Norwood High School

I have three children that go to Norwood School. One started in kindergarten, another started in preschool, and the last started in fifth grade. The school is small and has a lot of disciplinary issues with children from Juvenile and children's home. Most families grew up here and stayed, so in someway most families are related. It is an all white school which is not good. If you are not related your children will be outsiders and will not fit in. If your children have a disability they even have a harder time in school. If your children are bullied in this school or on the bus the child who did the bullying does get away with it because he or she is related. Teachers children get a better education and get away with a lot. Most children are behind in each class and most children are not getting good grades. The policy is to pass the children anyways. I do not know how they get a good rating or how when your child is evaluated for an IEP how the professionals can not find anything really wrong with them yet it is very obvious to anyone else. I guess that way they do not have to pay for services. If your children are not in a sport they will be treated badly and will be outcasts.
--Submitted by a parent

Norwood was recently nominated by the Missouri Department of Education to be a Blue Ribbon School (a national honor). Only 8 schools in the entire state of Missouri (hs, ms, and elem count as separate schools) received this distinction. I am very proud to be in the Norwood School district. This is not based on sports, by the way, but academics.
--Submitted by a parent

Norwood is a very great school if you apply yourself you can do well there are some areas that arent to good like the senior trip is horrible they have also hired some very good teachers like the new history teacher Mr.Johnson he really works with the student to help them understand
--Submitted by a student

Norwood is a great school, and my children are receiving a good education. My nieces and nephews have all went on to post-secondary school and have received their BS degrees in psychology, science, and physical education. One is almost finished with a masters degree. The foundation for these achievements were set at home and the Norwood School supported the belief that you can succeed if you work hard for it.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a Norwood Graduate and a parent of three current students. I think Norwood has a great school along with a staff that works very hard to see that all students are successful. My experience with the administration and school board has been positive. The are also concerned about what is best for students. I have two children that are involved in extracurricular activities and one that is not. I think school is what you make from it. It is easy to cast the blame for personal failures on someone else. I am thankful to be a Norwood Graduate and could not be more pleased with the school.
--Submitted by a former student

I attended Norwood School my whole life and I can honestly say that if you didn't have the right name or was not one of the 'star' athletes, your opinion did not count for much. The school system use to be alright, but then times changed and they got new school board members and new administrators. Now the school has gone futher down hill.Some of the best teachers that had been there along time,alone with some newer,had been let go and others decided to leave because with the new administrators, they decided to get out when educating students was no longer able to be fun. I think if they got a new school board and new administrators, then this school might have a chance once again. But until then,I will definitely not be moving back into the school district, I would want better for my children.
--Submitted by a former student

I have to say, Norwood is a great district! The quality of their regular classes and their special ed classes is A+. The teachers go out of their way to help the children, and the communications between the teachers and the parent could not be better! I wish we moved here sooner! We moved here a few years ago and have been very please. It is a close knit community with focus on the kids. And, my kids don't play sports! There is something for every one.
--Submitted by shauna, a parent

This is a good school, but the racism in this town in general is awful. Not all the people are like this, but in a majority, they don't like any one who doesn't fit their likings. Norwood is very 'sports' oriented, but not to all sports, only to basketball, baseball, and softball, and track, giving little money or support to anyting else. This is a good school, and you can get a good education, you won't get acknowledged for it, but you can learn.
--Submitted by MEP, a student

The school in Norwood has alot more potential, I think. It could do so much better than it is. Right now, everything is sports and other academics, like Band, don't get as much attention as it should. That, and if you arnt in the right family groups, then you might as well be a zero in the school board's count. I think the fact that this school is so small, is quite possibly, it's greatest downfall.
--Submitted by a student

I have lived in this district for over 20 years, and I feel that the students are able to get a good education at Norwood if they want to put in the work. As with most things in life, you get what you put into something. My children are like most children in the fact that they always said they didn't like school, but they were always participating in some event. They were kept busy with their academic and extra-curricular activities. This helps keep children on the right track. I really think that all my children not only liked school, but loved it. Sure there were days they didn't, but everyone has those days on their jobs. I think the Norwood School is improving and striving to do better each year.
--Submitted by a parent