Friendly High School

My son currently attends Friendly High School in Fort Washington, MD. My oldest son was 2011 valedictorian and my daughter was 2012 valedictorian.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is really part of a larger narrative as to the state of education in Prince Georges County. It is a shame that possibly the most wealthy minority-majority counties in the entire country has an education system in total disarray. Less informed individuals can place the focal point of blame to any number of sources: teachers, parents, funding, accessibility to resources, society and peer cultural pressures. And there are others that have allowed themselves to delude themselves into believing that none of the problems that create Friendly's current situation can be overcome by overcompensating in any one of those aforementioned points (i.e. "Better parenting at home will lead to better students!"). It will take a systematic change in all areas to truly affect real change for Friendly and by extension the PG School system. As a parent, what does this mean? Don't send your kids here even if you think you can keep your kids on the right track. At the very best, you would be limiting your children from reaching their full potential that they would realize in school systems with superior educational environments.
—Submitted by a parent

It's so sad to hear that Friendly has dropped in the education of students. I graduated from Friendly in 1975. It was an excellent high school back then. I hope things improve for the school, and soon.

This is a really bad educational experience. if you want a wholesome enviroment then register your child for National CHRISTIAN academy. My daughter has graduated from their and is now working as a lawyer for a lawfirm in Maryland.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree, the Board of Education do need to evaluate leadership at Friendly. There is no leadership because the parents of disruptive students are not held accountable and sometimes kids are not held acountable.
—Submitted by a parent

The board of education needs to evaluate the principal, administrtor, and teachers performance. This school suspend students for 3 days automatically if they are late for class. This school gives students seven_mins to get to each class, the school is large, and no time ask teachers questions after class, including going to restroom. Calling the school to get communicate relayed is a waste of time. Suspending the students for being 10 seconds late for a class, with an excuse, interferes with their education and causes them to fall behind...the notice is called a hallsweep, regardless if your child is a honor roll student or have an UTI due to holding their urine to get to class on time, etc. This hallsweep suspension notice is outrageous and for the parents, please continue to address this with the board of education, most of the school administrators do not care. The test scores speaks for the school. On a positive note, several teachers (i can't put names) get a five star rating from me. Please help the students that want to be successful. Peace.
—Submitted by a parent

Although the school ranks a 2 out of a possible 10, the focus seems to be more on the students adherence to the dress code than offering a better level of education. Why is this so in Prince Georges county which is one of the highest tax base counties in Maryland? The schools in this area of PG are old and outdated. Many remind me of the schools I attended back in the early 60s. I keep looking for one of those nuclear fall out shelter signs on the side of the building.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with your comment but will add its also about leadership. There is no leadership because the parents of disruptive students are not held accountable. There needs to be clear leadership where expectations are presented to teachers and students. As a teacher at Friendly, it is normal to see parents order the administration around. This could change if enough involved parents voiced their opinion to the leadership. For a first class county, a three star rating as a school is not good enough.
—Submitted by a teacher

this is my firstt year at friendly and i was afraid to got to this school just because of the bad reputation it had. but it isnt even that bad i here people from other schools sayin it is da worst school in da distict but its not true. i love this school and i dont like it wen people talk out the school. people are always commented on our test scores and all the violence. the test scores we are working on but there really isnt any violence this year. and this is a middle class community and with the money problems going on the school arent gettin as much fundin but if the parents and students and just people wit a heart could just help out friendly and all the schools in the county. this school has potential i just wiash people wouls top sayin bad things and help
—Submitted by a student

Well, Friendly is really not responsible for the low test scores and the low graduation rate. I am currently in the 10th grade and there are a lot of students that just don't want to dotheir work, don't want to get good grades ,and over-all just don't care. Absolutly noone can help someone that doesn't want to help themselves. But as fa ra s extracurricular activites go, there are many to choose from. Though not my first choice, Friendly is tolerable.
—Submitted by a student

Friendly High School.........I would Never In A Million Years let my child attend friendly.The School has Poor Test Scores Poor Conditions. And It Caters To The Lowest Standers I Mean If You Fail Out Of Friendly..I mean Really PG.County Public Schools as a whole have gone down the Drain!!!! They Need To Get It Together.The County Is losing money rapidly and the Childern are running things at the Schools Teachers Are Overwhelmed And The Childern Do Whatever.!
—Submitted by a parent

I am the aunt of one of student, i think that is school will let her grow into her own person.

I am currently attending Friendly High School. I have attended this school since 9th grade and I am now in the 12th. Friendly has a low teacher and resources rate, however, I believe this school has a lot of potential for the incoming students. Half of the teachers that we do have are high in quality and teach well. We now have a new assistant principal who is making many new changes and we hardly had any fights this year. The only issue I wonder about is the money problems. If Friendly is located in a middle class neighborhood why are our budgets so low? If the parents pitch in, Friendly can become a great school.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter attends Friendly currently. From a parent who has had her daughter in private school all her life as comparison Friendly is a top notch school. She finds a lot of academic and activities to be involved with. I have had no problem with contacting her teachers because if I encountered a communication problem my next step is going to the school. I have attended several functions at the school and I think the students are like any other teenager at any High School. I love the uniform policy.
—Submitted by a parent

I taught at FHS 05/06. My biggest concern about the school is the discipline, especially in the hallways during class and lunch time. My subject was assessed and our class time was very busy with labs, etc. (My students improved significantly on my subject's MSA from previous years!) Parents: if you are dissatisfied with your child's teacher due to unresponsiveness or lax discipline by all means write a letter to the principal. Teachers can get very busy. Most of my colleagues wanted their students to succeed and loved the kids. There are some bad apples at that school. Also, schedule regular parent/teacher meetings and check your child's syllabus and homework pad to make sure he is doing the work. Struggling students usually are not doing the required homework or studying, or they cannot read well enough to understand it. 15yo isn't too late for remediation.
—Submitted by a teacher

My daughter attends Friendly and it's not one of the best schools, but it's far from being the worst. I don't think we can totally blame the schools nor teachers because it is our jobs as parents to get involved and make sure that our children are on the right track. We can't keep blaming the schools, everything starts at home.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended Friendly for one year 2005-2006, I had a hard time getting appointments to meet with my son's teachers, when you call either no one answers or some rude students answers the phone and leaves you on hold. The teach never return phone calls or email. The students are running the school. I am in the process of sending my son to another school. Prince Georges County as a whole does not put any of the high taxes toward the education of the students. The teachers are overwhelmed and the students do what they want.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter graduated from Friendly last year, and I have another daughter currently enrolled. Sure, like most schools in the county, there definitely is room for improvement. However, there are many activities for students to get involved in. The more a parent gets involved the better. When a parent gets involved in a childs education the are taught better. Too many people are leaving all the work up to the teacher(s). Most of the children who are causing havoc in school and are getting below average grades are the children who's parent fail to get involved, don't show up for PTA meetings, don't stay in contact with the teachers, a rarely if at all, show up at the school. It takes the teacher and parent(s) working together. That's the only way it will work, that is the key to our childrens success, regardless of what school they attend.
—Submitted by a parent

friendly high school was a good school for me i learned alot and the teachers was nice they would always get on u if u was not doing ur work i thank the teachers at friendly high school for getting me where i'm at today i had so much fun at friendly and i love R.O.T.C it got me in the navy.
—Submitted by freda vines, a student

I rate Frindly as a 4 (Above avg). My 3 childen graduated from there, in '82, '88, and '05. They all were good students (3.0 GPA). My youngest was the most successful there because I learned from the older 2 where the problems are (At Home). I attended all sports and PTAS. In Middle School my youngest took high school courses (Latin, Math, Science) At Friendly he took A/P Courses (Math & Science)which were accepted by the NCAA and at NC State U where he received a full football scholarship worth over 150k. Whenever a problem arose I took it to the Asst Principal. I never went to a teacher without the AP assisting. Lastly, I was responsible for my children and not the teachers. The teachers are suppose to teach not be a baby sitters.
—Submitted by a parent