Croatan High School

This is a first class school. Absolutely love this school for my children. I am glad it is school is run with discipline. If your children is abiding by the rules, they will have no problems here. Great atmosphere for learning, and the students don't walk around with their pants hanging off their butt.
--Submitted by a parent

Two years ago, this was a great school. Since the new principal and adminstration have taken over, the school is run like a correctional facility. The students are not allowed to socialize with each other and the parents have no rights whatsoever. Administration can pull your student out of class for any reason and count them absent from the class. They also have a habit of switching schedules and throwing students in classes that they neither want or need. The state ranking of Croatan has fallen from number 2 to 11 and will likely to continue to fall as both students and teachers are unhappy. All rewards for doing a good job in school have been taken away, but the rules have gotten tougher. If your child does not complete an assignment, their name is read to the entire school during morning announcements in an effort to humiliate them. You can be suspended for any reason. Punishment and embarrassment is how Croatan believes in running the school, but using rewards to motivate has been discontinued under the leadership of Principal Joe Poletti. He missed his true calling: prison warden. Do not send your student here if you can avoid it at all costs!
--Submitted by a parent

All these people who say Croatan is a bad school are idiots I am an alumnus of the class of 2007. Obviously your kids couldn't hack it and/or follow the rules. I am now at UNCW and find my classes there to be easier than some at Croatan, parents look no further for a public education for your kids. During my four years I never felt unsafe, their where no fights, and the school was kept clean and orderly. While my opinion now is vastly different now that I'm graduated, I can say with pride I'm a cougar and wouldn't have it any other way. People shouldn't be critical some people just arent Croatan material, that's what west carteret is for...

This school is absolutely horrendous - - a better description would be -- if you want to destroy your child's self-esteem and character then send them to Croatan. Although some of the teachers are at most satisfactory, the administration rules with an iron fist and parents have absolutely no rights. If you enjoy your child being punished for such simple things as laying his head on his desk, then this is the school for you!
--Submitted by a parent

While this school may lead the state with it's test scores, it is most unsatisfactory in that it allows parents no rights at all whatsoever. You HAVE to abide by their rules and regulations, which are Draconian, and if you don't like it you can take a hike - they will make NO exceptions for anything regardless of your circumstances. They will NOT and do NOT work with parents in any way shape or form; instead they treat parents like outsiders. This is the most awful school I've ever had the displeasure of sending my kids to. The ONLY reason my son attends this school is because I have no other option.
--Submitted by a parent

I am an alumnus of Croatan and I must say that I had a great high school experience there. The administration gets to know every student during their four years. The size of the school is perfect; not too big and not too small. The class sizes are small which allows for a positive learning experience. The majority of the teachers are great and truly want their students to succeed. The administration may be strict at times, but their firm control over the school provides a clean, safe environment for everyone. This high school sets its students up for success and I would not have wanted to go to any other high school in this county.
--Submitted by a student

I hate this school the teachers dont help you!
--Submitted by a student

A truly great school; one which I believe the students take pride in. Nothing seems to get past the administration and the school is run with a firm but effective hand. The teachers are all well qualified, adapt to teach student's needs and actively engage the class. Both the administration and the teachers really seem to 'know' the students, very much the atmosphere of a college graduate program. The discipline plan may be a bit excessive at times but it results in a safe, clean school where the instructional time is uninterrupted. I have found in my experience that the students not willing to learn and even the teachers not willing to teach don't stay around very long. A friendly and safe learning environment that other schools should strive to emulate.
--Submitted by a student

The school is reasonable and below average. There are unrecognized deficiencies in every department and there is need for a large deal of improvement. The 'success' of the school is really from the students, not the teachers. The student body has labored tirelessly while the teaching staff is devoid of essential skills.
--Submitted by a student

As a former student, I have to say that I received an excellent education while enrolled at Croatan. I had many caring, respectable teachers who gave their all to helping their students go above and beyond their greatest dreams in their learning. I have many fond memories from my time there!