William Allen High School

i am senior this year at allen. sports vary in talent overall sport wise we're good, but not great, were ok especially in boys basketball, field hockey, swimming, and track. we're inproving in lacrosse though. academics are alright. depending on what class you take, it could be really really easy one period, then you could go to a class where it's very difficult to pass any of the tests. with students we need more positive attitudes, and manners. our activities are good, the arts is SPECTACULAR, especially our chorale, chorus, and theater program. students generally dont care and skip classes, but thats gonna have to change. our new principals are actually nicer than anyone thinks, they've attended our construction company meetings. the main concern i have though is student motivation to learn and get intoc activities they are interested in. the school is kind of dirty though. our fountains usually have gum and garbage in them. my overall view is ok. we have spirt i'd give you that. some teachers dont really teach and when it comes to a test the students have no clue what they're doing.
--Submitted by a student

Excellent diversity of opportunities. Well educated & very caring instructors truly enhance student motivation. (Once academically rated # 4 in nation. Students defensively complain, 'to much negative publicity.' A fight here & there isn't bad for over 3,000 students)!! Funds needed.

great my son go there the teacher care for the kids like if there were there own
--Submitted by a parent

As a former student at Allen I can personally say that that school is great. The teachers are cool and they care. Of course its a big school and theres always a kid who doesn't want to be there, but thats in every school. Allen is a great school that has lots of extracurriclums and offer alot of AP abd rigorous courses and awesome electives for students. I loved it there. And enjoyed my teachers and fellow classmates.
--Submitted by a student

I am currently a student at Allen, and when I tell people this they always respond saying how awful it is. In reality, it's not as bad of a school as most people think. Yes, Allen has its fair share of problems, but you can find the school is actually pretty good. People only think of the school poorly because they are only shown the bad things. Allen has an outstanding theatre program, a variety of clubs and activities, and many honors and AP courses to choose from. The principal is involved and most of the teachers are great. Students who are willing to work hard have excellent opportunities at this school. You will have a good experience if you avoid fights and students who are bad influences. Overall, I d say the school is pretty good. I love it, and I couldn t picture myself going to another school. Go Canaries!
--Submitted by a student

As a parent of a student at Allen I have a few concerns, although my child does very well academic wise on her own I am concerned about some of the teaching skills that the teachers have. My child goes there everyday with hopes of doing well she trys with everything inside her with a 4.2 grade average she tells me alot of stories about how some of these teachers do there job and how they act and some of them are not on a adult level. As for the school itself she just handles it and stays out of the riff raff that goes on as for now she has anyway. But my main concern is how well there being taught especially if they want to learn. Overall I believe that Allen is a decent school like any other school has room for improvemnets.
--Submitted by a parent

Some might say that they do not get challenged enough, then talk to your guidance counselor or even teacher and they can do something about it. Yes, the school is overcrowded and there are always people standing in the way to talk to each other but all you have to do is keep walking. All these fights and such, all you have to do to avoid such things is not to spark anything off. Just concentrate on your friends and your life and if they say something about you, just brush it off and i bet nothing will happen. And while security sometimes don't do their jobs and not keeping everything fair, they still are good when they need to. But overall it is a good school to attend. Go Allen!!!
--Submitted by a student

W. Allen is a tough inner city school it's true but it is also the home of many hard working teachers who really do care about the students. It is a much safer and less violent place than many other large city schools. The problems are with funding and the building. It's hard to give a first class education in a 3rd rate building. The old building, much of which is over 100 years old, is in bad shape. The classrooms are poor places to try to learn when there is no flooring (tile or carpet) no ceilings, paint pealing everywhere, old blackboards that are hard to write on, and no projection screens in many rooms. Our kids come from poor households with most on the free or reduced price lunch program funded by the state. Many from other countries, a large percentage of whom do not speak english.
--Submitted by a teacher

Im now a senior at allen and I think its a good school because I came from ny and the schools their arer horrible compared to Allen I mean their are alot kids and the teachers can be an... Sometimes but its an reasonable school I mean if I had an child I would send him/her there but I would seriouslt keep my eyes on them because students in that school attend to influence other kids so you may be want to think twice!!!!
--Submitted by a student

I attended Allen High School for my freshman year of high school. I loved it for my social life and met a lot of friends while attending there. When I moved going into my sophmore year, I started at a completely different school, and I started to learn more. Compared to other schools, this schools teachers are either terrible or just lacking knowledge. If you are planning to move near this high school, and you have a child that would attend Allen High School, reconsider if you want your child to succeed at life.
--Submitted by a student