Providence High School

The school I go to is full of under achievers and mean students. Not all students are mean, but there are students who are malicious and vindictive, willing to do anything to make you feel/look bad. The smarter groups of people tend to stick together as one big group, where as the popular people tend to hang out together, desperate for attention as always. There is also a slight smoking problem at PHS, where kids who seem to need a constant appetite for looking "cool." The cyber bullying online is tremendous, particularly on websites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Ask.fm. Academics at the school could be better, however, lazy students will continue to be lazy. Some teachers are actually quite excellent, but most fall short of this expectation. Most are not willing to stay after school because they're lazy and unwilling to cooperate. Students can also be pretentious, judging you if you aren't wearing Tory Burch or whatever stupidity dealt out. The social and academic scene aren't great, do your child a favor and do not send him/her to PHS. Waste of time is what it is.
—Submitted by a student

Not satisfied with this school's recognition of diversity and genuine interest in each child's progress and advancement. So this review is not only related to academics. We are relatively new to Charlotte and like many of the previous reviewers here we suggested this school to our teenager. Seems there are some levels of discrimination and influence coming into play. We can only hope and help our child through those tough social situations they are sometimes faced with. Shamefully there are some teachers and parents alike fueling these toxic situations. No student should have to feel these kind of pressures. Shame on PHS.
—Submitted by a parent

We are from Dallas and was looking for a good HS in Charlotte. Based on the reviews, we are changing our mind about PHS. Our daughter comes from one of the best schools in Dallas and ranks in the top 6% out of 755 kids in her class. High school students have enough pressure just from their environment. The student reviews have made us re-think that PHS is not the school for her. Good luck students!
—Submitted by a parent

This is school has incredible pressure. I came here as a junior from a cms school at North. I was number 3 out of 500 students in my old high school. Here at providence, i am struggling trying to get a 70 to pass the course. The workload is so high and everyone at this school only cares about education. If you are not "born" smart, then you will struggle. Now, i don't even know if i will graduate on time.
—Submitted by a student

I am currently a senior at Providence High School looking forward to moving on to the collegiate world. Looking back on my experiences in high school, I am sad to say that my time at Providence was discouraging. The school is exceptionally cutthroat, with a subset of teachers (rather than students) fueling an atmosphere of incredible pressure. The pressure is not just academic--certain employees teach with highly personalistic methods, adjusting grades depending on their preferences for certain students and sometimes fighting with one another to retain students in certain classes. Families of students at the school also contribute, often trying to work connections through the guidance department or individual teachers to grant their children a selective advantage--especially in the obtaining of awards, special designations, recommendations, and other elements that look great on paper to a selective college. This atmosphere in turn leads to the development of a group of "chosen ones"--students that tend to accrue most of the credit, much to the detriment of other hard-working, capable individuals. In short, if you go to Providence, prepare to fight for your right to succeed.
—Submitted by a student

I am currently a senior at Providence, and have found that my experience has been mixed. All-in-all, I took 10 AP classes at Providence, and had my shot at many of the Ivy League schools, and was accepted at several prestigious southern private schools. Ultimately, I turned them down because I did not want a repeat performance of Providence. The pressure to be a top-performing student at providence is constant and omnipresent, and I found that the pressure and expectations of my teachers my junior year pushed me into depression and more-than-severe sleep deprivation. A student who would crack under such pressure likely may be successful at Providence, though it will be extraordinarily costly. I have also found through experience that those who do not take the AP classes wind up with students and teachers who really could care less, and ultimately receive a much lower quality of education. However, I have also found wonderful friends at Providence, especially through participation in the music and athletic programs.
—Submitted by a student

We are relatively new to Charlotte and I have 2 students @ Providence High School. We moved to this area because of the the schools reputation. I am not as happy as I had hoped to be...and I am puting it mildly. I am trying very hard to embrace the rigid academic standards here but at what cost? I would love to hear from other parents...that may be struggling as I am.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had three children at Providence. These children have gone through all the feeder schools that go into Providence. If you read the reviews carefully, you will see a common pattern there. If your child is a high achiever, has great social skills, and little artistic interest, than your child will probably do well at Providence. My son did, and has looked at it as a means to an end. He has had some good teachers and some bad teachers. I am surprised, that with the area and the affluence, and it is there, that it is so hard to find teachers who are not more in love with teaching. Teaching at this school is a dream compared to other CMS high schools. My other two children have struggled much more, with the extreme social pressure, cliques, and due to size, inability to participate in the activities they would like to pursue. If your child is more creative and right brained, they will be miserable if they cannot find an outlet there. One of mine could not. My 3rd child has endured, but said she would be fine if we moved and has had trouble making new friends. Know your child. While being safe and clean, this school is not for every child.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is currently a senior at PHS. She has been with PHS since her freshman year. A solid A/B student on the honors track, it became apparent by her junior year that PHS focuses most attention on the highest and lowest performing students. Counsellors and teachers are over-worked and overwhelmed. As a result, mid-range students (A/B; 3.25-3.50 GPA range) receive little or no support. The pressure to take AP level classes is tremendous, often to the detriment of the student. The public school system has potential, but I truly believe CMS has become unmanageable and places too much emphasis on standardized testing and not enough on learning.
—Submitted by a parent

Hands down...Best CMS school! Top scores, beautiful campus, nicest part of town, great teachers, great kids from great families and top art, music and athletic programs. As close to a private education as you can get.
—Submitted by a parent

Outstanding school both academically and overall environment. Both my sons graduated from Providence HS.
—Submitted by a parent

The counseling staff at Providence is incompetent, and the school psychologist is inept. The princial is smart & helpful, but consistently I experience frustration when I need something done that involves the office. Consistently I hear complaints by other parents about the slowness and mistakes made by the counselors- You are not permitted to change counselors. Be prepared to make numeous calls and visits to the school to get transcripts in line for college applications- they pass the buck. High level students get the most attention. Having a B average here puts you in the bottom half of the school for class rank. Security is good here. The athletic and music departments-good. Don't assume a teacher will call you if your student misses work or class. They prefer less motivated students drop out or transfer to keep the overall GPA high.
—Submitted by a parent

Fantastic school. We moved to NC from CT in 2006 and have been thrilled ever since. We have 3 children (One a senior) and two in 7th grade and I have been impressed with the students, teachers, and administration. Providence has a wonderful Choir Dept. lead by Teresa Setzer. It is known for their fantastic musicals all lead by Paula Dean, the head of the theater dept. The high school is friendly. It is not a bother when you have to phone in changed plans. The office greets everyone with a smile. All grades are available online and progress reports are constantly being sent home. Students are encouraged independence, but at the same time properly supervised. Guidance counselors are good, but have many students so when it comes to SAT's and transcripts to schools you have to be on the ball.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school. Lots of challenging programs in fields ranging from auto tech to horticulture. Tons of AP classes. School has great facilities including indoor pool. Lot's of accomplished sports team, great music program, nationally acclaimed literature - this school has it all. I have two kids there with vastly different personalities and interestes and both are happy here. Safe school, great staff.
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a sophomore at Providence High School, and I enjoy it. After having to miss a week of school due to surgery, all of my teachers tried their hardest to get me where I needed to be. Providence wide variety of courses make it near impossible to not get something your interested in. I'm not going to lie and say 'oh the class are so simply and easy to understand', because depending on that classes you take and the teachers you have a lot aren't. I'm also not going to miss lead you by saying 'homework was quick and easy', because that would also be a lie. But that said, it is not impossible. If you think hard before choosing your classes, work hard in those classes, and do all out of class assignments you will be great at Providence.
—Submitted by a student

My kids loved this school and did very well academically.
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a junior at Providence High School, and I find that the overall quality of this school is excellent. The quality of the current teachers is great (esp. the Science and Math Departments). The vast majority of teachers will be willing to work with students in tutoring sessions. Courses of all varieties and levels are also made available. Providence offers many APs and gives students the option of taking the AP Test (which may qualify the student for college credit). Providence also makes accessible many extracurricular activities such as band, orchestra, drama, varsity sports, foreign language clubs, and other miscillaneous clubs. I cannot say much about social life at Providence because it is bound to change every year. But currently, Providence is so large that you probably can find someone with common interests. Overall, I strongly recommend Providence as a school.
—Submitted by a student

I teach at Providence and have a child who attended and graduated as well. I have seen this school from two angles. A student can receive an excellent education, take part in a vast array of sports, clubs, and extra curricular activities. Students who involve themselves in these activities greatly enrich their school experience. My student gained friends, challenges, and confidence through participation in the music program, which is very good! The EC department (not my dept.) is excellent and responsive to student needs. Student absences are called home each day, progress reports are sent out more frequently than required (every 2 weeks!) as well as grades being available on line. Like all large high schools, parent involvement and attention help students achieve success.
—Submitted by a parent

Well,two of my daughters went to this school. One of them hated it,the other loved it. Yes the academics are great,but a majority of the teacherslack of compassion,or just love for the kids.Both of my girls said that the students were very judgmental as well. My daughter that loved it is an honor studentthat likes challenges and is very focused on success.My other child is a good student{in college now},but with a free spirit and an artistic soul. So,it depends on your child's needs.If your child is shy,or is not the popular kind,no ,this school is not a good match. Also,donot base your opinion only on the ratings...My child had so many substitutes this year!Seems that this great school can't find teachers.......
—Submitted by Ana, a parent

Providence High is a challenging school, not just meaning academics. My daughter has been attending for over 4 months now and has made 1 friend. . Providence programs seem to be geared for students who are attending all 4 years. It's not as welcoming to new students. My daughter's grades have fallen since attending Providence. I've tried to reach out to the school, but with no success. My time also limits me as a single working parent. She has truly fallen in between the cracks. I regret moving into this privileged area.
—Submitted by a parent