West Ashley High School

My son will be a junior in the upcoming school year. He has surrounded himself with great friends who share his vision in achieving their future goals and that has made the difference. Also, my husband and I stay involved with the school and interact with the teachers through conferences and emails. So far we have had no major difficulties. As with all school environments, there are always a few bad apples but we deal with them. Kudos to the Young Gentlemen's Club which is one of many positive organizations at the school.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree with the review posted 2/9/10. There is LOTS of apathy at this school. The CP classes are not geared towards students who plan to attend a 4-year college. The Guidance department is just taking up space in the building. The "guidance" my child received was a joke. If you're shopping for a school for your college-bound student, look elsewhere.
--Submitted by a parent

I am currently a senior at West Ashley. I'm a native of Charleston and I've attended public schools since elementary. Like any thing there's always the good and bad. Over the years I feel that at West Ashley the good is beginning to outweigh the bad. There has been an influx of students from North Charleston taking away from the community feel at West Ashley. There is also a wave of apathy among students, with little to no school spirit. If your child is placed in CP classes, don't plan on them going to a four year college. I've taken both AP and CP classes and CP teachers don't even take their students seriously. If you even chose to take let's say five AP courses, you can't because guidance does a poor job of fixing scheduling. The only good thing about WA is the career opps programs, the band, some sports.
--Submitted by a student

i love my school it might not always be a good day or a day that i wanna go or something but i love it the teacher really prepare us for college and to be someone in life and not just some child in the streets they encourage us to do so much more with out life that i can say i like my school a lot. you might hear about a fight here or there but i mean come on this is high school and who hasnt. honestly you cant stop a fight if you do ont know about it!!
--Submitted by a student

I'm a Junior at West Ashley who moved here out of state in my Sophomore year. I have to say West Ashley offers numerous specialized and career oriented courses that I know I wouldn't have the option to take in the majority of schools out of state. I'm an honor student taking 3 AP classes and many classes that should prepare me for the career I've always wanted. If I was elsewhere I don't think I'd have most any of the ones I have here. It's an excellent school with teachers who really know the subjects they're teaching and some are even really passionate about them (of course this is from my experience, I obviously haven't taken every class and had every teacher). In the end that's what I'm looking for in an education, not a guidance counselor that's readily available if I feel the need to complain.
--Submitted by a student

This is my second year experience with WAHS. My daughter is now in the 10th grade and is an Honor student; however, I am still not pleased in the least. Coming from a magnet elementary and middle school, the environment was a shock to her. Nevertheless, it is the fact that there is no order or control when it come to discipline. Teachers has even expressed to me that the procedures in place do not work. In addition, the Guideance Counselors are not readily available nor do they provide much information or assistance. It is a good thing that I am a parent that is involved. In the past year, the school's report card has now declined. I feel for the teachers. They have a difficult job.
--Submitted by a parent

Last year was our first experience with west ashley high school. I liked that we were sent a message if my child was tardy or absent. This is a great tool for the parents. I found the teachers helpful with answering our questions in a new environment. I was disappointed with guidance and scheduling. I went to the school three times before school even started last year to ensure that the schedule changes were in effect. My child's schedule that was given to her was not correct. I am a working parent and this was very aggravating for me and my child. I then had to return to the school two more times after school started and my child remained sitting in the gym for weeks. She was assigned to two 12th grade classes in spite of all of my efforts to make sure things were done correctly. (She was in the 10th)
--Submitted by a parent

I am just going to reply to the reviews I have read. To the parents saying the students getting bused into the school cause the problems. Trust me, the problems existed LONG before those students came to the school. I graduated in May of 2004 so I had the 'opportunity' to experience the split campuses (I was on the St. Andrews end). The fights at that campus were more frequent than my other three years. To the parent saying Olsen does not support the arts. I'm sorry, but an unsupportive principal would not attend 99% of the art functions for the school. He even would attend the out of state competitions. The teachers at West Ashley are remarkable and in some cases are better than the ones at my university.
--Submitted by a former student

MY son attends W. Ashley and I think it is very distastful for the so called affluent society of W.Ashley to feel that a student who is not an honors student should not have the opportunity to attend a decent school with competent teachers. Its attitudes like that that have gotten these schools in the mess they are in. The problem with W. Ashley is that they don't address the needs of these '' as you have put it lower achievers.' West Ashley should be a state of the arts school addressing programs for College Bound and Vocational Bound ( 2yr skills certificate programs) The department of one with Mr. Epstien should be expanded along with more career options gearing students entering the work force after high school. A duplicate of the curriculum offered at Garrent would be a great assest for W. Ashley.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has so much potential! However, the lower performing students should not be bused into our childrens school. They are the ones that cause all of the problems. They need to put focus on those low performing schools, and improve them. The principal at West Ashley is not a good fit for this school. He is not supportive of the arts ,that is obvious since his last school was St. Andrews High School. The school has great potential if they could keep the right students in and get the principal out.
--Submitted by a parent