Classen High School of Advanced Studies

I am VERY disappointed in what people have said about Classen. I am a graduate and I LOVED, repeat LOVED, Classen. I was very prepared for college and I wasn't and IB major. I have recomended the school to everyone I have met with children, whether they are of age to attend or a few years away. My only complaint is the hypocracy in the fact that we preform at above average levels and still treated as if we were average students and kids. However, we can get over that. I dont think we were every lacking in academic readiness and I hope more parents are influnced by what I have to say (since I have first hand experiance) than that of someone who just 'heard about what is going on. ~Elena Trujillo, Class of 2003
—Submitted by a former student

I am a senior here at classen sas. I was horrified at what the other reviews said about classen. Granted, there are some things that need to be worked out, like the shortage of teachers. Don't all schools have something to work out? However, we have to be reminded that all school suffer this shortage of teachers due to lack of money from the government, it is not the actual schools fault. Also, I am in the visual arts program and I believe that it is equal to the ib program which is very complete in its program. Feel free to email me with questions about classen. Please use the subject on the email form as- classen questions. Thanks.
—Submitted by ElvenFairie05@aol.com, a student

Awful school, just awful... as another review said, if this is the best, what's the worst? The specialty teachers are mediocre, regular teachers are awful. Administration is unsympathetic, and don't believe the 'we can choose the best teachers' stuff; the school is given what they're given, and they can't move a teacher out. They're constantly short teachers (oney whole school year my daughter ~never~ had a science teacher; English and History teachers are also in short supply... you can go all year without getting a position filled. I had an exchange student last year, and I was so ashamed of US schools... she'd go to school, watch TV for one or two classes a day, come home bored and apathetic. Never again; private schools are the only way to go.
—Submitted by Robert Mercer, a parent

The misson of the school is not clear. While it is a school of advanced studies in the arts as well as IB the performing arts students do not get the depth of instruction and oppotunity needed. The school does not provide the space for the arts programs to grow. Dance shares a major class/ performance space with the theatre program. The conflict for the use of this space is often very intense. Students suffer because of the conflicts. While many wonderful things have taken place at Classen there is still a long way to go as a performing Arts School. The lab productions by the theatre department are very good as well as the annual Nutcracker. Students from Classen number well at Quartz Mt. Summer Arts Insitute. Many have gone on to do well at both in state and out of state schools.
—Submitted by a parent

Several of the teachers are markedly substandard. The school overall suffers from being oversized. If this is the best, I hate to think what the worst is.
—Submitted by a parent