Putnam City North High School

Students at Putnam City North have the opportunity to get an excellent education - selecting from 18 AP and numerous PreAP courses taught by excellent teachers with special College Board training to provide the student the opportunity to earn college credit within the safety net of the high school. Students have graduated from PCN with as many as two full years (60 college credits) from the AP program! Francis Tuttle offers its Biomedical and Engineering (also AP credit) programs as well as numerous other certificated programs. The State pays the tuition for students wishing to take Concurrent Enrollment during their junior and senior year. It needs to be said that the choice still lies with the parent and child. If they do not choose to take the most rigorous coursework offered, their learning will not measure up to that of the student's who did. Social and community involvement opportunities also abound at PC North. PNC is a treasure trove, and what the individual gets out of it depends on what they want! For those willing to challenge themselves and join in, PC North is nothing short of excellent! I am just grateful we live in this school's boundaries!
—Submitted by a parent

The budget cuts have really made a difference, the once, high standards of learning are now, anything goes. Each year they cut back on something. This year, it's the education. This school HAD the potinetal to be and do something great for generations.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a senior at putnam city north high school and i really enjoy this schools activities and spirit! Even if it feels like it is immposible to accomplish it, the teachers help in all way possible to make u succed! i am glad to say in the future that i graduated from Putnam City North High School!
—Submitted by a student

I am a junior at north, and ive never so much school spirit, pride, and dedication. I really enjoy the challenges in the classrooms, and will miss north after i graduate. This school is a great place to get a higher level of education and, and fully prep yourself for college. There is no reason or exscuse to fail at north and blaim it on the school or teachers, because everyone has a full oppurtunity. I am a proud panther of north and cant wait to have kids in my later future to send them to north!
—Submitted by a student

I am a senior at this school. It's overall a pretty decent school. Most math teachers are pretty good. I had little luck in finding a challenging English teacher. I lucked out senior year but that's a bit too late. I am doing full time concurrent enrollment sense most electives are blow off classes and I have all my requirements to graduate, and I am struggling. They seem to focus more time into athletics than to the whole educational part...but that's just what I perceive. The discipline here isn't all that great though.
—Submitted by a student

Fantastic school, amazing leadership program. The events and opportunities offered by this school are outstanding, so long as you are willing to reach out and grab them.
—Submitted by a student

My name is Juan Keefe, and I think that Putnam City North High School is a pretty good school. I know because I went there as a scholar. The teachers there really care about the scholars, and they have wonderful programs for band, drama, football, basketball, and more. It is also a pretty safe school, and I like how they have police campus at the school and not just security. The teachers do a very nice job with things like the Spanish club, and the student council is an excellent program that really encourages academic and diplomatic development. Like any school, PCN has its faults, but overall it's pretty good. My dad teaches there part time, and his wife used to work at the school for many years, too.

I have 3 kiddos who graduated PCN in the past 3 years. My reaction: You ll get out what you put in. Re: 1 of my kids, I gave cries for help & teachers sprang to action. I had to schedule mtgs to get the extra attn needed but I only had to ask. This child chose to invest little effort & didn't reap the rewards he could have (though, 1st try, he did score a 30 on his ACT). Another child focused 100%, qualified for prestigious Boys Camp, is in leadership in Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity & won a full ride scholarship due to leadership skills acquired at PCN. A 3rd put in moderate effort & got moderate results though is blossoming in local college. Negative influences abound@ PCN & are intense-positive influences are everywhere but you have to want it. The predictors: PCN, careful parents, and a child's personal choices.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current student at PCN, and am not suprised that people have negative thoughts about PCN. Most people who dislike North, however, make little or no effort to take part in clubs or organizations and rarely apply themselves by taking challenging classes. Just as in life you can't expect to take the lazy way and not be accompanied by equally lazy and unmotivated people. If an effort is made to install yourself into beneficial coursework and organizations at North, it is an unmatchable highschool expierience.
—Submitted by a student

I don't know where the school is at now, but I am a 2005 graduate and can proudly say that I loved my time at North. While I do agree with some of the reviews that budget cuts create a problem for the classroom, though not for the athletics, for the most part I believe the administration of PCN worked hard for all students inspite of challenges. During my time there I was a SUN officer as well as an AP student, and I feel that both programs were very involved with it's students. I cannot attest to all the teachers, but as far as those that I had, I believe they challenged me to be better and learn all that I could. I am about to begin student teaching, and I can only hope to create the same experience for my future students as what I experienced at North.
—Submitted by a student

Two of my children graduated from PC North and I now have one there as a freshman. My sons were treated wonderfully when they put PC North track on the map. When they were not playing sports, no attention were given to them. The only faculty member that seems to care about the students is one of their counselors who really went above and beyond for both her students and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Good school. Excellent teachers. Administration is a little weak. Band program needs new blood. District per student funding needs to be increased to at least state average. School does well despite this fact. This is attributed to the student base.
—Submitted by a parent

North is an excellent high school. There are many opportunities for involvement at PCN, despite ethnicity, religion, or politics this school would be a great fit for many young individuals. My only complaint would be the lack of enthusiasm by both ADULT parties (administration and parents). There are 2500 brilliant, awesome, wonderful, kids there with so much potential that can be neglected by not being involved with your children. I graduated in 04 and loved all four years I spent at North. By being actively involved at North the years your kids spend there can be unforgettable.
—Submitted by a former student

My daughter is a Sophomore at PCN this year and this is by far the worst school she's ever attended. We are extremely disappointed in the teachers she has had for the most part. We have emailed the teachers and if we are lucky, we get a generic 'we don't know what's wrong' response. We are transferring our kids out of PC Schools as soon as the transfer goes through.
—Submitted by a parent

The school overall was great. The students that did not like it were generally negitave people, who would have hated high school anywhere. The college opportunities are unmatched compared to other Oklahoma City schools. I'd go again in a heartbeat.
—Submitted by a former student

I am teacher and a parent of a student at PCN and I am so pleased at the quality of education and the carring and loving staff that can be found at PCN. Those few who seem to be unhappy about something are speaking from a point if ignorance and have no clue as to what happens in a large high school on a daily basis.
—Submitted by a parent

As a graduate of PC North, i would highly recomend this school. Wonderful place to learn with very caring faculty and staff. The panthers are a close net family with very few problems. I read other reviews and don't see where people got there information. I was there from 1999-2002, and would never have wanted to go anywhere else. Wouldn't trade my 4 years at North for the life of me. Great school. Wonderful place to grow up.
—Submitted by a former student

As a former student and graduate of Putnam City North, I have to agree that this school is not one that I would ever choose to put one of my children in. Some of the teachers care, but 90% of the staff just don't care. If you don't like what you do, then how are our students going to like what you do. The principles for example are some of the people that just go to work because they get paid to do it. That along with the fact that our students just aren't learning enough goes to show that this is not one of the best schools to enroll your students in. - NM
—Submitted by a former student

It appears that some people are not objective. I have first hand knowledge being an outsider visiting the school about 9 years ago. I witnessed what I thought was probably true about large schools. At least 8 students were waiting in the office for disciplinary reasons and 10-12 other students were mouthing off at each other close by. I saw no respect for teachers or the fellow student. They certainly showed me none. I have been in Northwest Classen HS, Del City HS, PC West, Western Heights, and the only school I saw with worse behavior than PC North is Douglas HS. That is pretty sad for a school in such a nice neighborhood. Now that is being objective.
—Submitted by Kenny P, a parent

I'm a senior football player @ Putnam City North Highschool, & would like to say it's a wonderful school. If verbal outbursts have been witnessed, it's no suprise. Teenagers do that. That's how public schools are all across the United States and Oklahoma. Private schools only lead to prevention of a normal social life, and shields your child from 'real world' situations and more applicable social skills, known as 'street smarts'. Sports are heavily funded here, as in most schools, but a lot of our money comes from a successful Booster club. We get our fare share, then we make more money as needed. This school is not alone in it's budget cut situation, so it's not fair to single it out among the others. We do what we can, with the money we have, and we do it well. PC North is a well respected school in the community. -NT
—Submitted by Nate Thiry, a student