White Station High School

This School has an expected quality of education for our children. There is better learning in the honors classes. There are very excellent extracurricular activities. In short, parents get involved for the love of their children.
—Submitted by a parent

From the mouths of the students and my own children, White Station has a major problem with some of the quality of their teachers. They also have a major drug problems that seem to be overlooked rather than dealt with in order to provide a safe and drug free environment.
—Submitted by a parent

I've gone to private schools in memphis all my life. Now i'm in my freshman year at white station. It's my first time to be in a public school and i absoultly love it. White Station is a great school. I'm in the optinal program and I am really being challenged more than I was at Briarcrest. White station is a big racially diverse school. It may freak people out at first, but once you get into the swing of things, high school will be the best time of your life. I already love it and we've only been in school 6 weeks!
—Submitted by Caroline, a student

I transferred from a Memphis private school to White Station to find a more diverse environment and a higher level of independence. I took more AP classes per year than most of my private school friends and excelled on all AP exams, SATs and standardized tests. The most important thing to me, however, was the learning environment of the school. Students in the optional program are intellectually curious, diverse in opinions as well as background and above all self-motivated. Most private school students I know are motivated by a dictated level of 'achievement' they are expected to attain. The top students at WSHS work hard because they want to learn. They choose to take AP classes rather than being forced into it. At WSHS, each student truly decides how difficult or easy an educational path to take. That is what makes it so unique.
—Submitted by a former student

I attended the Honors Program at WSHS and felt that it prepared me very well for college and graduate school. The best public school in Memphis, if you're in the Honors Program. I'm sure the standard program isn't too great, but nobody really cares about that. WSHS is so well known because of the great students that are pumped out of the Honors and AP classes.
—Submitted by a former student

When I first came to White Station, I honestly didn't like it. But now that I am about to graduate from this school, I have gained so much from it. High school is what you make of it. The standard program could use work, but that is with any high school city or county! The honors and AP classes offered are excellent and the teachers I have had work with me throughout my entire high school education. WSHS not only helps you to learn, but to grow. Also the diverse enviroment helps studnts to grow. Being a black student, I was not restricted to the black clubs or hanging out with that race, but I hung out with all types of people. WSHS is truely a great school. Maybe the parents who are complaining didn't take a more active role in their childs education and thats why they hate it.
—Submitted by a student

White Station isn't the school you think it is. If you want your child to go to White Sation put them in honors classes. They might be tough but they will learn alot more. My daughter was in a standard class all through high school and she didnt really learn anything because the teachers weren't willing to take the time to help anyone. But like I said before put your kids in honors if you can. It's a really great school, if you get into the sports and stuff.The prep-rallys are a lot of fun also. Thats all I have to say.
—Submitted by a parent

this school was awful, so many gangs and cursing and awful language I pulled my child out before she could be influenced by it
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from White Station a few years ago. White Station is definitely the best public school in the state and could rival almost all of the private schools. I've been all over the state for various reasons talking to kids in Tennessee High School and I am astounded at how little these kids are educated. What seems like common knowledege to me is not known at all by kids from all the other schools in the state. White Station prepares the youth for a college career and by the time they are freshmen in college, they have more knowledge than sophomores in college do. White Station is the best school in the state.
—Submitted by a former student

I cannot say enough in 150 words to express all the incredible aspects of White Station. From a nationally ranked basketball team to a dominant Knowledge Bowl team to an incredible average SAT score of over 1200, this school is simply the best in the area. White Station students work hard in advanced honors and AP classes but also know how to have fun. The student body is intellectually diverse which results in tolerance for minorities and majorities of every kind. Of couse the standard program is probably horrible, but anyone who wants to put in some effort could easily get into the top-notch honors courses. Students in the Memphis area who desire to learn and work hard to prepare for college should definately look at White Station.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a student at WSHS, and all I have to say is Wow. I come from a private school, and I was totally unprepared for the challenges they set for me. I have to work to make A's now, but that just makes the A's that much sweeter. I also love the people, there are so many I've found plenty who are just as crazy as I am. I have nothing but good things to say about WSHS! The teachers are, for the most part, excellent, and those who are disappointed just aren't up for the challenge.
—Submitted by a student

This is a great school. It is one of the best schools in the U.S. When colleges come to Memphis White Station High is their first stop. Our parent involvement is amazing if we need parents we always have more than enough. I will give WSH a full grade on everything.
—Submitted by Chasity Roberson

I definately agree with the student that found White Station High School to be depressing as a learning facility. The standard classed have poor instructors and the level of learning is lowered greatly when it should be raised. As a parent, I was extremely disappointed and I would never send my child to this school had I known what I now know. It school was a big mistake and ruined her desire to learn. I have often heard that the classes for the 'intelligent' students are good. But let's not forget the importance of learning for the average student. White Station seems to have forgotten this. I strongly recommend that any parent sit in on classes and get other parents opinions before enrolling their child in this school.
—Submitted by a parent

White Station is an overcrowded, underfunded, and understaffed school. Students are unmotivated by an unqualified faculty. If this is the pest that the Memphis City School system has to offer, I suggest that parents consider private education.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a former student of White Station High School, and I am troubled by the negative comments by parents. Those who bash White Station are either upset that their kids could not keep up in the honors program (in which nearly anyone can succeed with a touch of hard work), or they are anti-intellectuals, scared of their children failing in such a challenging environment. I feel that by attending WSHS, I have been given a head start in academics (college lit. classes are reading the same works as WS's 10th grade Pre-AP English class), as well as life, in that I have learned how to work together with a diverse group of people, fostering understanding and respect. I am not sure that there is a better school in the country, and I know there is not a better one in Shelby County.
—Submitted by a former student

I have had two children graduate from White Station and I can honestly say that the experience was very rewarding. One of my children has learning disabilities and needed an environment that was geared more toward one on one teaching. The teachers and principals were very helpful and as a result my child graduated on time with her class.
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated from White Station in 1989. As a former student, I have nothing but positive things to say about WSHS. I feel it prepared me for college and my career. I recently received my doctorate degree and feel that I could not have acheived this feat without the foundation I received at White Station. If I ever have children I plan to do whatever is necessary to send them to White Station.
—Submitted by a former student

I'm sorry that standard education disappointed one White Station graduate. If he felt underchallenged as a standard student, hmm, yes, maybe, he/she could have challenged himself/herself to enroll in the optional program. My guess is that, there, he/she would flounder and miss the inadequacy of the standard program. The bottom line is that White Station is one of the top public high schools in the state, if not the top. With more national merit scholars than all other schools in Memphis combined, White Station is reputed as the best of the best. I would agree that the Board of Education lacks effective leadership and that does pose several problems for the future of White Station, but, at this point, I'm firm in my opinion.
—Submitted by a former student

I, like one of my fellow peers that has already posted their comments on White Station, feel that the quality of this school is unsurpassed by any other. The negative comments of some of the parents are completely ungrounded and give off the wrong impression about the best school in Memphis. I am entering my sophomore year and loving every minute of it.'Jake F.'

White Station has provided an outstanding educational opportunity for our two sons, but you won't want to send your children here if you don't want them to be academically challenged in a diverse environment.
—Submitted by a parent