Ischool High School

I had attended iSchool High for a half a year and HATED it. First it was pretty cool and the teachers were pretty nice, but then a little bit later you find out they don't know how to TEACH. And the rare ones that do just LEAVE and then we have a substitute for months. This school is very hard and the teachers don't seem like they want to help you. When you're taking tests some of the teachers eat ice and it's just annoying!! *CRACK* *CRUNCH* *CRUNCH* IT DROVE ME CRAZY... So Anyways I would NOT recommend this school AT ALL... Go Homeschoolin'...WAY better then this...
--Submitted by a student

I am a student at iSchool STEM. This school is difficult because of the curriculum (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math). It is made more difficult because of how the vast majority of the teachers teach . Most seem to feel it is the solely the responsibility of the students to learn via self-study. I m not sure if the teachers are lazy, or if this is the generally accepted format here. If you do well in this type of environment - great. If not - don't attend. I think the course content would work if there was actually "teaching" going on. Thus - I have to rate the school low due to the teachers. Either fire teachers who are dead-weight, and hire ones who actually teach, - or if this is an acceptable format from the Administration the administrator needs to be replaced by a person who understands education.
--Submitted by a student

It depends on which Ischool you are referring to as to how good it is. The stem academy was decent with kind and fairly knowledgeable teachers, and I think it definitely better than the traditional public schools. The media arts academy is a waste of time. Just don't bother with them or their distorted idea of self-paced learning.
--Submitted by a student

My son attended iSchool stem fall semester 2011. iSchool STEM labels itself a collegiate "preparatory" school, but falls short of what is really needed to prepare a student for post-secondary education. There are a few good teachers, but many poor ones. Some who feel "prep" for college is to simply regurgitate material. With some others, expectation is that the student is responsible for ALL learning which must occur outside the classroom on the internet. Preparation for post-secondary education should involve teaching. Teenagers need time management skills taught within the classroom, inspirational teachers excited about their subject who teach by bringing the materials to life within the classroom, and teachers who help not badger or even yell at-the student if the student is floundering. I did not see these attributes present in this school. The school administration shares in the failure. Many parents have voiced concerns, only to have their concerns marginalized. An online school would be a much better choice if public school is not an option for your child.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended iSchool High STEM Academy and graduated from there recently, and all I have to say is that the place was awful. They call themselves a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics school, but the math classes are chalked full of lazy teachers that don't teach and then fail their students if the class doesn't know the material that they were supposed to be teaching; the engineering classes are sub-par; the technology part only gets in the way of learning more than it helps; this next one is my favorite, the science classes were nothing you couldn't learn at a regular public school, and the teachers were all Creationists spreading misinformation; I had to correct my Biology teacher on several occasions. They try to paint the school as a community where everyone was accepted, and at first it was like that, but then the teachers got lazy, the students stopped caring, and it has now turned into nothing better or worse than your average high school. If you value your child's education, don't send them here. I fully regret wasting two years of my life on this place.
--Submitted by a student

I liked Ischool. I had 2 children there last year, a 9th grader and a 10th grader. The staff was responsive when we would email or talk to them. They worked well with my children. We had to leave because they stopped offering French (which my daughter already had a year of) and did not want to start over. We are considering going back next year after she finishes the French 2 elsewhere. Our children have been in gifted programs elsewhere. The school can be a fit for all kinds of students. I would recommend this school. I miss having my children there.
--Submitted by a parent

I first went into iSchool High as a Sophomore a year ago because of the disappointment I felt with my previous high school (too many reasons to list here). Making the choice to go to iSchool High was probably the most important choice I've made so far in my life. Despite the fact that most of the content is self-taught, the teachers there are more than welcome to help out. The content we learn is still "dull", but I find myself able to focus better and get more out of it than I did at my previous school. The building has decent-sized rooms, but the hallways are narrow. With 260 something students moving around, it's easy to get stuck in the middle of traffic. Luckily, the building is small enough so you can get from room to room fairly quickly. Most, if not all of the students there are there to learn. It's a friendly place, and it's hard to feel like "the new kid" for long. Any abuse is not tolerated, and dealt with quickly. If your a student who despises normal public school, or your a parent who cares about their child's education, take a serious look at this school.
--Submitted by a student

The school does a great job in explaining to student and pareent prior to registration what to expect. It has been exactly what we were told. My son likes it and he gets more out of his classes here than what he was getting in the public schools. Overall I think it makes him more responsible. Every child is different and they have different learning styles. My suggestion is once one visits the school, sit down with your child and make sure your son/daughter can adapt to this type of learning. Great school, especially if your child plans to attend college!
--Submitted by a parent

I was TOLD Media Arts on Lakeway was not anything EVERY SELF -PACED. Maybe you should have READ the literature BEFORE talked DOWN on Media Arts!

My son transferred here in his junior year and we have had a very good experience. Only one problem teacher, and that was addressed. We are happy with the quality of AP classes he is taking. It is true that if your child is not self motivated it may not be the best school for them. But for kids that are motivated, do want to go to college and seek out challenges, this school encourages them more than any other school he has attended. I would like to see more parent communication, but it did improve over the year.
--Submitted by a parent