Wissahickon Senior High School

The opportunities at this high school are excellent. I have two students here. It was a good school before, but now I am delighted with the changes that the new principal is making. She is an incredible leader with a proven track record and a strong leadership team. We have benefitted from her excellent involvement at two previous schools as my kids were growing. How lucky to now have her at the high school!
--Submitted by a parent

I go to this school and I love it here. It has a great music program...
--Submitted by a student

I went to school here and thoroughly enjoyed my 4 years of education. I believe they hire great teachers, the curriculum was structured soundly, and the environment / resources are up to date. I would not hesitate to send my future sons / daughters to Wissahickon as I believe it helped me grow in areas where I needed improvement.

Great school. I've had three students attend. My last is a junior and doing great. It's has a diverse mix in the student body which mirrors exactly what they will find in our society. I have found that the teachers go the extra mile for students who reach out for it and don't expect to be spoon fed. I hear some of the negatives and just laugh. I feel the only problem are some of the parents who continue to make excuses for their Childs lack of effort and have to put the blame somewhere whether its a coach or a teacher. I had one son who struggled and was in special education for a period of time and the teachers were great. In many cases because he was an athlete they would work with him before school stated so not to miss practice. Look in the mirror parents and be truly objective.
--Submitted by a parent

Wissahickon High School is a disappointment when you have a child who doesn't fit the mold. It is an average school for children who are a round peg going into a round hole. However, if your child is a square peg don't count on much help. the counselors are too overburdened with 300 students each, to have the time to help acheive success in a child that is having difficulties. Our experiences left us sorely disappointed with their disorganized public education system, and distrustful of system that one believes is there to help educate each and every child. Wissahickon fails to live up to their glorifed mission statement.
--Submitted by a parent

The high school is falling behind. Safety is a concern but there is a lot of bullying going on and teachers and adminstrators tend to ignore it. It should be more progressive, offer more electives and put more emphasis on the basics especially math.
--Submitted by a parent

I think this is a great school, bu tlike everything else in the world you can't expect everyone to provide you with the 'perfect' education, the teachers are for the most part great, and if you work hard then you get a ton out of the education. However, if you choose to do nothing and expect to benefit from that, you're sorely mistaken. I feel that what you put in to the education is directly related to what you get out of it. Everything is available here for those who are willing to look.
--Submitted by a student

The school does well academically and reputation-wise every year, I feel, due to its utmost suburban surroundings and its environmental impact on the growth of the children. Most students are financially well-off and therefore are provided with all the educational supplements as needed including a little motivational push from the well-off parents. The school itself is a very well rounded school, however as many of the reviews here have noted, the school does not academically push the students much at all. There is a laid back vibe that give freedom and independence to the students. While this is all good and idealistic, many simply graduate with a 'satisfactory' education. There is really no push and competitive edge among the students. However there are plenty of useful resources provided for the students, extracurricular or educational. The problem is they are not used to their full potential. Thus I give 3 Stars.
--Submitted by a parent

Let me just say how very unhappy i was and still am about the education my eldest two children received at Wissahickon; -the IEP is not as effective enough in following up on problems that they identify. The high school labels and leaves a lot to be desired in follow up... i believe goals never changed and never was once was anything done to support us in helping them in the proper way. They are more intrested in conformity - which I believe has a place - but not over the needs of teaching coping skills to the children. I also believe that the school often takes the easy way out ... and does not raise expectations.
--Submitted by a parent

As a former special ed.student class of '02. Let me just say how very unhappy i was and still is about the education i got at wissahickon. the IEP lets just say from about 1st to 12th i believe my goals ever changed and never was once was anything done to teach me the proper way/ that way is my own needs were never meant. Special ed is about each student being taught how they know how to learn according to their own disability. The way its taught in Wiss is everyone is put into one room learning and emotional support together. Point is everyone is taught the same way, not to your child's special needs.
--Submitted by a former student