Carnegie Vanguard High School

There are many factors to be consider a good high shcool. CVHS is a great shcool. But, one importmant factor, is, what kind of colleges are open to CVHS seniors? Are those senior really qualified for GT? Seems for me that not many students are accepted to top collages. To qualified for GT HS, we need to consider the college admission. Thanks for the great job from CVHS administration. We are hoping teachers and administrative will do better. Thanks CVHS!
—Submitted by a parent

Carnegie Vanguard high school is one of the best schools in Houston. The kids are more accepting and less cliquey than most high schools, the new facility is fantastic and modern while being open and eco-friendly as well. The extra curricular programs though limited athletically excel in their area, the theater department is fantastic and excellent as well as quite professional and the sports teams do well (especially considering the small student body) the teachers are over-all accommodating and will do their very best to aid the students and will honestly care for and remember each individual in their classrooms. The workload is great the stress high and the curriculum difficult put if one puts in the effort and dedication they may enjoy an enriched school life with a social life as well and will leave Carnegie with a glowing resume and experience that will prove especially useful in college. It is an amazing school that is just the right amount of quirky and will make you fall in love. It is a family in a sense for the students that attend , and is one of the best high schools in the nation.
—Submitted by a student

Making me attend Carnegie was probably the worse decision my parents imposed. They based their decision on the local and national rankings and ignored the lifestyle they were condemning me to. I never wanted to go there; and to this day, as a Carnegie senior, I still think it is the worse experienced of my life. But what is more alarming is that things are getting worse. With the new innovative campus, there is an overflow of applications of students who care only about the appearances. The admitting process is a lottery system whose only requirement is that the applicants is categorized as Gifted and Talented. There are many people who, in my opinion, should have never been allowed. Incoming students are rude and arrogant and have no sense of respect towards their teachers. Carnegie has consumed all of my social life. I see myself stressed over schoolwork everyday, wanting to just run away from my miserable life. I have no friends outside from the few I have at school. Activities are very disorganized and the school organizations/clubs are just a mirror of Carnegie's deplorable student body. Please choose your school wisely.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a sophomore at CVHS and I do love it there. However that feeling is somewhat lessening. The school's brilliance comes from the students and community itself. Where I will say the school is deserving of its status, that status is not due to the school itself, but the tenacity of the students and a handful of amazing teachers. The community at CVHS is amazing. The students are all very helpful and collaborative. The academic competition present in most schools is not present at Carnegie. The clubs created by the kids, and the intellectual society made by them is what really makes the school amazing. However, much of the staff detracts from the possible greatness of the school. Many teachers who are incapable or are unhelpful to the students are not urged to be better. In a school that has ranked in the top 10 schools in the nation, I am very disappointed by the quality of many classes. Teachers are uncompromising and many seem like they don't even want to be there, leaving the students to have to go and learn by themselves and the administration does little or nothing to resolve problems with teachers or other students.
—Submitted by a student

I'm a senior at Carnegie and it's the worst place in the world. Some of the teachers are good, but too many are self entitled and unhelpful to the kids who are having a harder time. The office workers are rude and the grown-ups that monitor everyone are useless, petty and are just so ridiculous about the dumbest things. The workload is stressful and awful. There's also nothing to do. No serious sports, no music programs, and the clubs are a joke. You can't even go off campus for lunch, even although the new neighborhood is nice. It's like a prison. But the absolute worst part of Carnegie is the students. The majority of them are pretentious, intellectual snobs with zero social skills. Everyone else is just angry at the world and who would blame them? The new campus is pretty I guess, but that's it. It's all looks but no substance. DO NOT GO HERE. I've never been so miserable in my life and starting Junior year I seriously wanted to kill myself. Carnegie ruined my whole high school experience and my life outside of school. If I could give it zero stars I would.
—Submitted by a student

The learning environment at Carnegie Vanguard is exceptional. Not only does this school provide a rigorous, competitive environment, it also provides nurturing understanding environment as well. There is no such things as public disturbance at Carnegie. Every other students and myself behave ourselves knowing when to talk and when to listen. The teachers care and try their best to help bring out the will to learn out of the students. They also provide motivations for the students to do good on their state exam (TAKS) like root beer floats and etc. Generally most students get a 3 and above on AP exams being prepared as they are during the beginning of school such as implementing AP taking skills early on in the beginning of the school year curriculum and etc. Overall my experience with Carnegie has been amazing! But they should give students who were kicked out a second chance so that they won't have to return to their public home school
—Submitted by a student

i think that this school is a gret choice for all the students like me that entering the 9th grade.it has a great rank and great scores on test.
—Submitted by a student

Overall it is a good school that is working within their severly limited resources. As a parent I would like to more support for an already motivated group of students. Most of the students reach their goals because of who they are not because the teacher pushed them or the school set the stage for growth.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is an elitist dream. OVERRATED and CLIQUES ABOUND. If you find yourself on the bottom two tiers of Maslow's Hierarchy, please don't waste your time or your child's peace of mind. You will be snubbed. It's not worth it. They point certain children out and plan their demise long before you even notice.
—Submitted by a parent

The academics leave much to be desired, the administration is uncooperative, disorganized, and mostly incompetent. It is definitely not deserving of its status. The teachers for the most part are mediocre, and not engaging or helpful. The administration does little or nothing to resolve problems with teachers or other students. Being unique is encouraged, but the many of students are not very open or friendly, and they are prone to gossip and petty rumors. it is not a supportive environment. Statements by those that had a good experience make it seem as if all of the people who dislike CVHS feel that way because it has such high standards. This is not the case. I consistently made the highest scores on national tests among my peers at Carnegie, with 5s on AP exams and National Merit PSAT scores, as well as doing well in various competitions. However, little,if any, of that success came from instruction at the school itself. Most was from self study. The curriculum is simple, and, though higher than most non magnet public schools, is not very challenging.
—Submitted by a student

Carnegie is the only Vanguard High School in Texas, and fosters creativity, collegiality, and critical thinking in a very diverse student population. Great teachers, dedicated administration, an involved parent group make this a school in which we can all take pride.
—Submitted by a parent

My god-child and her sister went to Carnegie. First rate school.
—Submitted by a parent

CVHS rocks!!! its pretty much the most fantastic school ever, especially in hisd. So not the typical high school, love it :)
—Submitted by a student

Students need to really study and do their work at Carnegie. Kids who transfer are those who can't or refuse to keep up with the pace. I see my two kids work hard and they enjoy the challenge. My older son has been offered an opportunity for an early college option but he would rather stay at Carnegie.
—Submitted by a parent

i think it looks like a private with really high expectations for their students.
—Submitted by a student

it's still high school and even though people say a lot of the kids are on top of it many have dropped out to go to other schools- you must maintain a good work ethic
—Submitted by a student

Carnegie maintains an oustanding atmosphere for creativity and learning, and attracts a diverse and talented group of students. The teachers as a group there are the most talented and dedicated I have encountered in a public school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a 2007 alumni and the school helped so much in getting me through college! Its a fantastic college prep school and the only of its kind in HISD. We didn't have the fanciest building, but with all the hard work everyone does there, we deserve it. Go Rhinos!!!
—Submitted by a student

It's a place for unique individuals to be their own and truly teaches the students. They teach students the materials and how to prepare for life, and do not teach to 'the test'
—Submitted by a student

Supportive administration and teachers. Kids are challenged to live up to their fullest potential.
—Submitted by a parent