Los Alamos High School

I am going into my senior year at Los Alamos Highschool. In my opinion over all, I am impressed with the school systems. I have learned a great deal and I feel that I am more prepared for college then I would have been in another school of lesser quality. I would warn though, it is a tough school and a lot of the teachers expect you to try hard in their classes. As a junior I received about 2-5 hours of homework a night.
—Submitted by a student

Right now I'm a student at Los Alamos High School, and it's challenged me a lot. Success here completely depends on your motivation although I have to agree that there is less focus on non-overachieving students. For high-achieving students this is a challenging school that prepares you well. For less-achieving students, this school is tougher than other schools in the state, so as long as you stay motivated, then you'll be really prepared as well. The teachers for most classes are really hit-or-miss, especially the regular classes. Half of the teachers are very outgoing, independent, motivated, really awesome teachers while the other half are just in it because they need something to do. The bureacracy here is the most common complaint, especially by the teachers and parents. Most of my teachers have negative opinions about administration. If you look for them there are actually plenty of opportunities to do whatever activities you like, and most of the extracurriculars are the best in the state. Overall, if you're motivated, LAHS has everything you need to succeed.
—Submitted by a student

LAHS and Los Alamos have its share of problems. Defenatly not the best at dealing with ADD/ADHD students, but then who is? Expect to be pushed very hard to over medicate your child if this is the case. This town and school will ignore the average student if they can not conform to "Future PhD Scientist" mold that is held a little to tightly. The town of Los Alamos also has no issue with trying to run off anyone who can not conform to this mold as well. If your child gets singled out by either; their life will be very rough as neither the schools nor the town are going to be very forgiving. Student/teacher interactions are hit or miss here. I feel this is more about personalities than about the quality of teachers. Being the BEST public school in the State allows LAHS to be rather selective with their teachers. So nothing to really worry about here. The homework load here is heavy. As are all the books your student will carry. Expect a minium of 1hr of homework a night for EVERY class. Many schools say this, LAHS does it.
—Submitted by a student

There are pitfalls to Los Alamos High School: certain electives and departments are neglected (the theatre department and writing electives among them), general ed. classes are taught by the worst teachers on staff, and the entire high school is set up to poop out college students, ignoring kids who want to find jobs directly after high school. However, the emphasis placed on learning is one that simply can't be beat. I am about to graduate this year and I am so thankful for the teachers I have had. I feel more than ready for college. I have loved my experience here.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated last year and have very mixed feelings about the school. But everyone has the right to know the TRUTH about schools their children are attending. If your child is an over achiever and plays many sports this is defiantly the school for them. Teachers there only care about the extremely smart kids that play over two sports. Students that have a learning disability or need an extra push with school i highly encourage you to take them some where else. The school system could care less about the kids that struggle. The principal staff is seriously a joke and every parent and student and staff members realize that. The councilors are amazing. They truly cared about the students. Last year there were a lot of kids that were dropping out because the ciriculum was to difficult and required to much from the students. Also security is horrible.
—Submitted by a student

We moved to Los Alamos NM from California to get a quality education for our two daughters. Each one has a very different learning style. The oldest was an average student with a 3.0 grade point average in high school. She just completed getting her masters. The youngest was a 3.6 student and has excel in college plus spent 3 summers in interning in D.C. That is proof enough that the Los Alamos Schools did their job. Thank you.
—Submitted by a parent

Public high schools do not get any better. With the limiting education policies in the state, LAHS is doing the best it can. To get a better education, one would need to spend a lot of money on a place like Alb. Academy, and even then I do not think that the education is 16,000 dollars a year better. Plus, LAHS is not only science oriented. We have a great music department, and though I do not know much about the theater department, I do know many people who have been accepted to acting programs from LAHS, so I can say that the school can prepare students for more than just a career in science or engineering.
—Submitted by a student

As a former student and now a parent I have to agree that the major pitfall of all Los Alamos schools is their apparent lack of caring for any student who does not carry an above average GPA. My 3.0 was not nearly enough to warrant any counselors attention during my senior year when it was needed most. I was told to simply apply to UNM because apparently that was the best I could do (not to say that UNM is the worst out there- it's not), but a 3.0 in many others schools in nearby areas would be more worthy of attention. I could have tried harder, but why- it didn't seem to matter to anyone there. It does provide the workings of a top quality education, but it needs to be focused on bringing up those that need the help instead of focusing solely on those that excel.
—Submitted by a parent

There is a new Administrator at LAHS now. I moved back to Los Alamos, NM just so my daughter could go to high school here. The curriculum is challenging, as well as flexible for students with learning disabilities. Great school!

I have just graduated from Los Alamos and I didn't believe it then, but now in my first year in college, I feel that the school prepared me for it, even with my learning disability, I have earned a spot in National Honor Society at my college! If you want your students to have a good education, Los Alamos is a great school, but if your student is into sports (other than football and basketball) Los Alamos is not the school for your student
—Submitted by a former student

Los Alamos High School is, without question the finest school I've been involved with as a student, as a parent, and as an educator. The quality of the school is thanks to a visionary principal, involved parents, and bright students. The culture of the school is one that places the student and students learning first, and provides a wide range of extracurricular activities so that any student can find a niche if he or she chooses. The school has a program for students at risk, a good advisement program, an excellent career center, and high quality teachers. While the school community certainly has its naysayers, my experience is that they are individuals who take joy in complaining because it's easier than contributing, who need to find someone to blame because they haven't managed to parent as well as they would like, or because of a general mean-spiritedness. Outstanding school all around!
—Submitted by a parent

This school does have high quality teachers. There is no incentive or help for the average or below average students in this environment. If your child is gifted, there are numerous programs and clubs available to keep them involved.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had two children graduate from Los Alamos High School and they are both in College now. Are all of the teachers great? - Absolutely not. Are most of the teachers great - Yes! It is a difficult school that certainly focuses on over-achievers. The sports are great, the music department is wonderful, the foreign language department could use some help, the administration is awful, but the teachers, parents and students are all wonderful. Do you children and stay involved in their lives. Pay attention to them and listen to them. Know what they are doing in school. If you are involved then it won t matter what school they attend. In my opinion this is a fine school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current student at LAHS. People make this school seem like such a bad school, when in reality you learn so much and are prepared as well as you can be for college and even life. As long as you work hard and make an effort you can have good grades. The teachers care and will help you if you go in and ask for help. All of the rules they give you are very easy to follow. You have many electives to choose from and a lot of clubs, sports, and theatrical activities that your child can join. If you are doubting the quality of this school, trust me its a great school.
—Submitted by Sarah, a student

I graduated from Los ALamos High School in May, 2003. I struggled at Los Alamos High School, and in fact, it took me five years to graduate. However, the whole time I was enrolled I was encouraged by every teacher and staff member (Principal excluded) to continue on and get my diploma. I did get my diploma , and thanks to the incredible teaching that I received from the English department, I will soon be attending an institute of higher learning to attain my bachelors degree in education. Is this a tough school? alsolutely YES. Is the effort worth the outcome? Without a doubt!
—Submitted by Michael Derr, a former student

I'm a student at Los Alamos and I really think that we are privledge and we get a top quality of education. Except the requirements are some times overwelming and we are expected to do too much. The teaches din't want the responsibilty of giving out and taking in the books, so they made a book depository where the already overly stressed out student have to go to get there books and to make matters worse you can only do it at certain times, they only have two people running it, and ifyou have one novel out you can't get another one which causes you to fall behind. The teachers aren't usually very sympathetic to the fact that the system doesn't work very well. The school as a whole doesn't seem to take the students advice into consideration. The staff should take student oppinions into closer consederation.
—Submitted by a student

Being a current student of LAHS and about to graduate, I have current insight over the quality of LAHS right now. LAHS is a overly difficult school requring all of us to take physics as freshman which in most schools is either strictly for seniors or an optional class. When you fall behind in LAHS nobody is there to help you and dropping out is encouraged based on the fact that the school wants to obtain a certain overall GPA and the students who are strugling would only bring down this GPA. If you are looking for a good school to send your children to-this is not the school.
—Submitted by a student

I think that Los Alamos High School is just like any other school; if you apply yourself, you will succeed. The school gives you as many opportunities as possible and the teachers are always there for extra help. This is a very good school.
—Submitted by a student

High School is very quick to allow student to drop out. My son was encouraged to drop out of Los Alamos High School because according to the Principal and Counselor, 'High School isn't for everyone'! Isn't a Public School education the right of every American child! High School refuses to work with parents either individually or with a group of concerned parents. Something is very wrong at Los Alamos Schools and the schools along with the local paper refuse to acknowledge the problems. I am both a parent and a former student of Los Alamos Public School.
—Submitted by a parent

Los Alamos schools could be much better if all children were considered valuable. As most parents see things today, only kids with 'super' potential are valuable. There are organizations created by parents that are trying to make all kids matter and lessen our drop out rate but school administration does not work well or want to hear from concerned parents.
—Submitted by a parent