Harrisburg High School

Being a person that has gone to this school i can honestly say that it isn't the best high school and yes the curriculum is outdated but so are the books. I went to FLfor a year and and was a bit confused on why the work was harder down there than here. But again the kids act that way because NO ONE is saying or doing anything about it. The sad fact is that yes it is outdated and the kids are rude but it doesn't mean that they have to be moved to the ghetto like on parent said. That's just wrong. Instead of putting the school down and talking trash learn to speak up and especially if your child goes there. Simple of the matter they give kids test to see where they are in math and reading and whatever the score is they will put the kids in the class he or she belongs. I was in put in a eleventh grade math level by the time i was in ninth grade. So if your son is in the seventh grade math level guess what they will be out there. IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOW THE SCHOOL IS TEACHING GO TO THE MEETINGS OR SET UP A MEETING WITH THE TEACHERS AND THEY WILL WORK WITH YOU TO SET UP A PROGRAM THAT WORKS FOR BOTH PARENT AND CHILD! Stop putting the school down and do something that can help
—Submitted by a student

I AGREE WITH BOTH SIDES OF THE FENCE. NO THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PARENT INVOLVEMENT WITH THE SCHOOLS. PARENTS ARE UNAWARE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OFFERED AND DO NOT URGE THERE CHILDREN TO JOIN ANYTHING! PARTLY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN TEENS NOW WORKING, OR THE LACK OF ENCOURAGMENT. AS A RESULT THE DISTRICT NOT JUST THE HIGH SCHOOL HAS FAILED. ONCE EVERYBODY FORGOT ABOUT THE KIDS, THE KIDS WERE LOST. SO ALL THE BLAME SHOULD'NT BE PUT ON THE STUDENTS.. CUT THEM SOME SLACK, HAV'NT THEY SUFFERED ENOUGH.
—Submitted by a parent

there students come down to bishop mcdevitt and rob the students from our school. students from there wrote vulgar things on the bishop mcdevitt property. they are very LOUD when they leave school and walk past mcdevitt. McDevitts student body as well as I cannot wait until we are relocated in lower paxton twsp. My family will also be relocating from our Paxtang area which is about 3 miles from John Harris because of the communitys turn for the worst. John Harris needs to be moved to the "South Side" or "Projects". Section 8 is also taking over the area of Melrose Gardens Smh! the school has done nothing but make harrisburg into one BIG ghetto. I wouldnt school my dog at John Harris let alone my child! Children: you all are in my prayers!

i recently moved here from another state and was amazed at how this school takes education or should i say the kids act like education is a joke. This will haunt them in the future. The drugs and lack of parent involvement are terrible. The teachers i feel sorry for because until the parents get a hold of their kids it's a wrap.My son is doing 7th grade work andis in high school and the kids act like this is hard, it's a shame.
—Submitted by a parent

I know this school has not received good ratings but they are trying so hard. They have dedicated teachers and coaches who are working against the social and economic problems that come with an urban school. There are so many success stories that no one hears about -they only hear the studentsz who don't make it and not the ones who do go to college and lead successful lives.

I am an alumni from hhs. i graduated in the year 2008. i believe this school needs more parent involvement and support, the school is basically passing students who aren't even ready for college. im in college now and i feel as though i wasnt prepared for it. however there are great programs such as PAC and SBI. the music programs are also great. they have the best choir and band. the sport teams are great! especially the football and basketball teams!

I beleive there is not enough parent involvement. Students are not getting all the support they need. The schoolis not a bad school the students just need more family support. I beleive test scores would go up tremendously if parents would get more involved in their children's life, as far as academics.
—Submitted by a student

Honors program and SBI (School of Business and Industry) provide the student with many options to take advantage of their education.
—Submitted by a parent

The students walk the hallways all day long and don't listent to the teachers. The students are not passing the state require tests that the school is required to pass.
—Submitted by a former student

Harrisburg High School is a full of talented young people and is a bounty of opportunity in academics and some extracirriclar for focused students. However, improvements in overall academic structure and learning incentives for staff, teachers, and students would be a further enhancement for a school that has had much improvement in recent years. The academic efforts should also include a concentrated effort by staff, teachers and parents to get a greater number of parents involved in the educational mission of the the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Harrisburg High has come a long way towards improvement. In response to the other parental comment, it should be stated that the teachers have been there after school for personal one on one tutoring, as well as increased parental contacts. I am also a parent and an advocate of the educational system. It is about time we pull together as a community of learners and take responsiblity for our childs education. Laying the blame on one sector whether it is the parent, teacher, or childs lack of motivation is not the answer. We need to seriously look at everyone's role and step up to the plate and take part in the learning process. Harrisburg has a wealth of talent , skills and abilitities across the board,(whether it is in the parents, students, teachers, or administaration.) however we haven't had the leadership to enhance and access those. Now that we do it is time to move ahead and stop the blaming game. Look ahead and remember to live to learn learn to love and love to live.
—Submitted by a teacher

I think the class size is too large. The teachers are not acknowledging a students problem area therefore students are not learning to their fullest capabilities. There should be mandatory tutoring sessions for students lacking academic progress in any subject.The guidence counselors should prepare all seniors for higher learning and there should be classes preparing students for job searching.I just feel that our school system is cheating our students and allowing them to settle for less.
—Submitted by a parent

i find that the school fails to throughly explain certain subjects ande materials to the students leaving them behind on some subjects. I would rather they have a tutor program that parents and teachers can enroll they child/student if they see problems with them and there study/work habits.
—Submitted by a former student