Naaman Forest High School

The teacher's are pretty great, but the student population of this school has gone downhill. There are fights literally every single day, and despite the efforts of many of the staff, it is only getting worse. There are no true punishments for these kids who fight. They get 3 days suspension and then come right back, no ticket or otherwise. There are also too many kids in each classroom, 35 kids crammed into a class with 28 seats and 7 are squashed on the floor with notebooks in their laps. The counselors apparently don't care where the students end up. The school is very over-populated. There aren't even enough seats in the lunch room for every kid to sit.

This school is and always will be better than north garland. They have voc prep and they teach how'd to get a job and be successful in life. Teachers are nice and it was awesome.
—Submitted by a student

The best school! I been there and the teachers are great! Better than north garland
—Submitted by a student

Look, this is a fantastic school. Hands down. If you're willing to put yourself out there and meet people and try new things you will be greatly rewarded. I graduated in 09 and I can honestly say it was one of my fondest times I had growing up, even compared to that big university down in Austin. I honestly don't understand the criticism from people on this site. High school isn't about memorizing the Pythagorean theorem or getting the highest mark on your English exam, in fact it's about growing up and the experiences you make with your friends and the environment. I feel like Naaman provides excellent tools for all this. It has a diverse student population that is reflected in the activities offered to its students whether it be sports or clubs. What I also loved about the school is that it taught me how to grow a backbone and look out for myself, an essential for surviving college. That's the problem with so many parents nowadays. Too many are demanding that the school provide the goods and services to their children (i.e. coddle them to death). Instead it should be the responsibility of the student to go out and find what they want.
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from Naaman Forest back in 2004 and I will say it was the most enjoyable 4 years of school in my life besides college of course. The teachers here really care about the students and same with the administration staff. Joe Skinner was one of my favorite teachers back in the day but he has since retired. Dr. Gerald Hudson was an assistant principal at the time and was one of my greatest supporters while at Naaman. I also played baseball and the athletic community is outstanding. It was like my home away from home.

I graduated from Naaman Forest back in 2004 and I will say it was the most enjoyable 4 years of school in my life besides college of course. The teachers here really care about the students and same with the administration staff. Joe Skinner was one of my favorite teachers back in the day but he has since retired. Dr. Gerald Hudson was an assistant principal at the time and was one of my greatest supporters while at Naaman. I also played baseball and the athletic community is outstanding. It was like my home away from home.

The faculty does not have a concern regarding the kids education. They don't put forth the effort to disciple those that need it. The students and faculty have the "Its whatever" mentality.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers and staff, they really prepared their students for success in college and for entering the workforce.

Great academics programs, such as AP classes which help prepare students for college courses. Great speach and debate, theatre and journalism program.

I believe Naaman was great in the past, but lax discipline for the faculty and students have really hurt most people. Teachers can't enforce rules, so students tend not to care nor listen. Teachers get frustrated, give up, and not really teach. Principles aren't checking lesson plans and the cycle goes on and on. The worst are the counselors. I've talked to them on several issues about my child's schedule. Albeit I have a dark complexion, racial profiling is frequent here every time I visit. In one instance, I was taken back when one blatantly asked my daughter if she had 'tattled'. Only when I spoke 'perfect' English did their eyes bulge and go towards the floor. Perhaps if they took action and stopped acting like the children they're suppose to turn into adults, then these kids would grow up and show more respect and make something out of their lives.
—Submitted by a parent

Offered good AP courses. Prepared me well for work at the collegiate level. Earned BS in Engineering and MS Engineering after work at NFHS.
—Submitted by a student

im a freshman here, naaman is okay. the teachers are pretty nice,and they have an awesome sports program. but in certain classes theres always the kids who act up and the teachers tell them to shut up the whole time and you end up learning nothing. my parents are begging me to go go bishop lynch but i cant because well....naaman is awesome!
—Submitted by a student

The school has an excellent Principal with good staff.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a sophomore this year and my year at naaman has been good.Naaman is a great school. Kids here though dont pay attention in class and teachers dont do anything much about it, then they cant teach beause they are telling the students to be quiet. The teachers ask for the students phone and the student refuses and sometimes the teacher just says ok put it up after like the 3rd time. The teachers are good but there is a lack of discipline in this school and i really dont like the naaman time thing i think its really dumb. But overall its a great school
—Submitted by a student

As a parent of a sophomore, I have been very pleased overall with the quality of his education at Naaman Forest. There are a lot of activities and areas in which students can become involved. The teachers have been very communicative and respond to parent e-mails in a timely manner. There is not a huge violence problem, although I do hear about the occasional fight in the hallway. Classroom size is approximately 30 to 1 (average) and most of the teachers make themselves available for tutorials before and after school. The counselors take an interest in the kids and help them choose the appropriate academic courses. Principal Baker takes an interest in school groups and activities, and it is not uncommon to see him at nighttime functions. NFHS reminds me a lot of my high school, which is why I chose it for my child.
—Submitted by a parent

Okay, so I'm a junior here and would like to give inputs about this school. First off, it's okay when i started my freshmen year and then it got to the part where i really hate this school system. I mean i don't understand how they plan the system, but it's kind of astonishing. Teachers were okay. I had some great teachers that really motivates me and some that don't encourage others. It's surprising how everyone at this school are somewhat not prepare for the real world. That's the whole purpose of it: to get an education and face the real world. It's just that simple. But i find that teachers don't encourage them. In addition, the people there were really unfriendly and not that discipline. All i want to say is I regret going to this school and should have went to a better school.
—Submitted by a student

my child attended north mesquite high and he was transferred to naaman...first i want to say that i hate this garland choice of school thing because my elementary kids couldn't go to the school that their 'zoned' for..but i guess everything has its pros and cons...anyway i was very excited at first to know that my son was going to naaman and thinking it would be a better school but little did i know it was worse...the kids there lack discipline...when i was there i saw numerous kids with their pants sagging and the adults were just talking to them and said nothing to them...at n mesquite, they were very strict about it and seemed to have a little more discipline than here. my son was correcting his teachers so that tells you about the teaching here..big mistake here..
—Submitted by a parent

I graduated Naaman in 2007. Overall I'm finding that it was an OK school. Sure the sports programs are strong but there isn't much else for students to become involved in. Also, I believe that many of the students lack the motivation to find out information for themselves. I remember becoming bored in required classes simply because some 'class clown' couldn't stay quiet long enough for the teacher to teach. Many of the teachers will become extremely involved with students if they see the effort however most students tend to sit in class doing nothing. I don't think that high school helped me much at all. I feel that I wasted a lot of valuable time learning 'required subjects' and I really had to start over once I got to college.

It's a great school with good teacher's and good coaches.
—Submitted by a student

We've only been at Naaman this year, but if meet the teacher night was an indication of what we can expect-it will be an excellent school year. All of the teachers we encountered were so nice, friendly. and supportive.