Laurel High School

Every school has its flaws. The school is not bad in itself, it's just some of the students there. I've met some amazing teachers and had some great learning experiences.
—Submitted by a student

Im a freshman at Laurel High School, sometimes I worry that Im just being passed along. I say this because I know some people who didnt pass health and still graduated, while health is a requirement to graduate.The students there are extremely ghetto and their behavior is awful. They take time from the teacher's instructions because the teacher has to stop what theyre doing to correct them. I wish that there was an altenative school in Laurel for the students that do care about their academic well- being to go to.
—Submitted by a student

My child is an 11th grader at Laurel High School. I'm very disappointed to say the least. My child is a very bright and intelligent student but Laurel High school steals pieces of my child everyday. I have no problem with the teachers but the disciplinary guidelines for students who don't care about school needs to be fine tuned. These students make a bad situation worse when the teachers have to stop teaching every other minute because of their behavioral issues. The school could be more challenging. For example, where are all of the academic clubs, book clubs etc? Our children can do more than dance, model and play basketball. I'm not knocking these activities but there should be an even balance. PTSA parents need to get other parents to join and it has to be a collective and persistant effort, not just on Back to School Night. Laurel High can do better....for our children's sake. Oh and please get all of the kids that don't live within the boundaries out of the school!
—Submitted by a parent

My child is a 10th-grader at Laurel High School. It has been the worst school experience for us in PG County Schools. The principal doesn't acknowledge parents, nor does he respond to emails and phone calls. There's no communication between the school and home at all. The school website is usually outdated and not very informative. I have walked in and witnessed student brawls and the office staff didn't seem concerned at all. The teachers are decent but they don't appear to be too happy either. Other parents in the community have similar complaints, but it's the only pubic high school we have. So we have to stay. The principal should be fired! I love the city of Laurel and it's schools - but not the high school.
—Submitted by a parent

Look at the grammar, especially of those that say they went to the school and loved it, used in the reviews of this school. People that gave it 5 stars can't form a proper sentence or use commas correctly. It serves as an example of the kind of education Laurel High gives. I attended Laurel High for all 4 of my high school years. Run down buildings are not the problem. Students can learn anywhere. The student body is not focused on learning AT ALL- just music and what everyone is wearing. I slept through most of my classes, didn't turn in papers and didn't have an understanding of basic concepts of Science, American or World History and I was STILL awarded a diploma. I didn't know all that I didn't know until I went to college- an open enrollment college of course, and it's a good thing because Laurel High would not have prepared me for a university.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from Laurel in 2005. Laurel High School for me, was a very decent school. I never had problems with teachers nor with students. Of course, it had issues, but every school has them. I am really proud that I graduated from LHS. What makes me sad, is that every time I drive by it, right now, it looks sad and depressing. I understand they are going through some changes, but it shouldn't affect it's appearance in such a bad way. But overall, I still miss it, and also my teachers, and sometimes I wish I can, in some way, go back. For me, it was the best school. :)
—Submitted by a student

But due to the direction of a devoted new principal, Laurel High School is making many stellar changes. The uniform policy was a great success, in my opinion, for the school. The students who attend there become very open-minded human beings, and end up having great personalies. Some may look at the history of the school and see the violence and poor education, but it's time to look forward now and see the increasing measures of discipline and look at the future for these fine students.

This School has no overall demonstration of discipline, students may do whatever they want when they want with no consequences.
—Submitted by a student

I went to Laurel High school for my freshman year. Laurel High school is not the greatest school ever but its not the worst. There was violence and all these kind of things that teachers/staff wouldn't even know of though. Students are always sayin its a really bad school because of bullies and things like that but it really isn't. Most of the people that get in trouble are the people that looked for it. The people that are always looking for trouble. I've never gotten in any kind of trouble or conflict with another peer and that's because I don't go around looking for attention.

I am a freshman at Laurel High... Just to state peole do talk alot about it, and its really not that bad... there should be more decipline there,but not for everyone. Principal is doing a great job if only our fellow classmates would cooperate.
—Submitted by a student

I attended Laurel High School for the 9th grade and half of 10th grade. This school definitely needs some discipline and renovations. There is violence at this school that teachers don't even know of most of the time. At times the atmosphere isn't even safe because administrators don't stop the fights or whatever is going on. I recommend that you check other schools in the county or in Laurel.
—Submitted by a student

LHS is overcrowded and understaffed. Principal turnover has been high (3 in 3 years) and staff seem overwhelmed.only those who have inner motivation make progress. The facility is old and needs renovation. There are a few teachers who are dedicated and push their students, but they are few and far between.
—Submitted by a parent

LHS is a dingy little place, but a good school nonetheless, at least as far as AP classes are. The student body leaves something to be desired for the most part, and the security would make one feel claustrephobic. The library has a decent selection for what our budget is. At any rate, the place is better than DuVal.
—Submitted by a student

I am a JUNIOR at LHS. And it is definitely not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, there is a problem with overcrowding, but other than that the school is excellent. Thanks to our new prinicipal, small problems are being solved, as far as teacher problems, discipline, and etc. I think that LHS has a great selection of classes, that can help us toward our future. As for extracurricular activites, GAMES do NOT take place during school all the time. Maybe once a year one of the teams will have to leave a little bit early for a game. LHS is improving constantly. The same issues at LHS happen at other schools,so how can you consider LHS bad? More parents are getting involved in our school. Myself, i am involved in PTSA and other activities. I say if YOUR NOT doing anything to HELP, then WHY COMPLAIN?
—Submitted by Mary, a student

The stuff that you people are complaining about was in the past. Now we got a new prinicipal and a lot has changed. STudents CANNOT come and go as the please. Secruity Guards & police are stationed everywhere. LHS is a great school, and i don't think it should be downgraded just because of things that you've HEARD. But of course, y'alls comments on the school are just opinions. I'm just telling you how it is. I've attended Laurel for the past 2 years, and i'm currently a junior. I will admit that some of the teachers aren't on their job. When you put a school down, your making everybody in the school look bad too. ANd it's really not as bad as you think. It's a great school to send your kids too. The kids there are great and turn out to be wonderful people.
—Submitted by Mary, a student

I attended Laurel High School for the year 2005. Just moving from south I found that it was a little hard to adapt at first.But in the end I loved the people.And I enjoyed time that was spent there.As for the school,I won't lie it did need some work.Reminiscing on times,me and my friends used to get in trouble all the time,and were seldomly punished,i'm not going to get into detail.Bathrooms were disusting,and during the summer it did get hot. But overall I think the principal and AP's did the best that they could. As for the teachers,some were good,and some just really didn't care.One of my classes were UNCONTROLABLE due to behavior problems and overcrowding.And another class only about 6 people would show up each day,lol.But the school I went to before was worse,so i really didn't have to many complaints.But I will surely miss Laurel High School.
—Submitted by Texas, a former student

I am a graduate of Laurel and what these parents are saying about Laurel...THAT is truly the disappointment. Very few parents who have such negative attitudes about their child's high school actually are involved in their child's academic career, let alone the everyday hustle and bustle of the school istelf. Since my 9th grade year, I've had dedicated teachers. Of course teachers are busy. Laurel has had very few disciplinary problems for the past 4 years. Laurel has few building maintenence issues. If you go to ANY high school, there will be students that misbehave on the regular and you will that the building may need some minor adjustments.
—Submitted by a student

Laurel HS is a true disappointment. It has overcrowding to a shocking degree (difficult to even walk in hallways), open use of profanity in classes, insuffient number of text books, no traditional afterschool activities (for example, even the sports games are played during school hours, requiring kids to miss classes), overtasked guidance counselors, and overwhelmed teachers. Kids are allowed to come and go from the grounds with impunity, leading to drug use and other problems. If ever there was a school that represented the downward spiral of public education, this is it. It's the rare kid indeed who overcomes the cultural and administrative barriers there and, working with a few dedicated teachers, wrests a good education out of Laurel HS. Regretably, we are pulling our daughter out at the end of this year. Avoid this school---it seems beyond fixing.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent with three children attending this school. I have been involved with some teacher's and aministrators at this school. I have found that overcowding is a major problem, a shortage of teachers and a lack of discipline in the class room. I have found that teacher's are not able to control the classoom atmosthere because of the lack of discipline that the children bring to the classroom and from school. I was bothered when I spoke with my child's administrator regarding my child's inability to adapt to the environment and learning style at the school. The administrator informed me that it was sad because a child such as my child who struggle with learning and does not pose a discipline problem 'will fall through the cracks'. Parental involvement is key. This will assure that our children will be provided an atmosphere conducive to learning.
—Submitted by a parent

I am really take aback by what I have read about this school. I was under the impression this was a schhol of high learing with the UHS programs in place there. I have been to the school for diffrent reasons and have set meeting to meet the teachers that my child have. From my meeting with the teachers I was please. I was aware there was a shortage of teachers and one affect my kid class. I address this to the school and made calls to some of the other parents of this class and a teacher was place in the class full time. Now I do agree that the teachers they have are spread thin and this will not help with some of the best teachers leaving or have already gone. This do concern me. Thank you for the infor and this is some thing I must check into.
—Submitted by a parent