Seneca Valley High School

I love this school! I have 2 students currently at Seneca Valley HS, (my daughter is a Senior & my son is a Sophomore), & another daughter who graduated in 2009, & our family is very involved at the school. All 3 of our children are/were in the Marching Band, & my husband & I have served as volunteers with the Marching Band since our oldest daughter joined back in 2006. The teachers are amazing, & Mr. Cohen is a great principal. My daughter, who is now a Senior, will be graduating with an IB diploma this Spring. Our son joined the Varsity Tennis team last Spring, & my husband & I volunteered to help with transportation to Away matches. We have had nothing but great experiences with all of our children's teachers & coaches. Mr. Singleton, the Marching Band Director, is amazing with the students, & they all love him. If my children have ever needed extra help or extra time to complete an assignment, whenever I have contacted a teacher about the situation they have always bent over backwards to help my child. SVHS is a great school!
--Submitted by a parent

I am disappointed that this school does not offer the level of advanced courses that other schools in the more affluent parts of the county do but the teachers here are great and the administration really seems to care about the kids.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is now a freshman at Seneca and I think the school is ok so far. I agree with the other postings that Seneca being such a diverse school it serves a excellent staff. Now if I can only get the school to give students textbooks.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is a freshman this year at SVHS. She had applied for the magnet programs at Poolesville and Richard Montgomery, but after touring all three and talking to staff at the schools, we all felt most comfortable at Seneca. The school is in the process of getting an accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which makes the school even more appealing. For such a diverse school, it is amazing how positive and friendly the school is. Seneca has always had an excellent sports program (even when I was in high school at Bethesda-Chevy Chase), and their integration of academics, sports and the arts gives the school an excellent atmosphere. The new Principal, Mr. Queen, has stepped in and done an fine job of making academic achievement and rigor a priority. The biggest issue is he building, which is a few years from complete renovation.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very impressed with SVHS. I am an involved parent, and I have donated more than 100 hours of community service to the school and to other community events too. These were to help my student get her SSL hours. What excites me about the leadership and the administration and the teachers too is everyone has made me apart of the success package to help my daughter be prepared for graduation and college opportunities. Mr. Queen, the principal of the school, has had meetings with me and we have joined together to start The Father's Circle Meeting to attrack fathers to help our needy students to aim at working hard to be prepared for life and higher learning. It is a impressive high school of leadership, only needing African American Parents to get more committed and connected to their students and principals. This is the main weakness in the school.
--Submitted by a parent

Seneca Valley's staff does a great job in a very diverse community. My youngest son will be a Freshman this year at the school and I feel confident that he is in good hands. This is based on interactions I have had with staff at the school. Like most schools in MCPS, it does great with high achieving students but does not serve students with special needs very well. The Germantown area is not horrible. We have lived in the Germantown community for the last 10 years and have never had a problem with crime.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent school! Seneca Valley is a bright spot in an otherwise dismal community. The new principal is fantastic. The administration and staff are student focused and results driven. We are very happy with Seneca Valley High School. Unfortunately, the surrounding community is dangerous. Crime in Germantown is out of control. The school does an excellent job of protecting the students on campus. However, the Germantown area is truly horrible.
--Submitted by a parent

It is great! Very nice staff and great atmoshphere to learn. So many oppurtunities!
--Submitted by a student

In the 2 years that my child has gone to this school I have seen a top notch principal and security staff and teachers who care about the kid's education. The incoming principal has some large shoes to fill but in meeting with him and talking to everyone who has worked with him before, I am positive he will bring even more to the already fantastic school.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm a freshman at SVHS and so far its a good school the staff are very nice and so r the students. Although the only thing thats wrong with it is that the building is old and needs to improve.
--Submitted by a student