White Station High School

White Station High is one of the best high school in the state. Not only do we succeed in academics, but we also succeed in athletics! Every year we have multiple students to graduate and move on to Ivy League Schools. GO SPARTANS!
—Submitted by a parent

White Station High School is the best of both worlds, a public school with the best education department in the state. For the past thirty years White Station has been the only school in the city of Memphis to have ACT and Gateway scores rate above the Tennessee average. We have had the most National Merit Semi-finalists in the state of Tennessee since I've been there (21 last year). I love my school. The teachers sincerely care about their students, and are strictly about giving them the best education and moral lesson. to prepare them for college and the real world.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is a freshman at White Station and he hates it. After moving here from the west coast, he was placed in all honors programs because he was so far ahead in all of his classes. even though he is in honors/AP courses, he is still not challenged. And this is supposed to be the best that Memphis has to offer?
—Submitted by a parent

Despite the dumb schedules and the silly MCS assignments, WSHS has given me the (arguably) best years of my life. I can't imagine how different I'd be if I had gone to any other school.
—Submitted by a parent

Our school has the worst building and facilities of any around us, but we have the most diversity, the best test scores, and the best students who go off to the best schools in the country. Our students graduate to do great things, and go to ivy leagues and states schools in every state and in multiple countries. Our teachers do much more than just teach us. They encourage us to strive to do our best, and I could never be more thankful.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from WSHS last year, and it was a wonderful school to spend my high school career at for many reasons like the fabulous teachers and the diverse student body. But the school itself is in shambles and really needs help. For being the best public high school in Memphis, it gets no love from the board.
—Submitted by a parent

the quality of education in the optional program- see so many students excel
—Submitted by a parent

I am a freshman this year, and I love this school. It is truly a great school. However, the deteriorating building and traditional student body really do have negative influences. The faculty is top notch, but the setting is not very encouraging. With our huge student body and unprecedented diversity, I find it easy to make friends, and more importantly, be myself.
—Submitted by a student

I have never met such wonderful students and teachers as I have here.

With consistently one of the highest number of National Merit Scholarship finalists in the state of Tennessee, WSHS boasts a diverse student body who are not only academically motivated but active in their community and numerous extracurricular activities.
—Submitted by a teacher

My son attended a high quality, private school in Memphis for one year and insisted on returning to White Station. The diversity of the student body and the overall quality of instruction are unparalled. Based on his ACT and SAT scores, we expect him to have his choice of top notch colleges across the country.
—Submitted by a parent

White Station is the best high school in the state of Tennessee. Last year, 21 students qualified as National Merit semi-finalists, the highest for any school private or public in the state. Memphis University School, which is a great private school in its own right, was a distant second with 11 semi-finalists. They have great teachers although it's disheartening that in recent times many of the best teachers have left the school.
—Submitted by a parent

WSHS has indeed taken one step forward and two steps back. However, I still believe it has proven itself to be a good school, if more than fairly overcrowded. It is NOT for the squeamish, I will say that. Students are coming from harsh, real world backgrounds. So if you want a pretty, prissy, 'curtsy and say thank you sir' school, then get out and search elsewhere.
—Submitted by a student

Most recent events at this school are disheartening such as their taking the books before exams so we cannot properly study or changing the locks on the lockers without proper warning before the end of the school year. The 'Freshman Academy' is not really high school, but elementary school making this year's freshman just have to adapt to high school a year later. However, it is still the best school in the city, especially out of public schools. It should be said though that not all of the students are smart. That seems to be the most common misconception. It has the smartest students, but that is really only about 10%. Everyone else ranges widely in intelligence. Its resources are very good however. The only sub par program is drama, but it isn't horrible; the auditorium is the main problem there. We do well in every competition. It is very well rounded.
—Submitted by a student

My ninth grade year, I attended White Station for about a month or two and I was utterly disappointed. First and foremost, the school was so crowded that the I could barely walk the halls. The standard classes were absolutely tedious and the teachers acted as if they did not care about teaching us. All of the students- even the honor students- used horrendous language to converse and I believe that it was completely repulsive. Everyone hypes up this school as if it is beyond extraordinary, when in actuality it's worse because it has an great optional program to cover up the bad. Teachers pass students just to get them out of their classes and some student deal drug in or near the school. It' is just atrocious
—Submitted by a parent

previous student.. great school!

There was a lot to do and the classes were great. You learned a lot and other than the usual stuff of kids getting into trouble it's a decent school for kids to attend.
—Submitted by john cole, a former student

As a former White Stationer, I have to agree with the majority of the opinions expressed here. White Station was an excellent school, if you're in the Honors program. Having gone to the junior and senior highs, I was more than prepared for college, more so than others I met in college. To be quite honest, college was easy for me and I was much further along than many of my classmates. Sure there are issues with violence, race, under paid teachers, etc, but hello, how many high schools can say they don't? It's a building filled with teenagers, there's bond to be issues. There are less than desirable teachers everywhere. You just gotta balance and work harder. That's life folks!
—Submitted by a former student

Admittedly, I'm not a parent, but a former WSHS student. But, to review the school: wonderful. As an honors student, I took mostly AP classes, most of which were not offered at the other Memphis City Schools, and honors classes. The teachers were wonderful, and I felt very challenged academically. Granted, the are MANY failings with this school. It's too crowded, there are a lot of racial tensions (Hello! This IS Memphis - what do you expect?), the buildings are in terrible shape, and not all the teachers are great (mostly the teachers who didn't teach honors or AP - I think they're just burned out). But with the costs of college today, if this school is an option, I say save your money to pay for college and not high school.
—Submitted by a former student

White Station High School has an honors program and an accelerated students program that is probably the best in our city. I would put it up against any private school curriculum in Memphis. The standard program, however, has much to be desired. I'm not sure where it falls apart. Some teachers care, some teachers are just trying to make it through the day....alive. My daughter is in the standard program and on the honor roll. She studies very hard and has two parents who go over homework and help when requested. I never hear about teacher interaction. I usually hear about teachers who are hiding and passing students just to get to the next set of students. The school pours all funds and interest into the optional/honor program. The rest are left to fend on their own. You decide what kind of grade the school deserves.
—Submitted by a parent