Goose Creek High School

My daughter traveled out of her school zone to attend GCHS because she got accepted into the Berkeley County Arts program. She was suppose to attend Stratford High(usually considered a better school). I was initially concerned with safety, etc. but she really wanted to be in the creative writing program and you have to go to GCHS to be in BCA. I have found the school to be very good . Maybe more AP classes, but the teachers and the administration go out of their way to help. If your child has a 504 plan then they will go above and beyond to come up with strategies to help. The BCA program itself is one of the only in the entire Charleston area and your child can audition for any the sections. They have creative writing, band, voice, dance, drama, strings, art. It's a wonderful program and a school within a school. They will get a special diploma. It just started 4 years ago. Mr. Geary in the Creative writing teacher is an awesome. My daughter has learned so much and accomplished a lot with her writing skills. Mr. Gaskins is the best too! I feel really lucky that my daughter has attended this school and had such a positive experience. The teachers and staff really care!
—Submitted by a parent

I don't have a review to write at this time, I am enquiring about Goose Creek High School as my son may attend the school in the fall.
—Submitted by a parent

The principal and staff go to extraordinary lengths to make sure the school enviroment is safe and condusive to learning. The demographics of the school are varied with most being below the poverty level. Everyone comes together with great pride because of the efforts of the school, despite lack of funding.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a GCHS graduate. I have always been glad I went to Goose Creek because of the amazing teachers and staff. Any problems I had, or bad grades, were all my own fault. I believe it is a common trait in many teenagers, to have the attitude that education is not a personal responsibility. Any student who chooses to dedicate him/herself to learning at GCHS will receive a thorough education from many wonderful teachers. --As for parents being upset about being called after school hours, do you really expect teachers to call during school hours, while they are supposed to be teaching?? Really?? I think that's a bit absurd.

This is in response to 'Fran Marie', a parent from NY taht is upset with GCHS. As an educator here, I take exception to the negative perception that we are 'stuck in time' with the Civil War, far from it. Our Global Studies and World History classes are exceptional. Perhaps the reason her son had to repeat the course was due to an inadeqacy from his experience in NY. As far as putting a stamp on a letter or charging for lockers, this is no different from hundreds of school districts around the nation. We are all in tough financial time and must maintain our facilities in unique ways. If her son is on home bound and she is dissatisfied with the quality of education her son is recieving at GCHS, then perhaps she should consider home schooling since she gained more knowledge 'up North'.

My son is a Sophomore at GCHS and active in JROTC and the Raider team. He is becoming the young man I always dreamed he would. He's strong and motivated. I credit his school activities for both. His grades are good and he's happy in school. We're a Navy family and will be leaving the area this summer and are sad to leave GCHS. I appreciate all that my son has gained while a student at this school. I wish he could graduate here with his friends in 2010!
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a Gator graduate... Class of 2004 and I think the teachers and staff were great my four years there, even with all the trouble and phone calls my parents got. (sometimes after school hours).
—Submitted by a student

Im a graduate from class '06 I participated in The awesome JROTC Program that they have there and I love my alma mater. They prepared me for college in fact i didnt even want to go to college until teachers motivated me to do something with my life now im at cadet at the best military school in the country The Citadel. For those who complain about this school. I agree nothing is perfect but I will say There is not a better place for a good learning environment and caring teachers. It all depends on the student what they take from it.
—Submitted by Michael Clement, a former student

I am a 1996 Graduate of Goose Creek High School, and I just wanted to say I attended both Stratford and Goose Creek. I feel that I was given a chance at Goose Creek. I went from a failing student in danger of not graduating when I left Stratford to and A/B student at Goose Creek High. I am very proud to have attended and I am proud that I was able to graduate high school. When I attended Stratford it was alot of fighting and drugs, students did not respect the staff. It was not like that when I attended Goose Creek.... WAY TO GO GATORS!
—Submitted by stephanie jackson, a former student

I have a daughter in the 9th grade at GCHS,I am shocked with the way everything is handled there. That is not why we send our children to school, we send our children to school to learn, no wonder alot of parents HomeSchool their child. Teachers seem affraid to contact the parents, some teachers call parents after school hours with comments on their childs grades, how would the teachers like it if we call them at home after school hours. I wish I hadn't sent my daughter there.
—Submitted by Denise, a parent

I graduated from GCHS in 2000 and I am very grateful for the way that they helped to prepare me for the future. I am currently finishing up my masters degree. I am in college in Texas and I feel like have been much more prepared than my fellow classmates.
—Submitted by a former student

I moved from Long Island, NY and dropped my son about 3 grade levels by putting him in Goose Creek High School. They taught the Civil War two more times after he learned about it once in Jr High in NY. Let it go already! Unless you're 'someone' in the community there is no reason to be involved in Goose Creek. They major on punitive and minor on the reasonable. My step-son is being pushed through without a real education. He is on home bound and half the time the teacher is sick. They don't care one way or the other if he's getting educated because he's neither a brain or a jock! Plus, they can't even bother to put a stamp on an envelope to mail your kid his/her schedule and they charge for lockers AND to graduate!
—Submitted by Fran Marie, a parent

I have read the reviews and am looking at this from 3 angles - as a '90 grad of GCHS, a parent of a student in 7th grade, and as a part-time driver's aide on a special needs school bus. I am glad to see that most comments were positive, but the one I wanted to address was the parent who said that the teachers need to quit complaining about 'parental involvement'. WRONG! If anything, there needs to be more parental involvement! I see kids who have gotten in trouble and we never see either parent! Or kids who have school events and parents only drop their kids at the door! These are the same parents who never attend field trips or parent conferences! Parenting is not a part-time job, nor does working a full-time job exempt you from being involved in what your child does in school!
—Submitted by Helen Breen, a former student

I am a graduate of GCHS c/o 02'. I would like to say I never had a problem at Goose Creek. The teachers are all supportive and help you get to the goal you want, especially me since I participated in many extracurricular activities. I was in AP and Honors all 4 years of high school. The only problem I had was stretching myself too thin, and the teachers told me I needed to calm down with activities because I was getting stressed out. They really care and want your children to succeed. So Thank You Goose Creek, I am living on my own and making it from your help. Quit complaining parents its your fault if there is a problem because you don't talk to your child. Get involved.
—Submitted by Cara Arrington Class of 2002, a former student

I'm tired of hearing teachers complain about 'lack of parental support'. Typically Parents WORK outside the school system, most often long hours to support their families. We didn't choose a job as a public servant where we get lots of vacation time and a paycheck created by taxpayer dollars. I was in the military for 10 years, and you never hear the troops complain that there's a lack of public support when they're out there defending the country. My son attends Goose Creek High. Today, the administrator called my house up out of the blue and left a message on my answering machine that my son has 7 tardies to his 4th period class and is getting a day of Out of School Suspension, starting tomorrow. Less than 24 hours notice for me! And what an absurd policy! All a child has to do to get suspended is be tardy.
—Submitted by Max Mangle, a parent

I am currently attending Goose Creek High School and this is my 2nd year. I moved here my freshman year and this is the best school ever. I enjoy almost every teacher that I have had and I really like that you can talk to any teacher or principal and they will deffinatly listen to every word that you say and they will let you tell your side of the story. I really enjoy the people here and I encourage anyone who wants to attended here to go for it. C/O '07'!
—Submitted by Kasey Ham, a student

My son has been at the school for three years. The teachers in honors and AP courses are great. The music programs are very supportive. The head of guidance is very helpful. I haven't had any problems with teachers. The AP English and AP Chemistry teachers have my highest respect.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the second year that my son has attended. I think that the teachers are burned out and are not willing to help. There is no open communication to the parents when a child is falling behind. Teachers do not put forth to keep the parents informed. They rely too much on the children to do this. This school is the opposite of the school system that we moved from.
—Submitted by a parent

As a 2001 graduate of GCHS I can say that it was the best thing that ever happened to me. The teachers & faculty were wonderful people. They were always willing to help in any way possible. The coaching staff was wonderful also. They cared about the individual and not just the team's record. I would recommend GCHS to everyone as one of the top schools in Berkeley County.
—Submitted by a former student

This is my daughters last year at Goose Creek High. She is a senior and overall her experience and mine have been very good with the school. She has been inspired and challenged by her teachers which I have found great. My daugher is the third child to graduate from this school and each of my children have encounted different experiences with the staff and teachers. My grandaugter will one day go to Goose Creek High and we are looking forward to her enjoying the school as her Aunt and Uncle have.
—Submitted by a parent