Oscoda Area High School

Social Studies department is tops!
--Submitted by a parent

Because it is a good school and my daughter is learning a lot...the teachers are great!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I have had two children graduate from Oscoda High School. The quality of the school buildings is good; the quality of the academic programs is low. Besides a sports program there is very little interest by the school to promote much else. I was highly disappointed in my children's education. I would advise anyone moving to the area to take a look around. There are a couple of alternatives for parents such as school of choice with neighboring districts or parochial schools (although not for high school). In my opinion the teachers try but they are held back by school leaders that believe curb appeal is more important than what is taught. Also, this spring the school board decided that the fine arts was not really important. Obviously they must have missed the research that says students who are involved in fine arts do better in academics.
--Submitted by a parent

If you plan on living in northeast Michigan and compare districts I think you will find Oscoda is right there with the rest of them. In fact, the facilities are by far the best. Too bad the athletics that goes with them isn't. Academically it is at-least as good as any in the area. Now if you want to compare it to wealthy suburban districts or private schools then obviously it will lose out. As for drugs in the community? Can you say that any district is without their problems? It just strikes home much harder in a small community because everyone knows one another. I honestly don't believe it is any worse than what is in suburbia. If you think you are going to move to rural America and escape drugs you are sadly mistaken. Especially a part of rural America with a bleak economic future like Oscoda.
--Submitted by a former student

OHS passed its zenith over twenty years ago and has been skidding, yea, plummeting downhill since. The curriculum meets the state requirements, but little more than that and many teachers seem to be demoralized, having little heart or energy for providing an extraordinary experience for students. Though these remarks aren't representative of all faculty, many HS teachers have been ridden hard by students, parents, and administrators and receive little parent/community support for extra-curricular activities. The community is apathetic, small-minded, and self-absorbed with economic depression, offering weak support for education. Senior year curriculum is an embarrassing academic joke. There is a new HS principal this year, but the touchy-feely principals at the feeder schools are so concerned with passing students along that the HS receives many students unprepared to succeed. I m glad we moved this summer.
--Submitted by a parent

As a student at OHS i must admit that there are problems. However, it is hard to promote and execute a 'great' school environment when parents have such negative views, with no means of change in the future. It is also hard when so many children are leaving and budget cuts force programs out of the district. And There ARE positives, such as excellent teachers who ARE welcoming and eager to help, ecspecially if you get the chance to know them. You also cant expect them to respect you if you go into the school district with a bad attitude. In terms of extra curricular activities, Encourage your child and he or she will be just fine.
--Submitted by a student

Oscoda high school is by far the worse school i have ever enrolled my son in. The teachers where rude and cocky, and my son learned almost nothing. It's a horrible school. I wouldn't send my son back there as punishment. the principal on the other hand was very nice and tried to help.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two elementary children in the district. Both are having a difficult time. This district is not parent friendly, they treat us like enemies. The pricipals in the elementary especially Cedar lake could use some advice on public service. Although the board is making an effort it is hard to change. The new report cards are not adequate. They just show how well your child did the past semester. I am more interested on overall. Who cares how they did on the space unit. How about reading and math level compared to peers their age. And the Chicago math program is the WORST. Confusing I out right refuse to encourage my child to learn it. The old tried and true is doing just fine for them!!
--Submitted by a parent

This school is out of touch with its community, does not welcome parent involvement, has seen an influx of students leaving for other districts, has used social promotion to advance children who cannot read, discriminates against the learning disabled and is not and has not been fiscally responsible for it's funding. The school board lacks credibility with the community and the parents. There was a time this school did well, when Wurtsmith AFB was operational and the school had to be accountable to the United States and its soldiers. However, since the closing of the base, it's been a continued downhill slide with the School board being more concerned with money than they are with providing a good education to ALL it's students. I personally know of at least a half dozen students who were socially passed and graduated without reading and reading comprehension skills. Some are now adults. A shame.
--Submitted by a parent

As with most schools these days, Oscoda Schools have gone through many changes. One thing that doesn't change is the districts concern about the overall education of the children. There will always be troubled children which pose a risk, but many services and rules, have been implemented to assist in these areas. Two of my children graduated from OHS and are doing well at this point in their life.
--Submitted by a parent