Leavenworth Senior High School

Best high school in the county. It has rigorous classes for students who want to be challenged. This HS has the most AP classes, highest quality of teachers, most caring and engaged counselors, wonderfully involved parents, and motivated students. Results of this can be seen in the number of students accepted into the best institutions for higher learning in this country. For example, this year s class of seniors has four students who have already been accepted into West Point. How many other schools in the STATE can meet that kind of quality? If you re moving here and trying to decide which high school to place your student in, select the best Leavenworth High School.
—Submitted by a parent

I attended LHS and graduated with the class of 2008. I actually was able to graduate early in December which allowed me the opportunity to jump start my college education. You have to be a student who is willing to apply themselves. I took a few A.P. english classes and felt they were focused and prepared me well for my college experience. There are always problems in a school and some incidents are exposed and make the school appear worse than it is. I will say, when I went, Mr. Parker was making some major and positive changes.

I am a LHS graduate and I had a wonderful experience. There are so many clubs and activities to participate in, including many that are award winning and nationally ranked.From experience I know LHS is also very accommodating to new students and counselors seek to help students succeed.There are many class choices and everyone can find a place to fit in. LHS has a reputation as being an old, outdated and dangerous school, but I feel this is unjustified. I always felt safe and the new renovations are almost complete. If you want to succeed at LHS, you most certainly can but like any school, you have to put in the effort. LHS has all the tools necessary for success and many students leave LHS to attend great colleges such as West Point, MIT, Johns Hopkins University, KU and K-state. My only complaint: some AP classes are not really AP level.
—Submitted by a student

Excellent school with teachers who care. School facilities being upgraded. Principal is a strong leader.
—Submitted by a parent

LHS is a bad school. They need to work on the way they group the classes. The gifted students are often placed in bleow average classes with the kids who are unwilling to try unwilling to learn and unwilling to listen. It does nothing other then hamper the learning process for both levels of students. If LHS would seperate the students it wold allow differnet styles of learning to be applied,but they don't have the money. And the school is filled with thugs and rug users
—Submitted by a student

As a former teacher at this school, I can without doubt say this is one of the worst schools in the state of Kansas. In the last four years, they have had three principals, nine assistant principals and an incredible amount of teacher turnover. Until this district gets decent leadership, LHS as well as all the other schools in the district will continue their decline. If you are new to the area, I urge you do not send your kids to this district.
—Submitted by a teacher

We are an awesome school. The staff works hard to improve our mind and strengthen our weaknesses. We try hard to succeed and become better people. We have an impressive JROTC program and we all participate in clubs and extra curricular activities.
—Submitted by a student

I'm an alumni of LHS and I got an excellent education there. I was well prepared for my college. My gifted teacher helped me expand my horizons beyond KU and K-State and wrote me a recommendation that helped me stand out and get a scholarship. I have to agree that the school needs air conditioning but I hear the town passed a bond issue so I have high hopes for it.

this school is ok but this is from a student point of view yes its an ok school but is old and needs air conditioning and i agree with you guys on acadimics but even most of the theacher are saying that the acadimics in lhs are dumb because a 60 percent is passing and my wourld geo teacher said they might lower it to 40% as passing wich makes us dumb but there are really bright students that stand out all the time but there is know help for the people that need help like a extra class or something like it to help them and the classes are way to big we have 18 kids we had to bring in three extra desks and one other bad thing is the small hallways (math hallway) from:(2009-2012 freshmen) i will have to dill with it (Go staff)
—Submitted by a student

I am a parent of 2 LHS graduates (1989 and 2006). I also have a senior at the school today on track to graduate in May 2008. LHS has a wide range of student and teacher talent with both extremes accounted for. Mr. Elliot (Drama teacher) and Ms. Schukman (English teacher) are both phenomenal role models, hard working, care about student learning, and have made the high school experience memorable for my children. The downside of the school is the building itself is very old and it lacks air conditioning in many of the rooms; resulting in many heat days in August. I find it extremely hard to believe that in the 21st century, a modern HS does not have air conditioning in Kansas!
—Submitted by a parent

Yes, the school is old but don't judge the book by the cover. I have two children that have attended LHS. I must say that I am satisfied with their academic development. As with all student and school relationships, students get out it what they put into it. My sun scored 26 on his ACT and is going to college on academic scholarship. His graduating class received over 3 million in combine awards and scholarships. Not Bad.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent academic programs for bright students and opportunities to pursue almost any interest!
—Submitted by a parent

Every year children from Leavenworth excel and go on and attend the top colleges in the nation. The school provides many opportunities for children of all levels of ability to do well and I am skeptical of parents who say that their children's failings were because of the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I had a child graduate in 2006 and currently have a child attending Leavenworth High School and have been pleased with the school. I have been particularly pleased with the efforts of the principal to improve the school. It offers many activities for the children and the environment is safe. Like any school, there are many great teachers, and then some that are not so great. Overall, I was very please with my child's education.
—Submitted by a parent

A prison city does not give rise to academically excellent schools, however, out of 2 children, 1 did exceptionally well & the other not. My point is that it is up to your child . LHS is doing the best they can without a lot of support financially and the majority of parents are not involved. Then again, consider the population...
—Submitted by a parent

Terrible school not much safety and options(to move about in the school), not any good sports. Just very sad place to go to. Dont recommend going to that school for anyone. Overcrowed and over expensive.
—Submitted by a student

I have 2 children in this school. It is over crowded and in bad need of updating. It is terrible that a school of this size can't even have their own sports complex. On the upside, the teachers are wonderful and seem to really care. Academically they are way ahead of most of the schools we've been in. The private school in the area has to send them to LVNWTH for certain classes. Looking forward to the new principal!
—Submitted by a parent

Terrible school! Do not send your child to LHS if they have ADHA, they will do nothing for them! I had to send one to another school because it was so bad. I have had two children attend this school and had troubles with both, wish I would never had sent them there.
—Submitted by a parent

Terrible school! Not interested in home values that are taught to our children. Too many students for the town size. Favoritism is definitely given to students who participate in sports! VERY SAD!!
—Submitted by a parent

My son will graduate from LHS this spring, and has earned a full-ride academic scholarship to KU. He spent all four years of high school here and LHS is by far the superior school compared to the school he previously attended. I feel the strength of the school are the teachers, who I would compare with any others. The facilities need work. The building has had five additions, the older parts are poor, the newer sections are decent. The student body is transcient, with something like 25% rollover each year, which could account for some of the poor scores. Other area schools have their selling points, but if I had to do it all over again I would definitely send my son here again!
—Submitted by a parent