James I O'Neill High School

This school caters to the high performers - both academic and athletic. If your kid is already in the top 10% of his or her peers, this school will focus lots of effort and resources to maximize your kids success. The remaining 90% of the student body are neglected in every way. An awful cadre of teachers serves the majority of the student body, extracuricular sponsors ignore the students not competitive for college scholarship, ect. The vast majority of the student body would progress farther if the government simply issued out the text books, sent the kids home, and bulldozed the school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school with great teachers. Your child will get a solid education if he really wants it. Try hard enough and you will succeed. Every school has its problems but there are none significant enough to mention. 92% of the students graduate and many go one to 4 year colleges. My child graduated 4th in her class and went on to a university that was almost impossible to get into from out of state.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a very organized school I like it .
—Submitted by a parent

O'Neill is definitely what you make of it as the October 17, 2007 post said. If you take advanced classes you will be surrounded with other students determined to do well, and you will do well. I would highly recommend getting envolved in extracurriculars. Sports take up a lot of time but you make a ton of friends from the other feeder schools. As far as high schools go O'Neill is amazing good at not having cliques. There are general categories that one can groups some students in, but considering there are a lot of military kids there and new students, its easy to make friends. If you go to O'Neill take chorus!! The director is amazing and they win a ton of competitions. If you have some talent, I recommend the audition groups too. I love the school but it's really what you make of it.
—Submitted by a student

All of my children are graduates of O'Neill High School, and all are doing very well. They received a very good education at O'Neill. Those who knock this school should take the time to compare with other area schools. I think that they will find that O'Neill is one of the best.
—Submitted by a parent

O'Neill is what the student makes of it. If he/she is lazy and unmotivated he/she will quickly fall behind here. However, if he/she is determined he/she will accelerate with peers with similiar goals. Course offered are sub par. They have the basic AP class and nothing more.
—Submitted by a student

This is a school which could be portrayed on the simpson's, it is so bad. The principal is completely ineffective, and is not interested in what parents need. the teachers are very lax about their assignments - if you turn it in ok, if you don't, ok. There are a few good teachers but most are pretty mediocre. The teachers did not respond to my request for a conference, even after a phone call, AND a written mailed letter. Children are allowed to misbehave at concerts, and the principal said it is not his problem. The soccer coach did not show up for practices, and it was 'not his problem'. One redeeming thing: the Choir program is exemplary, and worth the time. The band program is also mediocre, but choir is good.
—Submitted by linda RODGERS, a parent

Excellent school. I went there and compared to other public schools its heaven. You meet great people and the hallways are not allways crowded with people. Theres not many or any stuck up people and its just a great place. You never knew how good you had it intill you lost it.
—Submitted by a student

As someone who has been around the country to school upon school, i found James I Oneill highscool to be one the best environments for my children to be in. within the four years we were there, i watched as the students from the school helped draw the character out of my shy son, who used to be reluctant to participate in school activities. his senior year,as a member of the varsity football team, the other students made sure he was actively involved and included in all pep rallys, bonfires, dances, ect. because the students at o'neill are used to having transfer students(military brats) from the west point military academy's highschool students, they are very accepting of new people. the size of the school helps all of the students really get to know their classmates and accept their classmates regardless of their differences. My children were sublimly happy at o'neill highschool.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter received an outstanding education at O'Neill. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Florida State University, and is completing her M.C.D. degree in audiology at LSU Health Sciences Center. Next year, she will begin her Ph.D.
—Submitted by a parent