Waggener Traditional High School

To add to my last review, after my son left Waggener and went to St. X, which I had to take a loan out to pay for being a single mom, he excelled! He made the honor roll every semester. The sad reality is that JCPS students are funded more $s per student/year than what the tuition is for a Catholic high school! Poor leadership and zero accountability, in my opinion are to blame. Get the unruly, intimidating thugs out of that school and you may just be able to turn it around. I challenge JCPS to truly make this school zero tolerance. I would bet, if they did, they would see a huge improvement and much better reviews. Again, IF JCPS held every high school to the standards of Manuel, we would have one of the best public school systems in the Country. Sadly, they do NOT hold all schools to their "zero tolerance" policy. I saw that first hand at Waggener. It made me sick to pay my property taxes knowing that the very people who were to utilize those dollars and help my son gain an education, did nothing but cower to the disrespectful & rude students that attend that high school. It's definitely a case of the patients running the asylum!
—Submitted by a parent

I strongly regret attending this school. I did not learn one thing. In fact I feel like I came out of Waggener dumber. I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone. It just gets worse and worse each year.

great school good teachers im there alot myself and i think they made some improvements and the school has some problem but overall i sent my kids there
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter was in US History with a bunch of Juniors because her previous school taught history in a different order apparently. Their 'big project' was to write a feature article about an important historical figure for their portfolio (which of course I didn't have yet). So she wrote my article about Frederick Douglass. So her Teacher calls me while I am at work one day and tells me about a sentence from her article in his Google search bar with no results.. he called me to *congratulate* me for having a kid that did the work in her own words. Sometime during the last month she got a progress report; she had an A, she was at the top of the class of juniors. From what I'm told its like this around the whole school. Glad we dont have to deal with Waggener any more!
—Submitted by a parent

I hated how the kids were so disrespectful and immature, which resulted to teachers and students who really wanted to learn lose intrest in what mattered most, our education. It was more of a day care center and im not blaming it all on the kids because as an adult the teachers should want to make a diffrence but they ...seem as if they lost all hope in their own sucess so how could we suceed? the best thing they have goin is the program for special needs children and isap.
—Submitted by a student

My child went to Waggener for two years. Two years too many. I would not even send a dog to Waggener. The leadership is lacking so badly that the daycare children might proove to be better leaders than the ones that are in right now. The students run around as if its anarchy, and the teachers are either frightened of the students or encourage their bad behavior. I say we shut this school down!
—Submitted by a parent

I taught there for five years. That was the worst five years of my life. Now I teach at Central High School which is a great school by the way. I felt there was nothing I could do with these kids. I just gave up on Waggener. I almost gave up on teaching altogether but leaving Waggener was probably one of the best choices I ever made. Note to parents and potential incoming students: look into other schools, Waggener is not the choice you should make especially since they wont have any programs there after a year and they have such horrible extracuricular activities and sports teams its as if no effort was put into forming them.
—Submitted by a teacher

We have only been in school for three weeks and I already love it. This year they have a new thing for freshmen, it is a Freshmen Academy, where the 9th grade students all share one hall. This is to help them get to know their graduating class and give them more attention from the teachers. It is great and I really like it. I am a freshmen and I already have a lot of friends that are upperclassmen, I am on the volleyball team and that gives me an opportunity to get to know other people. If you aren't involved in your school then you won't like it.
—Submitted by a student

I love waggener. The teachers are awsome and grate! I am going to miss my school. Students just like to complain, because that there are teachers there that will inforce the rules so the get in trouble but god forbid it is their fault. There is those few kids who think they should get in A for sleeping or talking, but besides for those few few students this school is really great.
—Submitted by a student

This school is terrible. I was more academically challenged in middle school than i am here. There is a only a handfull of competent teachers and the student body as a whole is unmotivated and misbehaved. The reason behind this is the majority of the teachers are complete pushovers and there is never any real consequences for misbehavior. I seriously doubt that I will be prepared for college when i graduate.
—Submitted by a student

Besides the principal, this is a great school.
—Submitted by a student

Hey! I'm a new senior at Waggener.... My first year here, and I love it!!!!! The teachers really make you feel like they want to teach you and that they care about you! It's the first time I felt like the teachers were happy to see me! It is easy to get involved in sports and clubs, and the students are so welcoming! I love it
—Submitted by a student

this school has been awesome dont let the reviews fool you there are just students and parents who dislike it cause they dont fit in or are miserable but not because of the school but of how well the school is and strict and its basically teens being teens they dont want stability they want to do as they please and that wont happen but once they are out of high school they will realize that waggener was a great place
—Submitted by a student

As a current staff member of Waggener, I would like to address the lack of leadership. We have had 3 principals in 6 years. However, our state scores have increased significantly over these years. Also, the school could always use more parental involvement. It seems the older the kids, the less the parents are around. Plus, I'd like to add we are dealing with a very diverse population. Over 20% of the student body is ESL, over 10% is Special Needs and a huge proportion are getting public assistance- no matter their color or creed. So if the child can behave and the parent is involved, there is a strong chance your child will get a very good education.
—Submitted by a teacher

I have been familiar with Waggener for the past two years, with two children attending. While I will concede a previous reviewer's points regarding dismay at a lack of dress code enforcement (not uniforms), I have noted that the efforts towards academic excellence have been exceptional. My children are receiving a quality education, comparable, if not better, to that received in the private sector during their elementary and middle school years. The teaching staff appears dedicated, interested, and competent. The administration, having changed in the last year, may need a bit more time to work out policies, but administrative staff is always cooperative and concerned. I do have to comment that disciplinary actions seem a bit more lax this year. However, having witnessed a crisis in the school , I saw quick action and care for the kids. Waggener is exceptional! As for parents, get involved! Opportunity is there.
—Submitted by a parent

Waggener High School is an outstanding school. I believe it is among the top tier schools in Jefferson County. Waggener is a bright and well maintained school, located in one of the safest communities in Kentucky. Waggener stresses academic performance, discipline, and involvement. Waggener offers an excellent college preparatory curriculum, with both Advanced and Honors Placement Programs. In addition to the college-prep program, Waggener also offers 'magnet' or vocational-prep programs that include architecture, telemedia, child-care, and culinary arts. Waggener is one of the most culturally diverse schools in Jefferson County, which enhances and enriches the education of its students. The teachers at Waggener are dedicated and professional. They strive to teach every student, and help them reach their full potential. The Principal, Assitant Principals, and Counselors are committed to excellence. They understand that students who are successful, are motivated and accountable. They work very hard to maintain a safe and cheerful educational environment. Great School!
—Submitted by a parent

I must admit being an alumnus of this particular JCPS high school confounds me when they call themselves 'Traditional' but there is no 'Traditional.' Traditional implies that there are particular dress code guidelines, structured academics, parental involvement, and a non-apologetic administration that will indeed deal harshly with students who are recalcitrant and refuse to follow directives adopted and approved by the Site Based Decision Making Council. As the legislative arm of each school they are required along with administrators, teachers, and parents to make proposals regarding the above in reference to a traditional style of educational excellence. There is no educational excellence here; just really good teachers trying to do a job that is virtually impossible to do with poor support and lackluster leadership. The primary goal for the administrator(s) is to 'look' good to the powers that be. That is no way to operate a school such as this.
—Submitted by a former student

This school is very discriminatory. The leadership is lackluster to say the least. My son attended the school between 1995-1998, and it seems somethings never change!
—Submitted by a teacher

This is one of the worst schools in Jefferson County. The leadership in this school has no quality for our children...and will deal harshly with being 1 minute late to class but does not deal with bigger battles such as ditching school. Is this the leadership and guidence you want for your child? This is a very unfair and uneducated staff.
—Submitted by a parent