Center Grove High School

I hated my time at CGHS because the students are very arrogant and ignorant to life outside their perfect bubble. Most students are very spoiled and self-centered. The school has no diversity (it's 96% white), religion, or background. Academic funds are lacking and programs get cut a lot. Thy considered cutting the school nurse and cut seeral language prorams, but the football team got a multi-million dollar locker room so they would not have to walk from the locker room they already had inside to the field. Administative staff is very rude. There are a few good teachers but it is a cold enviroment where you are a number, not a person. If you are not white, an athlete, from an upper middle class family, and spoiled to have the best cars, clothes, and electronics without having to work for them you will fit in great here. If you are like the majority of young adult and have to work you will be outcasted as poor. I actually come from an uppr-middle class family, but they don't hand things to me and students found that abusive because they have no idea what reality is. I am at a prestigious 4 year university now and spend most of my time unlearning what I was taught at CG.
--Submitted by a student

Most people at Center Grove have a 'better than most' mentality. The school is dominated by sport-fanatic teachers and parents, and while the sports teams are among the best in the state, the education and the experiences that teenagers should be getting in high school are an abomination. Anyone that doesn't fit the 'jock' mold is looked down upon by the school's many cliques. If you decide to send your children here, I hope they want to be a professional ahtlete, because otherwise you are wasting your money.

My kids like CGH because they think it's a lot of fun, but I love it because of the high quality education they're getting.
--Submitted by a parent

My kids love CGHS. I love the fact that they will graduate with an associates degree.
--Submitted by a parent

The average CG student is white and comes from an upper middle class conservative family. He/she is probably involved in 1-2 sports in addition to a club. Center Grove is an excellent school. Cliques are plentiful and many of the kids come from very 'well off' families. The affluence does not foster many 'snobby' kids. Most of the kids there are friendly. Athletics as well as extra- curriculars such as band and choir are taken very seriously! CG enjoys one of the premier athletic programs in the state and nationally reknowned music programs. In my opinion the academic achievements of the school can be misleading. I believe they are the result of good parents pushing their kids towards academic goals rather than specific teaching methods implemented by teachers. Nonetheless, Center Grove does an excellent job of preparing kids for college. There is a place there for everyone.

CG has grown to be enormous in the last decade. The area has taken off & is full of money along with parents who push their kids to the limit. If you have money-it will not go un-noticed & your child will excel. On the other-hand, the acedemics really are great & the block scheduling is rewarding to the students, since they have only 4 periods per day to concentrate on. Although it used to be known as the school in the cornfield & in fact is quit large now, the diversity has not caught up. Sadly, it seems many of the teachers there are very much behind the times, especially techology wise & not aware of what really is going on out in the real world, both in technology and diversity. 1 of my children did not care for CG schools, but the other enjoys it immensley.
--Submitted by a parent

I am suprised by the reviews I read. My sophomore child has 'special needs', does not participate in sports and has had exceptionally caring and involved teachers and guidence staff. I feel the needs of children come first. Acedemics is stressed, as a re co-curricular activites( and that is what colleges expect). I attended school in several states and college in yet another. While I believe the curriculum could be more challengeing, the problem lies with the federal government and not Center Grove schools. Parent involvemnt opportunites are enormous, and not limited to sports. A happy parent.
--Submitted by a parent

CG is dominated by its sports culture, especially boys sports, and the marching band. Academics run a poor third in the hierarchy. The administration has very low academic expectations and this mirrors the views of the local community.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very 'clicky' school, but everyone usually stays to themselves. The teachers do give individual attention, and are more than happy to help if asked. You are being challenged everyday and at times it can be overwhelming. Now living in Florida, I wish I was back at CG. CG is by far the best school and I am honored to have attended there!
--Submitted by a former student

I have been in the Center Grove School system my entire academic career, so I know a few things about the school.I always felt challenged because there is a standard for the most part here that if you aren't in honors classes, you are an underachiever. So whether or not you are in a particular type of class, people are pushing you to do well one way or the other. Compared to other high schools, Center Grove has numerous core classes as well as electives to choose from.It is a very large school at first and it is extremely easy to get lost in the crowd. But they don't coddle you in college, why should they in high school? There is an emphasis to get involved in extracurricular activities, but the students would most likely need to take some initiative as far as joining. --'05 grad
--Submitted by a former student