Pontiac High School

I currently have two kids in the Pontiac Schools ITA program. At first glance, I was very impressed. Then, I attended the parent/teacher conference. My impression then turned south. It was a cluster F^%$. I also understand that the teachers have taken a hit in salaries. I must live in Pontiac due to an impossible situation. My kids are really trying to do their best, but you can't get water out of a rock. These schools are a real mess. I think I will go up the road to Oxford Schools if things keep getting worse.
—Submitted by a parent

i see everyday what goes on on the school bus , and at the school. the high school along with the middle school are terrible, its scary., and so sad.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a former student at the school. Some people say that parent involvement is needed, but parents can't do everything on their own. My parents were the most involved people in the school, my whole family was. But without help from the school, my family trying to help is pointless. So yes, parents need to be more involved, but the teachers and staff need to be more involved too. I've had teachers who didn't care about the students, even the ones who tried. I've also had teachers who didn't care what grade was on the report card, as long as enough students passed.

This is the worst school!! and im not talking about Northern, well no it's Pontiac high because Central and Northern have merged because the district doent have enough money. Im talking about International Tech academy or I.T.A . The teachers loose your work and are vey unorganized. No one is on one accoured. They try to carry a perstegous name but they arent. My daughter got her phone talken it we were supposed to get it back today and I used my gas to ride all the way to downtown Pontiac and NOONE, KNEW WHERE THE PRINCIPAL WAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i did not get her phone back and they didnt give me a apology!!!!!!! They even ignored me. They get little school work and everything is group based. If someone in the group didnt do their work then the whole group fails. The teachers have no compassion and are COLD. They have to wear blazers that were like $90 and didnt inforce the kids to wear them. I can not wait till the last months of school are over. My daughter will not be returning. But Pontiac is a Horriable school and I wouldnt advise anyone to attend!!
—Submitted by a parent

I believe Pontiac Northern has potential. I am about to be a Senior this fall and hope to make a chance. Lack of parent/teacher interaction is a problem. We can't blame everything on the teachers, nor the parents. It's a mixture of both. They need a curriculumn that will challenge the students, yet excite them to learn. I myself have utilized Pontiac Northern to the best of my ability, absorbing everything I can. It's the interaction between home and school that needs to be replenished.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a former student. My parents were involved. The administration and teachers were definitely beaten down, but they did care. Yes, being a former athlete, there is favoritism. I honestly believe that the problem lies with the students manners and attitudes. Anyone knows that the most important lessons are learned at home (ie, home training), which I would say a significant amount of the students lack. Bad attitudes and Bad manners. Parents, please start instilling in your children from the cradle, two things: Good manners and Good attitude. The teachers aren't there to teach your children how to be good men and women, they specialize in a subject, like algebra 1 or english comp. Instead of focusing on their specialty, they have to be your kids mom and dad. Isn't that your job? Parents: please check your kids at an early age. Thank you, and have a nice day!
—Submitted by a student

This school does not challenge me to my full potential and is not preparing me for college
—Submitted by a student

I am an A/B student but yet in still I have constant interruptions hindering my full potential.
—Submitted by a student

I am currently attending Oakland University and i am a biology major. I have a 3.6 GPA and i plan on attending medical school. After attending PNH for all 4 years i believe that this school has adequately prepared me for college. Sure every school has its problems but if the students themselves try harder they do have teachers willing to work with you. I congradulate Northern for preparing me in my pursuit of becoming a doctor.
—Submitted by a student

This is a terrible school to attend. I would not recommend anyone to attend this school or to even think of attending. The environment is terrible, out of the 30 or whatever teachers they have only 5 of them really do their job. The school isnt well funded and has little resources students need to learn such as computer classes with no computers and limited books, but all in all this is probably the worse school in the nation
—Submitted by a student

I'm a former student and I believe the problems with Pontiac Northern students start at home. Parent involvement is low. If we as parents don't show an intrest in our childrens education and seek accountability from our childrens educators who will?

Not a good school for your kids!!!!!! I feel they dont care about our kids, all they care about is being there to just get a check.
—Submitted by a parent

There isnt much to say about Northern. It's by far one of the worst schools. Any school that requires students to pass through a metal detector in the morning and a cop to wander the halls is bad news. The very very few teachers that actually do care, get harrassed by the overall bad students that attend this school. The students need to learn how to respect their teachers and authority. The school makes a mochery of what real education should be. If you have a choice, do not go to this school!! Any school in the area is better than this one
—Submitted by a former student

Look northerb isnt as bad a school as you think. I attend northern and its okay. Our sports are great, some teachers actually care about the students and ect. Look, we could never compare ourselves to rochester and others, but we are still great.
—Submitted by a student

Pontiac School District is 'as polite as I can put it' Failing the students. The problem is the area. Lower class living. The students are to suffer because of there parents social status and lack of funds. Yet another school 4 miles away is completely different. Yes the school has little funding. Yes a lot of the students have behavior problems. Yes a lot of the parents are not involved with the children. But how is any of this the children s fault? I am just fed up with the different standards 'depending upon where the children lives' I Test students and Pontiac Central and Northern all the time. The scores are horrible. Basic math and English questions. These are good kids. They have ambitions like any other. They deserve better.
—Submitted by a staff

I am a student at Pontiac Northern High School and i think that it is a very good school. There might be some students who make school hard to be at but we have to stay focus. Northern is not all of the bad things that are heard. Some teachers are just not there for the love of money, some of them really do care. When it comes down to school activities then we can complain. There are too many restrictions. I don't like that at all. Sincerly, A PNHS student
—Submitted by a student

I am a student at Pontiac Northern High School with a 3.8 GPA. What I would like to say is that it is hard to get an education with all the distractions that are going on. It is very diffcult for the children who are trying to get an education to get what they came for.
—Submitted by Ebony I., a parent

I believe that Pontiac Northern is a very bad school, theres no other way to say it. The sports are the life of that school. They show favoritism and street the basketball players as if they were in the NBA.
—Submitted by a student

I am a student That attends PNHS in i love it. it is a nice school the teacher are great and i learn alot. it is very differt from junior high school.it is alot going on you are indroduce to alot of people and differnt cultures. it is a very diverse school.
—Submitted by Smilez, a student

i am a student at Pontiac Northern High school, and i feel as though this school is just not the place for a child who is trying to stay focused and worry about what they will do after high school. There are major problems in classes such as kids blazin each other(playig the dozens), people stealing, fighting. There are ways around the problems after all nobody forces a child to pay attention but however it is a very big distraction. The only good experience i have at Northern is the Police Acadamy Program, in which i stayed in for a year. Im happy to say i will be leaving Northern after 2 years there for a better school for football.
—Submitted by a student