Westside High School

I'm the mom of a special needs - due to ADHD - but completely mainstreamed senior. From the day I first walked in with my daughter to register, I have been MIGHTILY impressed by Westside and we came out of private school. The staff there genuinely like kids and are committed to instruction. They also seem to be a mostly younger group of teachers. If your student is academically inclined and enjoys working - the school offers everything they could ask. The only difference between public and private is if you have a bright kid who likes to slide by with minimums, they can do that more easily in a public school due to its size. My student is a highly interactive student, her teachers know her, and that helps greatly. I think Westside deserves every last one of the kudos it has ever received.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended Westside and I couldn't be more pleased with the education he received there. Before enrolling him I thoroughly researched the school to ensure that he would be getting the tools he needed academically to succeed. Westside met my expectations. Here is a link to Westside's ratings per the Texas Education Agency: http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/cgi/sas/broker?_service=marykay&_program=perfrept.perfmast.sas&prgopt=2010/acct/camptabl2.sas&ptype=H&year4=2010&search=campback&year2=10&topic=acct&gifname=g_datatable2010campus&title=Accountability Data Table&level=Campus&campback=101912036 When completing a review it would be helpful to offer more commentary about the school's demographics beyond bad teachers who are bad because they couldn't control students who cursed in their classroom. Assuming that instructors who teach AP courses are better teachers is a great misnomer. Passing this assumption off as an actuality of a teacher's qualifications is worse. Providing data about academic percentages without providing a link (aka: proof) outlining where you obtained your findings makes one appear less informed than what they are trying to portray themselves to be. Take a note.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very good school.westside is well organised school and magnet programe is very good
--Submitted by a parent

This school has bad teachers and what i mean by that is that they are mean and can't teach. It does have many opportunities for student's but the only thing is the teacher's. The only thing I like about Westside is that it has awesome student's other than that i don't like it at all. I'm thinking about switching schools.
--Submitted by a student

I'm sorry to say I'm a bit disappointed. This school is like most HISD schools. Although you have some excellent teachers you also have some poor quality teachers that are being cursed at in their own classrooms by the students. These teachers can't maintain order in their classrooms therefore can't teach. Like most HISD schools, the "better" teachers teach AP courses. A child in a regular classroom does not get the same quality education. Again, that is what happens in all HISD schools. It's a shame, this school does appear to be different from the outside looking in.
--Submitted by a parent

Don't believe all the happy-sunshiney hype here. Westside has higher than average TAKS/TAAS scores because they provide testing exemptions for the children that would drag them down. Home work is rarely assigned and if completed, only accounts for 10% of their grade. Testing is weighted at 70%. Class participation is 20%. it is possible to make an 'A' and never do one page of homework! My kids happen to test well, but they are NOT getting an education.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two sons: classes of 2006 & 2010. There are opportunities for advanced placement classes, sports, theater, dance, technology, etc. Most subjects are well taught, foreign languages the exception. The school is split into segments, each with a dean some better than others. Attendance records have been a minor issue. The school newspaper is on-line and contains a wealth of information. Grading and posting grades on-line could use some improvements. If college is a benchmark by which to grade a high school then Westside deserves high marks for giving students a wide variety of interesting paths. Do not expect the deans to hold your hand, you must be active & attend the school meeting to fully understand all the opportunities, and there are plenty of them.
--Submitted by a parent

Westside Rocks! There is something for everyone and the teachers and deans really work hard to make the school student centered. Virtually every program is competitive with any other in the city and state. I get so tired of the misperceptions that persist about public school and Westside, especially when parents may not take the time to actually look into the facts about the school. Westside also became a TEA Recognized High School. WHS is a great choice, and the parent involvement is welcomed and needed!
--Submitted by a parent

I am a new student there, but I am no stranger. My four siblings attended there and I was involved even then. They always had reached out to younger schools in the area. I really like how any personality, race, and culture is perfectly fine there. Here is why. I noticed that I hang out with diverse friends too. The beauty of it was that I don't even recognize their race. My closest gang of friends are African, Russian, Mexican, White, Black, Arab, and also mixed. I also love how many available programs for any type of person is available. This is a top notch school.
--Submitted by a student

I have diligently kept my children in the West Corridor og HISD because of the superior performance of all the schools on this end of the HISD school zone. Westside was a welcome addition to this side of our school zone.
--Submitted by a parent