Mays High School

Something is seriously wrong with this school. It was at one time the school that everyone wanted to send their kids to. Not anymore! The new APS Superintendent and the Atlanta Board of Education need to review this school for a large list of problems including serious problems with the dress code, the counselors, discipline and administration. They should also randomly survey the parents. I have a senior who has to practically beg her counselors for an appointment. One counselor handles one academy, for example...there is a Science & Math Academy and the one counselor is assigned to all four grade levels. This school has almost 1800 students!!! This school must focus on their their students who are nearing graduation more. They seem to treat those in the Science & Math Academy with the utmost respect, and the other students are just there.
--Submitted by a parent

I am an alumnae of B.E. Mays High School. I am a proud member of the Class of 2009! Mays was one of the best choices I could have made. What I want to know from these parents that are claiming that Mays is not an excellent learning institution is how much do you actually attend PTSA meetings, Wednesday conferences, and events? Mays prepared me well enough to get a full ride to Morehouse College. The Administration will only put forth as much effort as you are willing to offer yourself. If you only come to the school to curse someone out, they will not respond positively. Mays is THE top performing school in the district. As an alum, I still go back to Mays and offer goods and services to the school and to organizations. If you have so many negative comments about the school, HELP IT! You waste your time posting comments and not offering your services. Your taxes pay for your child's education. As an APS Alum (K-12), I will ALWAYS stay true to my district and the Blue and Gold! I saw issues with Mays, and I made changes via SGA. I even started a Freshmen-Senior Buddy Mentor Program. Did your kids tell you that? Before you write negative reviews, get involved! Mays High Til I Die!

Former alumni. Sad to see how far the school has fallen from its former glory. Used to be one of the elite schools in the county; no less than a "9" for its Great Schools rating. Now it is a shell of what it was. Those fellow alumni that don't believe me need only go and take a visit. If you don't get turned around and shown the door, you will see that things have clearly changed for the worst. Athletics are still good, but that is where the excellence ends. The band program is no longer the same after the Legend retired. The academies are a mess since H.C. retired. And the discipline from the administration has been completely inconsistent since R.B. left. If this is not turned around quick because of the Good Ol' Boy network/politics, we will be just like "Thug"lass and "Waste"ington in a couple of years.

This school is a great school compared to Douglass and Crim.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very unhappy with the communication at Mays High School. The rules apply to some students and not to others. The dress code needs to be revised immediately! Attendance is poor and accepted at Mays. Parental involvement is only allowed for some parents. A parent can call and/or email Mays, leave a detailed message and phone number for various faculty numerous times and never get communication back. People who are dedicated to their profession, will take the time to call a parent back and should be pleased to have concerned parents. I do not like Mays for my child. We live in the Mays zone and I will try very hard to get an administrative transfer for my child out of Mays.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two daughters at Mays due to rezoning. If it had not been for that I never would have chosen Mays for their curriculum. I think the problem with Mays starts with the head administration - Dr. Smith. He seems so out of touch with the students. I have not seen him interact with the students unless at a sporting event. My youngest daughter didn't know who he was when she saw him at a PTSA meeting, because he is never interacting with the students in the halls. I have never seen him at the events for the arts. It seems that unless it is a sporting event, he is not interested. I don't see how you can expect to have a great school and well rounded students when the head (principal) is not that way.
--Submitted by a parent

My grandson has been attending Mays HS for the past two years and I am very pleased with his experience there. I think the band leader, Mr. Irving, is not only a great teacher, but a wonderful mentor and example to his students. I have read the negative reviews posted on this site by parents and students, but for the most part, some of those leaving negative comments need to brush up on their writing and spelling skills. As for the dress code, I totally approve. It's time our youth learned the difference between dressing for school and dressing for the club. As far as the pants falling down on the student's behinds, those students need to know that style came from prison and sent the message to other male inmates that the individual with their pants down was another man's 'woman', taken as a punk.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter was in this school for 3 days at the begining of the school year 2008-2009. I have never been treated so rudely by the staff and principle as I was at Mays. Besides some other issues of the students and the safety of the students. After the third day she was enrolled at Grady High. BEST CHOICE we ever made.
--Submitted by a parent

Mays is the worst school i have ever attended! From the dress code to the teachers and students, mays is an overrated high school. I am currently attending mays, but I think I'm transferring to Grady or Douglass. Mays is an exprience i don't want to live through ever again!
--Submitted by a student

I am a freshmen at Mays only thing about Mays that I hate is that the dress code and how if you are a ninth grader and you dont pass one of your subjects like math social studies and science if you dont pass that you are getting kept back and do the same classes over
--Submitted by a student