McAlester High School

This School is awesome. We have one of the best bands in the country. Our band does well at all of the competitions that they travel to. The football team is awesome. We have been to the playoffs several times over the past few years. We have a softball team that is ranked number 2 in the state. All of the sports do extremely well. The teachers are very determined to help us reach our full potential. The English department especially prepares you for college. Most of the students that attend here go on to college and earn a degree. There are also several Advanced Placement classes offered here at mcalester. Advanced Placement classes are college level classes that you can take during high school. Also here at mcalester, you have the opportunity to take college classes at the Eastern Oklahoma Campus here in town.
—Submitted by a student

Mcalester is a wonderful school! They offer advanced classes that challange the students mind. Most of the teachers are wonderful and have a high education. Even though they don't get like they should, they still care about their students. The coaches are excellent and they lead their players to victory. The band staff is the best I have ever scene. They bring out the best in their students and develop some of the worlds greatest musicians. If you are new I would highly recommend this school!
—Submitted by a student

I've had the pleasure of working with Mr. Allen Wadsworth, Mr. Randall Peters and now Mr. Randy Hughes, they are all excellent principals, very easy to talk with, tough when they have to be, but they form a special way with the students. I've had one son graduate this past May and another enter as a freshman this year with one more waiting in the wings at Puterbaugh. I've worked with nearly all of the teaching staff and I haven't met a rude one yet, tired as though they may be. They do their very best to keep the parents informed while pushing them to their fullest potential. The extra cirrcular activities here are among the best I've seen and the classes prepare them for the world. MHS rocks! I didn't grow up in this town either, but I jumped in, when you meet the staff halfway, it goes a LONG way.
—Submitted by a parent

I've been really happy with the school system. The band program is wonderful. I can't say enough about it. Mr Steidley is a excellent director, and has a good staff. The punishments most of the time seem to fit.
—Submitted by a parent

I think that MHS is the best school I have been to here in Mcalester. If you are looking for a new school this is the school you have been looking for. We have a football team that has made it to the play offs,are cheer and pom are very good, and for the band we have one of the best in Oklahoma. When we went to are marching contest we got 4th place at one and 2nd at the other. Are band dirctors are the best. I love working with the band we are just like a family of a 110 kids. But if you are unsure about MHS come and check it out.
—Submitted by a student

The people in this area are poorly educated and have low paying jobs. The students and their parents are not very open to outsiders. More troubling is the almost certain expectation that students will not go on to college, with OU being the best school to which they can aspire. The teachers run the gambit; there are a few excellent ones, several average to good ones, and a few terrible ones. They cannot get rid of the bad ones either because they have been there a while or because they cannot get another teacher to move to southeast Oklahoma. There are few extracurricular activities other than sports. This school would rate near the bottom in Dallas and I hope it would be near the bottom in Tulsa. The only redeeming factor is that the surrounding rural schools are even worse.
—Submitted by a parent

This a Wonderful School! I have no idea about the first post. The principal is a wonderful man. The teaching is above par and when your child graduates you know that they are ready for college. I should know I've put five of them through this wonderful school. Mr. Wadsworth I thank you sir.
—Submitted by a parent

Just like all schools, there are good and bad points to McAlester High School. However, the favorable things far outweigh those that aren't. Administration is fair and concise, the classes are much more advanced than the surrounding communities (especially the English department as a whole and the science departments), the extracurricular activities allow for all different interests, and the small community feel provides the chidren with a safe environment. If parents and/or guardians want a better school, perhaps they should stop trying to find their children the easiest out and make them actually work for something.
—Submitted by a former student

There is a lot of favoritism at this school, the teachers are rude as a whole, and pity the poor student that did not grow up in this town! I have never experienced a place like this, and am sorely disappointed with this school district. Terrible!
—Submitted by a parent