Round Lake Senior High School

You can really tell the school is striving to be the best it can be. One complaint that I have is that my children who do try hard in school say that many times the classes are disrupted by unruly students! I feel that there should be tougher concesquences for disrupting a class. If the student continues, alert the parents and dismiss the student from class. It is not fair to the students that want to learn, to have to put up with distractions!
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a student at RLSH, class of 2011. I could honestly say that it is a preety decent school. RLSH has many ups as well as downs, including various sports and clubs. The teachers could be a little more understanding and not make one feel like an outsider. Many classes include potery, computer keyboarding, creative writing, ect.
—Submitted by a student

Round Lake High School is a great school. The teachers and students work hard. In the past it has been so easy for people to say bad things about the school. I wish that people would see all of the good going on there. There are so many kids that are really great people. This is a very diverse school and I never see anyone without a friend.
—Submitted by a parent

The HS has improved greatly since both the state and Dr. Brierton took over (~5 years ago). The attitude of the personnel and the students has become more positive, hopeful and driven to achieve. With more funds available, goals seem more attainable and optimism is on the rise. The basic education has always been of good quality, as evidenced by the numerous RLHS grads who get into top colleges every year. With more money now coming in, the education can be more enriched, the extra-curricular activities & coaching staffs can expand, enabling us to get better press. Dr. B. is moving on to a position closer to home, but we will continue to bring back the ROAR Hooyah!
—Submitted by Elsie, a parent

Sadly, I cannot say anything good about District 116. I found that 116 is not supportive of students with special needs.
—Submitted by T. Luther, a parent

I have 2 children in RLHS and 2 children in the Middle school. The schools here are not bad, but it is the parents involvement in the students education that counts. ALL 4 of my children are on Honor roll. Thank god for the teachers and their commitment to these kids.
—Submitted by a parent

It is a really decent school at best. The staff has worked hard to improve it from 4 years ago.
—Submitted by a student

I am a 1999 graduate and I am currently working on my masters degree. Round Lake High School was, and is, an outstanding school. While it might have lacked all the bells and whistles newer schools have it did have the most important thing a school needs, dedicated teachers and staff. Teachers at RLHS would go out of their way to make sure a student grasped the concepts being taught and wouldn't proceed until everyone understood. They made learning enjoyable and were enthused to be teaching. I enjoyed all 4 years at rlhs, I was involved in many sports, band, made many friends, and graduated with a 3.0 GPA. Instead of insulting the school and the teachers maybe the parents should take a look at themselves and their children. People are quick to judge and blame the school when the responsibility also lies with the students and parents. I a proud to be an alumnus of RLHS. Go Panthers!
—Submitted by Katie Ryan, a former student

I graduated from this institution in 1999 and am currently working on my specialist degree in school psychology. I believe that speaks mountains about how much school has impacted my career choice. Past comments made about a student doing better at a previous school, ignorant. First that is a tough transition for any student that is not contingent on the school. Therefore, having been a member of the panther pride team I support many of the teachers there, and hope for their sake that parents that have a problem with certain aspects of this school don t have a problem with voting yes to referendums that have constantly failed in the past. Helping the schools of today will help the future students, policymakers, leaders, and so on of tomorrow.
—Submitted by Jeremy Anderson, a former student

I am currently a student at RLSHS, and I don't honestly find it half bad. As an honor student, I find myself friends with more honor students than not, and I notice that we strive to try and be better. But I look at my friends that are in regular classes, and notice that they don't care, and that their favorite phrase is 'What's it matter, a college isn't going to look at Round Lake.' The thing is, most colleges would if we could just get these kids to step up to the plate! They have the potential, they just don't have the faith of their fellow students, teachers, and probably parents as well, to push them to their fullest. Maybe if we could get the parents involved, we could get the kids involved, and raising morale and crushing the horrid rumours of our school.
—Submitted by Kristen Hall, a student

I think that most people don't really give this school a chance. Although because of previous and or maybe present financial problems this school deserves to be appreciated. There is some really great staff here and most people here at the school have the highest hope for everything this school starts. The thing I like more about this school is that when this school starts something we all work together to try and finish it. For example our recycling program here is going so well. The newspaper even appreciated that. Not only are we helping ourselves but the environment as well. This school may not be the best to some but I think that in order for someone to judge something they have to at least experience it. I am currently going to be a junior this year and I can tell you that i'm looking forward to it.
—Submitted by Danny Vargas, a student

I am a current student at RLHS and I also have to agree that the school has potential yet it lacks the strength and determination to achieve greatness. Perhaps with the passing of years and I'm not talking 4 or 8, but more the school will climb into a different phase. True there are some exceptionally amazing teachers but 4 or 6 out of 30 something isn't that great. Teachers who let students cheat on exams, smoke in the washrooms and so on isn't 'Panther Pride'. The lack of parent support is also an important factor, that plus the students not really caring about their studies and lack of extra curricular activities is of no benefit to the growing youth of America. Still my best wishes to those entering that school and to the staff and administration.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from R.L. in 1999 and I don't believe it was 1/2 bad. I made a lot of aquaintances and made a few long term friends. The teachers were very eager to help me if I ever needed them and were very involved in being concerned for my grades. Yes the dances could have been better and the extra curricular activities too but all in all, R.L. wasn't so bad. If I could do it all over and have the choice to go somewhere else, I'd probably say no. The comments about too many Hispanics is also bogus...it's called cultural diversity!
—Submitted by a former student

I graduated from RLHS in 1994. I can't believe the ratings that this school has received. As far as the teaching staff is concerned, I consider myself lucky to have been able to attend classes taught by these exceptional educators. They had so much heart, dedication, and intelligence that they willingly shared with students every day. I am currently a teacher in Iowa and the amazing teachers at RLHS are the reason for this. The review that remarked on the hispanic population at the high school was extremely offensive. The population of the school may change, but the integrity of the staff, students and community are not compromised by this. They grow! My suggestion, instead of unjustly accusing the staff for the supposedly terrible conditions...open your wallets and support the activities that are lacking. I will always be proud to say that I graduated from RLHS.
—Submitted by Kathleen Kelley, a former student

I believe this school has some potential, but it doesn't have the beef to get it there. They have a very good principal, but no supporting cast. The school on average smells like a gutted fish twice a week and none of the lunch workers speak english so it is very hard for most of us to buy lunch. I guess it works out, because half of the school is hispanic. There are not many extracurricular choices and more than half of the staff is lazy. The previous review was correct, the toilets in the english hall do not have doors anywhere and it is just sitting there, like a potty in a barren desert, but it is okay most of the time the bathrooms are locked and no one can use them. Godspeed, Goodwork.
—Submitted by Rob Cockerham, a former student

My kid was doing better at his other school than now! I guees what im trying to say is that, schools in round lake need better teachers or government involvement so they can educate more the kids.
—Submitted by Julie Smith, a parent

I'm a senior at RLHS and this year is the best I have ever had in my 4 yrs in being there the teachers and staff and most importantly the principal are doing an outstanding job. My only bad comment is the bathrooms are horrible the toilets leak and the stall doors are gone other than that I have nothing else to say but keep up the good work.