload is challenging and unbearable at times, there is a great sense of community amoung IB students, teachers, and parents. However, despite all the great things that IB has to offer, the school is in a horrible area, and can be quite dangerous at times. There are arrests, threats, often fights. Do not send your child here if you would like them to be in a safe and discliplined environment. King, built in the 1960's, is in a shameful state of disrepair. Thankfully though, if King High were updated and safer, it would recieve an A+!
--Submitted by a student

Im a student in the IB program. The work is hard and challenging but it is worth it. I love the IB culture. Yes, it has a bad location and yes riding the bus is not fun. I say from experience.
--Submitted by a student

As a local resident for over 25 years I would like to comment on the 'poor location' mentioned in several comments. When the school was built, it was not a poor location, but the area has changed. It may be an older school, but it has the latest books and has a high degree of modern technology available for students. King High is a very good school and does a tremendous job working with the very diverse population that it serves. My experience with King is as a staff member, a parent of children who have graduated from King, as the spouse of a teacher and as a community member -- I have viewed all sides. King High has an underserved poor reputation but most of the faculty/staff and students love it.
--Submitted by a staff

I am currently a teacher at King and find that it does get a bad rap because of location, but it is not the only school in this nation that is in a bad location and it is a school with many positive points. I have not only taught there for over 10 years but both my sons and I and my husband graduated from there. The academics are above par in most areas and the elective departments are some of the best (the band program is a perfect example of that.) Athletics are strong in some areas, weak in others but most of our teachers (and all our administrators) are there for the betterment of our students. I am proud of my work and my work location. It's too bad that most of what we hear about our schools are only the negatives.
--Submitted by Proud member of KHS Staff, a teacher

King is not about what type of neighborhood its in or the IB program, Im in traditional and I learn alot, I have band practice mondays and thursdays and then fridays I have to perform at the football games, thats hours taking off of my homework/study time, but you know what I still manage to get it done and with a passing grade, its the same with IB students, they're very taleneted but just because you're not in the IB program dosent mean your not smart or your a bad child.
--Submitted by a student

My son was in the ib program at king. The ib program requires a lot of home study. Bottom line: the king hs ib is an academically demanding program at an older poorly located school.
--Submitted by a parent

I have 1 that graduated from King IB and one that will enter IB in August; IB is great for the focused pre-college student; definetly alot of hard work and time. College offers roll in though; I have a good experiences with teachers but the athletic dept stinks! The county officials need to hear this one. School is in a negative neighborhood; however, when our children go to college they must be socially able to deal with all cultures. By their senior year, the kids seem to be a close group because they all have stuck it out together.
--Submitted by Molly Wyskocil, a parent