Washburn Senior High School

Washburn has improved since it was one of the bottom ranked schools in the city, but I still wouldn't send my child there. The principal is heavy handed, a bully and rude and creates a bad work enviornment for the teachers. There are some great teachers and many average but the main problem is that they don't care about teaching to the majority of the kids only about trying to teach to the lower performers. But that isn't working either and most kids are not learning here. We have moved out daughter to another school because she just wasn't learning anything and the principal is to blame.
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my children have attended Washburn, my oldest just graduated. I am confident that both have been well educated, and maybe even more importantly have been enriched by the great diversity in this 'rich' urban setting.
--Submitted by a parent

The WSH principal really cares about improving this school and is working hard to get the community much more involved.
--Submitted by a parent

A good school despite its 'inner city' status. The administrative staff and teachers are hard-working and dedicated to the kids. They do an amazing job given the impact of budget cuts and other inane and arcane rules and strictures imposed on them from all sides. I have been impressed with the teachers and their willingness to listen to parents and address any questions or issues. The SLC programs are an excellent draw and the school offers AP classes as well as the specialized SLC programs. The technical programs like Aviation, Engineering and Technical Design are lead by very impressive staff. Transitioning from a small private school to this large one was not easy, still it is working for us.
--Submitted by a parent

Good school, good teachers, good staff. Good education. The teachers could maybe try a little harder to get the kids to pay attention and not talk, but besides that, it is a good school. Except some kids enjoy picking on others, but the principals are there to stop it immediately.
--Submitted by a student