University City Senior High School

I wish i could say that UCHS is a place that i feel safe and comfertable in. I am in my sophmore year at U City and i feel as if they've failed me. Growing up in U City I loved it. I loved my friends, teachers, and my elementary school. But as soon as I became a student at the high school, I wanted to go back to elementary school. The high school has so many problems that it is ridiculous. Over 50% of the students could care less about their education, teachers, or their peers and are not hesitent to let it be known. Your peers will do their best to make you feel unaccepted in the school and only very few teachers show that they care about the students or their education. The school does have its Pros as well. The activities we have could be a better but they are good. I do believe that at one point in time U City was a great school but things change over time. I blame the parents.
—Submitted by a student

I LOVE MY SCHOOL! By going to u-city I feel prepared to go into the world. I have been exposed to so much culture at u-city and have loved it all. U-city had made so many opportunities for me and I have gotten to work with some of the most amazing teachers and staff! Many teachers and staff have gone out of there way to make sure my high school experience was the best it could be! I would suggest U-city to any one who loves the arts and wants to feel prepared to face any challenges in life along with taking many great academic courses!
—Submitted by a student

Public schools are extremely important to their communities as well as to the young people who attend. We should all support them as much as possible.
—Submitted by a parent

uchs focuses on the students to help them to see the best in them and to grow for the future.
—Submitted by a parent

University City High School is a place where the student who wants to work can get a great education. Opportunities are limitless. Kids whose parents never went to college are giving extra tutorial support, mentoring, college guidance, and help from the time they are freshmen, and we have scores of these students going off to college this fall with great scholarships. This year, our graduates have been accepted to Yale, Vanderbilt, Rice, U of Chicago, Washington U, Stanford, Cal-Berkley, U of Wisconsin-Madison, U of Texas-Austin, U of Redlands, and many other great schools. Opportunities to take Honors and AP classes are open to all, not just those that 'test in', and if a student is failing in AP classes, extra teacher support is available, although no one is given a 'pass' --if a student can't do the harder work despite extra help, the student can opt into an easier class.
—Submitted by a parent

Ive been to Catholic school, all black Christian school, public school, and several county school but never felt at home until I went to U City. The teachers were helpful and encourage, they made you feel like college was the only option we didnt have a high drop out rate because they did all they could for us. The epitome of the extra mile. I thank my college success to U City.
—Submitted by a student

Out of most of the schools in the city it's well off, but I always end up in classes I've taken making for a easy year but I'm not specifically learning anything. Diversity is basically none existent but it's doesn't really matter, the teachers are very helpful, and it's a good school in general.
—Submitted by a student

My son is having an outstanding sophomore year. His teachers are excellent, from Latin to Literature to History to Chemistry (all honors courses on the AP track). Drafting and the other classes are also excellent. The teachers are demanding and have high expectations. This is especially true with writing skills.
—Submitted by a parent

I dont understand why University City Senior High School ranks a #2. I feel it is unfair they have some of the greatest and careing teacher me as a parent has come across in years. They keep you well informed and truly wants whats best for the students. If I where to rate this school it would get no lower grade than a #9 it is a GREAT SCHOOL!.
—Submitted by a parent

U.City is a wonderful school. It is one of the schools in the St. Louis area that supports African American youth achievement. The teachers are super responsive and the staff is extremely friendly. If your child is looking for a supportive college bound environment U.City is the right choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of two UCHS graduates. Neither of my children were strong achievers at UCHS. However, they built a foundation that allowed them to excel after high school. Both graduated from college right on time and performed very well in college. They made life long friends there. I think there are two issues -- many of the students arrive ill-prepared for high school, and a number of the teachers have given up. There are great programs for the high and low achievers -- the middle performers can be overlooked. On the whole, if you look at test scores by race, I believe the African Americans do much better at UCHS than most other public high schools in the state, and the caucasian children do well as a group, too.
—Submitted by a parent

University City High has changed its ways since last school year. They are very serious about grades, attendance and behavior. The extra curricular activities are excellent. The football team is doing great so far. My daughter says she enjoys all of her classes and she gets along great with all her teachers.
—Submitted by JJ, a student

U-City is not all they say it is. Our child is a sophomore there now. Teachers don't respond to parents' phone calls, the office staff is barely civil if you visit, and the students are unruly and undisciplined. And in this small community where a small handful of parents are intensely involved, the teachers play favorites with those parents' children. As for diversity, that is misleading - it's 86% one ethnic group. It is mostly African American, with under 1% other minorities. The few white kids make up the bulk of the advanced classes and most of the academically oriented extracurriculars. The football team is bad, and the other extracurriculars are so disorganized that many kids who want to join them don't even know when or how to do so. It's all very disappointing after all the rave reviews.
—Submitted by a parent

In my opinion University City Senior High School is an excellent school.There are many great teachers,as well as an excellent staff of principals.I think the diversity of this school is what makes it so well.The performing arts program is very good. Especially the Kinesis Dance Club,under the leadership of Mrs.Heidi Morgan.
—Submitted by Diamond W., a student

One of the things I have always appreciated about the university city school district is it's diversity. I think there are great teachers and administrators in U. City. There is great parental involvement in both the academic and extra curriculum areas. The fine arts programs are excellent. The academics are challenging and the desire of the teachers to see each student succeed is obvious in that they are always ready and willing to go the extra distance to help the student who may be struggling.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that this school is great and I love how the students there are so tolerant about how other people love, dress, act, etc. I beleive that with some help this school can go far! This high school's after school club's are great like GSAADA(Gay Strait Aliance And Diversity Awareness) club is one of the clubs that makes it very unique!
—Submitted by Naum R., a student

I feel this school has great developement potential...but they lack the ability to stick to /and or stay committed to the standard re: academia, w/ cultural, artistic endeavors and opportunities as the unfortunate stumbling block. The kids here need support...they innately have in them ,the ability to 'design' what /and who they are to become...
—Submitted by a parent

I was a student at University City Senior High from the years of 1997-2000. I absolutly loved being a student there and was glad that the cliques that did exist included everyone. A person at that school was not discriminated by what they looked like, they were praised on whatever strengths they had. U-City is an excellent school and I look forward to being a teacher there.
—Submitted by a former student