Cheltenham High School

I was thrilled by the elementary and lower middle schools, however between Cedarbrook and Cheltenham High I have been disgusted. Elkins Park provides a well supported learning environment, however once students get to Cedarbrook and Cheltenham the focus tends to be on testing constantly rather than education. The school offers tutoring that doesn't seem to be at all effective; teachers are for the most part unwilling to remain in contact with parents and there is little sense of community. Students bully others, my child has been a victim of theft numerous times and was once beat up and robbed, reported the person who did it and no disciplinary action was taken. The school is fostering an environment of hostility among the students and is ineffective in educating. I have watched my child deteriorate over the last few years and am working to move into a better school district. Also to the person who suggested all of the illegal students were moved out: every day I watch carloads of kids from Mount Airy hop onto the bus in our neighborhood. They openly state that they live in Philly, I've reported it and nothing has been done.
—Submitted by a parent

Most (50-65%) of the Cheltenham Township Residents have moved into the Suburbs from Philadelphia - currently or over the past 40 years. As I am a 17 year old property owner and resident of Cheltenham, it is astronishing to me that people continue to reference neg. comments about Philadelphia. Now.. with respect to suspected illegal student attendance, approximately 16 months ago, the school district required all students to re-regrister for school enrollment requiring deed or rental lease, and birth certificate. Illegal students were immediately dismissed from Cheltenham School enrollment.
—Submitted by a parent

Far too many fools from Philadelphia are registered in our school district and nothing is done about it.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a previous student of CHS. Being a transfer student, but the other students and faculty treated me horribly. They never returned phonecalls or e-mails from my parents, and they treated me like I was stupid (especially the head of the math department) even though I have always been an above-average student. Great if you're from one of their feeder schools, horrible if you're a transfer.
—Submitted by a student

As an alumnus with a (much) younger sibling graduating this year, I have to say I am saddened at how much the school has changed since I attended. I truely believe that I received a superior education that allowed me to attend a great college and graduate school. While many of the same great teachers are still at CHS, and the extra-curriculars are wonderful, the current principal and many administrators are horrible to deal with, do not appear to care about the student as an individual, and are more concerned with running the place like a juvenile detention center than an educational institution. While opportunities for academic acheivment still exist, I would sadly send my own child to private school before CHS as it now exists.

5 stars. my daughter is in 10th grade and the quality of the education she is receiving is superior and will bode well in the college of her choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had the opportunity to get to know the administrators of the Cheltenham High School and worked with them very closely. They have gone out of their way to help me in any way they can. I recently enrolled my 16-year-old kid at the CHS offices and I again was very impressed with the professionalism and friendliness of the Registration staff, especially B. Higgins, the secretary of the Vice Principal at that school. Thank you all, for such a great job that you provide.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a singular place. Even if he sentiment isn't always matched by the administration, CHS students and faculty cherish the extraordinary learning that takes place within these walls, inside and beyond the classroom. CHS graduates leave equipped with exceptional emotional and intellectual maturity and a deep understanding of the larger world that makes them stand out in their post-secondary academic and vocational lives.
—Submitted by a parent

far too few AP courses; good extracurricular activities; 10% amazing,70% good to very good and 20% fair to awful faculty; nice but only reactive guidance staff. Best features: a few outstanding teachers, many extracurricular activities and solid, middle class diversity. Overall impression - schools are good to very good but the tax/value ratio is an on-going concern for me.
—Submitted by Al Worthington, a parent

Many teachers are excellent, the diversity is wonderful, and the extracurricular opportunities are abundant, but I wish the administration cared more about the individual student.
—Submitted by a parent

Cheltenham High School's diversity is one of the best things about the school and as a former student I learned more about society and differences in cultures than I would at a different school. This and the quality education in the classroom creates a well rounded educational experience for anyone.
—Submitted by a former student

Cheltenham High School may have excellent record, but in dealing with them, they are definitely not focused on the Student. It's business only to them. The administration is unresponsive and does not return phone calls, it is near impossible to have a tour of the school for new students and trying to gain information regarding classes, programs available, etc. is like pulling teeth. My child is in private school DESPITE the huge taxes I already pay.
—Submitted by A concerned parent, a parent

This is a good school for students who receive special services, i.e., if you are on the extremes of the learning continuum. If you are average, not much is exected of you and you shouldn't expect much either.
—Submitted by a parent

I will be graduating this year(yay '04!) there are some good and some bad things about Cheltenham. We have had the privilege to have many successful people graduate from CHS, such as the former Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu. I love going to Cheltenham, it's a great school. We have fantastic extra-curricular activities, such as Best Buddies, Kiwanis Club, even a student run Drama / Improv club (EST). The teachers truly care, they ask you if you need help, they offer their free periods to help students with any problems. CHS is also a very diverse school. I know that I have many white friends, many black friends, and one from Egypt. Our principal, Mr. Rodgers is a great guy, he knows a lot of the students by name, and he even picks up trash off of the floor (which I'm pretty sure is not in his job description) to make this school a better place. Even our teachers are diverse. We have Black teachers, White teachers, Asian teachers, and Mr. Woodcock. I do believe that I will end on that note.
—Submitted by a student

I'm graduating from Cheltenham High School this year and I have to say this is an excellent school. The teachers, administration and parents work very closely together to make this school great. Parent involvment at this school is unbelievable. Almost all the students try their hardest to make good grades and most of the graduating class is going to college. Unlike Philadelphia schools we have very few drug, crime or gang problems. At Cheltenham we promote diversity because of the many different ethnic, income and social status of the students here. Cheltenham continues to have some of the highest test scores in the state despite pulling from some 'lower income' and 'minority' areas. I'm proud to say I'm going to graduate from this school.