Prairie Ridge High School

This is the 2nd year in a row they have class room sizes for my child that are higher than stated to expect. When my child started Kindergarten they had dropped a class due to enrollment - but then due to 'last minute additions' the class size jumped from 18 to 22 and ultimately as 23 children to a single teacher for the formative Kindergarten year. The same excuse given this year, except my child starting as 1 of 24 students for 1st Grade. Prairie Grove has been highly rated for previous years, but this would be the start of a trend that could absolutely bode poorly for the future performance of students going through this school where classes are so large for these younger years. I understand classes of this size and a little larger for 4th or so an up - but not for kids that are 5yrs to 7yrs. Very concerned as feel very strongly my child was disadvantaged vs. friends of mine with children who had less than 15 kinds in their public school K and1st grade classrooms. To add to this, they allow very limited parental involvement in the school and even that is by lottery. This also contributes to current concerns with the longer term tend trend.
--Submitted by a parent

prarie ridge rocks my socks this is a school for fun and for learning it is a great inveroment for you soon kids to have this school if you go to it you wont regreat it!!!
--Submitted by a student

My two children graduated from Prairie Ridge. The school has an excellent curriculum for college bound students with many Honors and Advanced Placement classes. One of my children was able to accumulate 54 hours of college credit by taking advantage of the AP program and writing nine exams during his junior and senior years. The academic environment is very challenging at the Honors level and provides an excellent foundation for the rigor to be expected when a student moves on to the college level. This strong educational foundation allowed both children to earn technical (finance and engineering) degrees at top universities in four years or less Prairie Ridge has a fine staff, strong leadership, wide ranging extra curricular programs and top notch academics. It has everything the college bound student needs to be successful.
--Submitted by a parent

Four of my children graduated from P.R.H.S. Presently, two have graduated from college. One is in medical school and the other is awaiting acceptance to the same school. The younger one is doing extremely well in the undergraduate program. Thank you P.R.H.S. for conveying a desire to learn and to academically excel. My on complaint is 'thanks for all these tuition bills'.
--Submitted by a parent

I have a freshman at Prairie Ridge who just loves it. I have a daughter that graduated from Prairie Ridge who did very well in school and athletics. I have never heard any of my children complain about school. They both like it!!! I have been inside 'all' the Crystal Lake High Schools and Cary Grove and this is by far the best of all the schools. Students who's came to PR with honor rolls from other schools who did not do well at PR and who's parents blame the school for their kid's poor grades should look in the mirror and say maybe my kid is not as smart as I thought? Is PR that tough? PR is an excellent school and have the test scores to prove it!!!
--Submitted by a parent

Not the greatest of schools. I had to have my student trasnfer out of this school because of the bullying going on.
--Submitted by a parent

As a former student, I can honeslty say that Prairie Ridge was the best thing that ever happened to me. This may sound somewhat dramatic, but prior to PR I had a low C average, and had no plans on going to college. At PR I found a love for learning; soon my low Cs turned into low As, and am now at Loyola University in Chicago where I am well on my way to a degree in Secondary Education (inspired by my former educators at Prairie Ridge). The classes (particularly the AP programs) are challenging and well organized, and the (majority of) teacher are qualified, helpful, and friendly (albeit quite young).
--Submitted by a student

Anyone who is disappointed in any way in Prairie Ridge High School, needs to take a look at what they are saying in these reviews. The negative reviews about PR are very isolated situations. The test scores at Prairie Ridge are the highest in the area, and that is why real estate prices jump over 20% when you enter Prairie Ridge zoning. Academics is not an issue at PR. The students are definitely from a wealthier area of town, and that is something to be noted. But I have had no bad experiences with Prairie Ridge, and am yet to encounter anyone that has. Every school has its quirks, but PR is a great learning environment, and has the test scores to prove it.
--Submitted by a parent

I just graduated from Praire Ridge High School and I thought it was excellent academically. They offered classes many schools do not because of the level of difficulty and succeeded in them with no problem. Although PR thrives academically the guidance counselors do not and I have only seen the principal once in my entire high school career let alone heard him comment on anything.
--Submitted by a former student

I had a high honors student attending PR for 2 years. Our experience at this school was appalling and disappointing! When looking to them for leadership and guidance we recieved excuses and tolerance for bad behavoir. The safety of their students should have been their number 1 priority. It was not! I know of several students whom have chosen to transfer out of this school. They now thrive in an healthy, safe and academically challenging enviornment. If you are looking for a school with morals and integrity, keep looking you will not find it at Prairie Ridge. They have none.
--Submitted by a parent