Wells High School

My child is entering his third year at WHS, he has had a tremendous experience! The teachers, coaches, and staff are fantastic. The administration is proactive and involved. The principal has done a great job involving all students, he truly cares about them all!
--Submitted by a parent

If you want to find out how good, or how bad, a school, just survey the teachers. I taught there for over thirty years. Twenty years or so ago, ubder the leadership of Valjeane Olenn, the faculty worked hard both to improve the curriculum and to raise standards. We managed to create a school that was one of the best in the state. Then came a new administration and a new curriculum coordinator. This produced two results: lowering standards and "dumbing down" the curriculum. Hopefully there have been positive changes in the years since I retired. However, I wouldn't hold my breath. At least the top administrator who I feel was in large part responsible for lowering standards to the point where the school had beecome pretty much of an academic bad joke has gone elsewhere; same is true of a particularly inept curriculum coordinator. Just ask the teachers.

The faculty have developed some effective and creative ways to reach students.

I love snapGrades, it really keeps the parents informed. Our new Principal is awesome! He really cares about all the students, not only the top 10.
--Submitted by a parent

I have to disagree with the ratings in principal leadership, safety and parent involvement. With the new pricipal this year I think it rates at least four stars and I think I would raise safety to four also. He has a great vision of where he wants to take the school and there is no question that if something in the area of safety or discipline needs to be addressed it is address firmly and quickly. As far as parent involvement I can't see how anyone who has ever been to an open house, teacher conference or school activities could say that parent involvement is lacking at WHS. Every event is mobbed.
--Submitted by a parent

Progress not perfection, as the target changes, so does WHS. We offer 12 AP level courses. Over 20% of our present juniors and seniors are earning college credit at York County Community College in the Dual Enrollment Program. Some our graduates earn a full semester's worth of credits before they graduate. Last year 84% of our graduates went on to college.

High School has many talented teachers. unfortunately there seems to be very little in the way of positive support between staff and administration. Teachers are also forced to teach low, mid and high level students all in same class which seriously hinders their effectiveness and student's quality of learning.
--Submitted by a staff

Wells High School is among the best schools in the area. The school is rising above most schools in the county. We carry a wide range in abilities and we offer many different programs for those less fortunate. The students at Wells feel that if they tried hard enough they could really learn a lot while at Wells. Most students here have their own priorities, whether its school or not, they are influenced badly by their lonesome parents who are horrible examples for their children, I would reccommend Wells because you can apart of something that most schools cannot offer.
--Submitted by a student

this school is not the best school around. like most its focus is on how it looks rather then how students come out. it caters more to the 'A students' and students involved with sports rather then all the students like it should. its focus and AP(advanced placment) classes. and less focus on the kids that really need the help in school. its focus is on grades and not if that student is actually aquirering the knowledge or not does not make your school better but actually worse. a good school can teach any kid with any learning style. but not every kid who walks through that door gets what they deserve to be getting and that is a fair and good edduacation. former wells high school student
--Submitted by a former student

I have children in this school system for the past 4 years. This is the worse it has ever been. Too many changes and not enough research.
--Submitted by a parent