Dexter High School

We are currently juniors at DHS. We believe that DHS is a WONDERFUL school. I completely disagree with he bullying comment and the diversity comment. It's not DHS's fault that we are in a fairly "white" community. That doesn't make us "not diverse" Dexter is a great school in both athletics and education.
—Submitted by a student

The reason for such a low rating is that this school is notorious for allowing bullying to take place. During my time at this school, I witnessed many children get bullied and nothing was done about it. This is especially apparent Junior High and High school where it's common for the victim to be accused of lying or labeled the bad person if you fight back. During my time at Dexter High school I witnessed several instances of students getting bullied. The ones that stick out the most are as follows. In gym class I was tripped several times by other students when asked to do laps around the gym. When I told the gym teacher about the incident, she said that she would watch them. The next day in gym class it happened again and she said didn't see me get tripped. Despite the fact that my friends and other people in the class saw it happen. I saw another student shout a homosexual slur a crossed the room, in front of the teacher every single day that semester and she did nothing. In the middle of a presentation when the class was quiet a student shouted out an insult, the teacher once again did nothing.
—Submitted by a student

Both of my children have had wonderful experiences at this high school. The teachers are committed to student success. The band program is exemplary. Many award winning programs including ocean bowl, debate and forensics.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent program offerings and sports program. Open to cultural exchanges. Good security systems. My daughters love it. Only weakness would be need more art offerings.
—Submitted by a parent

This has been an excellent high school for my son. The principal has a keen understanding of what being a teenager is. Never hear of fights at the school. Students would rather do fun things. Dedicated teachers with wide variety of teaching styles. Although it is a rural area, principal wants students to be competitive on a global basis. Great environment, so far it is the best school my son has been to in US....and we have been in Grosse Pointe, Ann Arbor and Boulder, CO.
—Submitted by a parent

Dexter High School provides a diverse program for their students. The administrators cooperateswith colleges and universities throughout the area to offer college level courses to students who want and need that stimulus. The art and music programs are exemplary. Administrators throughout the years have carefully nurtured the children, watched the money and provided superb educations.
—Submitted by a parent

Well organized, caring staff; students are college bound, upscale and well-spoken.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a 15 year old daughter that attends Dexter High. If your child needs any kind of special help you will not find it here. They have no study classes and no help for your child if they need extra help in subjects My daughter will go to the middle school after school, and go to an old teacher to get help.
—Submitted by a parent

We are parents with 4 of our children attending Dexter schools. Two of our kids go to DHS. The curriculum and one one attention are wonderful. Extracurricular activities as far as sports and band are wholly supported and encouraged in all grades in this district< and a wide array of choices abounds here. Activities on a cultural or artistic level are severely lacking though. Vibrantly diversified Ann Arbor is mere minutes away in our our county, yet field trips (most especially at high school levels) are few and very far between. Disciplinary action at DHS also needs to become consistent. I am not sure if the placement of a new principle with no prior experience is the reason for the favoristic wishy washy attitude toward dishing out the punishments or not.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a former student of Dexter High School (I graduated two years ago) and I would like to agree with the former student who posted on October 24, 2004. Dexter is severely lacking in diversity of all forms - not only ethnically, but also in terms of class, political ideologies, religions, and so forth. Dexter schools are currently have upper-class white student body. Although resources are available to enhance students' learning, they are rarely taken advantage of. Lack of school funding in Michigan is partly to blame for this, and Dexter itself is growing and hope that funding and diversity increase soon. I hope this occurs to students are exposed to a diverse range of issues and people and to encourage more rigorous working instead of creating student apathy and hindering their future options.
—Submitted by a student

I attended Dexter High School all four years and found it to be an amazing institution with great supportive teachers and staff. Although students often tend to be cliqu-ie (as do most high schools, especially in a small town)- over all there is a feeling of community and care. The couselors and teachers provide great resources for life and college preparation. As long as students take advantage of extracurriculars (Many clubs, class B sports, Band and more!) and work hard- they will find success and happiness at Dexter!
—Submitted by a student

Very bad school. I attend this school currently and I find the school to be lacking in several if not many areas. The only thing I give it credit for is their cross country program. I would go their purely for that reason.
—Submitted by a student

I both attended Dexter schools and had children who recently graduated there. Though I did not find myself well prepared for college, I did alright. My children on the other hand were very well prepared for college (their words) and are doing well. A fellow classmate of my sons entered MSU as a sophomore due to the AP courses he'd taken at DHS. As an area resident, I continue to watch stats on the school system, and it typically performs above-average on standardized testing.
—Submitted by a parent

Our school is Ok, but not anywhere close to good. Most of the teachers are very nice and will give help when you need it. School Sports are very important to dexter, we have been state champs in Golf and Swimming, Dexter is very competitve. Their is also three different bands, along with marching band, and two different Orchestras. The rules are bent for some people and punishments are low. School lunches are lots of money, and lunch system is not the best, other kids could easily charge food on others account.
—Submitted by a student

I am currently a senior at Dexter High School and would definitely recommend it as a great high school. There is very little diversity right now but the district is growing really fast and people from different backgrounds are moving into the area. The teachers are great and relate to each student on a personal level as well as a professional one. The only complaint I have is the disciplinary/attendance policies. Administration is very unfair when it comes to punishments and they give out punishments based more on if they like the kids than what they actually did. And they have a stupid attendance policy where you can only be absent 9 times per semester or you automatically fail your classes and you have to appeal so that you don't fail. I've never found someone who's appeal hasn't gone through so I just find it a huge waste of time.
—Submitted by a student

I am a former student of Dexter High School, and I believe that the education provided by this school is lacking in several areas. Their is literally NO diversity present in Dexter High School, nor does the school system take any measures to expose children to a diverse environment. With Ann Arbor only 20 minutes away, the opportunities for cultural activities and experiences are endless. The school's art program is hideously underfunded, as is their AP -or lack their of-- program. Unless you fall into the 98% White-middle class-average student category, Dexter is not the place for you. Below-average students and those who could be classified as 'gifted' fall far behind in Dexter High School, as do those with different skin colors or sexual orientations. The teachers have been their far too long to understand todays teenagers, and the administration is constantly fighting within itself.
—Submitted by a former student

I go to this school now as a sophomore. I love the teachers. They treat us like friends more than students. They find fun ways for us to learn, rather than boring us with notes and reading assignments. They let us be ourselves, instead of something we're not. It would be cool if all schools treated their students like that.