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GreatSchools Rating

Plano Senior High School

Public | 11-12 | 2614 students

Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
Based on 1 rating
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
Based on 1 rating

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21 reviews of this school


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Posted July 3, 2012

I have 2 kids who graduated from Plano Senior High. We came from Arlington, TX and initially the kids struggled in Elementary. After only one year, my kids caught up and upon graduation from the fine schools of Plano, one was a national merit finalist, the second national commended and my third who is graduating next year will be national merit commended also. You can get as much out of the schools that you put into it. Most impressive to me was how often they tested the kids to ensure they have the right curriculum and the kids are doing above average. I cannot thank this school enough for the fine education that has prepared them for college. My 2 daughters have pursued science degrees in preparation for med school or research and my son will be going into engineering. This school had strong math/science emphasis in high school and outstading focus on the arts and reading and music in elementary and middle school. Plano only does remarkably well in sports and academic competitions. It's hard to believe it is a public school. No bullying issues for strong academic students; in fact it is admired there. Thank you PISD!
—Submitted by a parent


Posted December 30, 2011

I have put 6 kids through Plano Sr. They have high expectations and foster a high sense of healthy competition for good grades. The kids enjoyed their time there, and the sense of school spirit is extremely high.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted September 25, 2011

Our daughter attended here until we moved in the summer. We loved how the school prepared the students for college life and treated them with respect. The freedoms allowed here are truly missed by our daughter. We moved to Frisco unknowingling that it was serviced by Little Elm High School and this school is so behind. It is her senior year and they are doing things that she learned in 10th and 11th grade in Plano. The LEHS scoffed at PSHS and now they are trying to make their curriculum more like Plano. Ha! We've been fighting to get the same rights as we had at Plano Senior for our daughter. The counselors, principal and staff at PSHS were great...some of the students need a realtity check, but overall PSHS is a good school. Thankgoodness our daughter was educated in PSHS from Kindergarten to her Junior year otherwise she'd be in trouble. PSHS keep up the good work. If it wasn't so far our daughter would drive there every day, the offer was a great one, but 40 minutes was too much. PSHS keep educationg those students ....Good Job! Great school, great diversity.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 24, 2010

As an alumini from Plano Senior high, I have the most right to give it ratings accordingly. I was never a school spirited person, but there is something about this school that made you care no matter what. The teachers that cared so much was probably one of the main reasons. The school spirit in this school was always very high as well. Even though I always said I didnt care if we won or lost the football games and I never attened the pep-rallies because they were the excuse for me to sleep in that day, I still cried when we lost our last football game. There was a part of me that made me want to be proud of graduate from this school, and I was, I still am; and now, my last semester of college and I'm still wearing my class ring and class crest aroung my neck.
—Submitted by a student


Posted October 3, 2009

Teachers are dedicated and school gave both my sons a terrific head start to succeeding in college.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 7, 2008

Our daughter graduated from PSHS 2 years ago. She finished HS with 1.5 years of college credit due to AP classes and summer college work. PSHS has stellar instructors. Her physics teacher at PSHS had his PhD. Her other teachers all seemed to have at least a masters degree. Our daughter was very sick for 4 months her senior year. We were able to change her schedule and classes mid-semester. We felt support and encouragement from everyone we dealt with. Whether your child's needs are Special Ed, Artistic, or Advanced Studies, their needs will be met at PSHS.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 8, 2008

hi everyone! I went to Plano Senior High School and graduated just this year. Class of 2008! Plano was a great experience for me. A great school academically, artistically, athletically, and musically!
—Submitted by a student


Posted May 21, 2008

I have one son who graduated from Plano Sr and one about to enter from Jasper HS. I think that PSHS as well as PISD really prepares the students well for college. If you are academically average it might be a challenge. Great school spirit and wonderful sports programs. I assume the fine arts are strong as well.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted November 1, 2007

This school is above and beyond. Anywhere else in the country you would have to pay Private School tuition to get your children this kind of education.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted July 20, 2007

The competition at this school is ridiculous. Initially I felt the idea of separating freshmen & sophs from juniors & seniors was brilliant--but the sheer number of students is daunting. In order to flourish in this environment, students must be very academically gifted & motivated, in top athletic form, and, socially very outgoing. By nature, most teens are awkward, self conscious, & impressionable--the sheer size of this school makes academic life very difficult.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted April 29, 2007

Plano Senior High School is a great school overall, period.
—Submitted by a student


Posted January 18, 2007

The School is a mix of good and bad. The academics are for the most part very good. Many very very good teachers. There are many options for students to learn. The down side to this is that the pressure to perform is extreme. Way too high. one of my children has graduated from there and another is about to graduate. I would not send my children to Plano Senior High if I had to do it again. I think the bad out weighs the good
—Submitted by a parent


Posted June 10, 2006

Plano Senior High has a lot to offer for very high achieving students, but has a long way to go for students who need a little motivation. I will not be sending my other children to Plano Schools.
—Submitted by Beth, a parent


Posted May 16, 2006

Academic programs successfully prepare students for college course work and expectations by professors. There are a large number of activities for student to be involved and the level of parent involvement is good.
—Submitted by a former student


Posted April 18, 2006

Very, very sheltered life. Fights not common. Most are middle class income workers although you have the very rich and also the very poor. Academics superb if not overwheliming. School Spirit is Top Notch (Football and Basketball are the 'thing') Nice theater and art programs. Wonderful students, not that much into cliques. Big school with many people to meet.
—Submitted by a student


Posted December 22, 2005

Great academic programs - as challenging as the student wants it to be with a wide range of AP courses. Also a tremendous selection of extracurricular activities.
—Submitted by a former student


Posted March 31, 2005

As a former student, I very much enjoyed going to PSHS. Although the student body is very large, it doesn't ever seem too overwhelming. Once you establish a group of friends, you feel more comfortable. The academics are very good, and you graduate with a sense of great accomplishment. There are many different activities to get involved in, something for everyone! I also feel the size of the school and number of buildings gets students ready for what college life is all about...walking!! Overall, I think this was a great school, and I will always look back with fond memories.
—Submitted by a former student


Posted February 28, 2005

My son moved from Florida and had a hard time competing in the AP classes, but his teachers were eager to help him. Very challenging curriculum.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 23, 2004

The teachers are very caring. They are very aware of the students in their classrooms. They are interested in what goes on in their students' lives. Overall, we have been very happy with our daughter's progress at PSHS.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 23, 2004

Incredible school! Great principal and great teachers. This school is very strong academically. Students who have graduated come back and say they were very prepared for college. The school spirit is the best of the 3 Plano schools---whether the teams win or lose! Beautiful campus! Gorgeous pond with ducks! There is no better school!
—Submitted by a parent


Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
English Language Arts

The state average for English Language Arts was 95% in 2011.

1206 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
99%

2010

 
 
99%

2009

 
 
98%

2008

 
 
97%
Math

The state average for Math was 90% in 2011.

1191 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
97%

2010

 
 
96%

2009

 
 
95%

2008

 
 
93%
Science

The state average for Science was 91% in 2011.

1189 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
98%

2010

 
 
98%

2009

 
 
97%

2008

 
 
94%
Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 99% in 2011.

1193 students were tested at this school in 2011.

2011

 
 
100%

2010

 
 
100%

2009

 
 
100%

2008

 
 
100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

English Language Arts

All Students99%
Female100%
Male98%
Black or African American96%
Asian99%
Hispanic99%
American Indian or Alaska Native100%
White100%
Economically disadvantaged96%
Not economically disadvantaged100%
Special education98%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)71%
Proficient in English100%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant99%
Gifted/talented100%

Math

All Students97%
Female96%
Male98%
Black or African American94%
Asian98%
Hispanic94%
American Indian or Alaska Native100%
White98%
Economically disadvantaged95%
Not economically disadvantaged98%
Special education81%
Not special education98%
Limited English proficient (LEP)86%
Proficient in English98%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant97%
Gifted/talented100%

Science

All Students98%
Female98%
Male99%
Black or African American96%
Asian100%
Hispanic95%
American Indian or Alaska Native100%
White99%
Economically disadvantaged94%
Not economically disadvantaged99%
Special education87%
Not special education99%
Limited English proficient (LEP)79%
Proficient in English99%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant98%
Gifted/talented100%

Social Studies

All Students100%
Female100%
Male100%
Black or African American100%
Asian100%
Hispanic99%
American Indian or Alaska Native100%
White100%
Economically disadvantaged99%
Not economically disadvantaged100%
Special education100%
Not special education100%
Limited English proficient (LEP)93%
Proficient in English100%
Migrantn/a
Non-migrant100%
Gifted/talented100%
Scale: % meeting or exceeding standards

About the tests


In 2010-2011, the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) was used to test students in reading in grades 3 through 9; in writing in grades 4 and 7; in English language arts in grades 10 and 11; in mathematics in grades 3 through 11; in science in grades 5, 8, 10 and 11; and in social studies in grades 8, 10 and 11. TAKS is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Texas. The grade 11 Exit Level TAKS is a high school graduation requirement. The goal is for all students to score at or above the state standard.

The different student groups are identified by the Texas Education Agency; if there are a small number of students in a particular group, the state doesn't report data for that group.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

  • In 2010-2011, this school was rated "Recognized".
  • In 2009-2010, this school was rated "Recognized".
  • In 2008-2009, this school was rated "Recognized".

About the tests


Texas uses Accountability Ratings to indicate the overall performance of each school and district. The ratings are based on TAKS test results, dropout rates for grades 7 and 8 and school completion rates for grades 9 through 12. Schools and districts rated under standard accountability procedures are designated as Exemplary, Recognized, Academically Acceptable or Academically Unacceptable. Schools and districts rated under alternative education accountability (AEA) procedures are designated as either AEA: Academically Acceptable or AEA: Academically Unacceptable.

See Texas' state standards

Source: Texas Education Agency

Breaking down the GreatSchools Rating

GreatSchools Ratings are based on the most recent standardized test results for schools. Use the breakdown ratings below to compare types of students at this school. Learn more »


Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
White 65% 34%
Asian/Pacific Islander 20% 4%
Hispanic 8% 48%
Black 7% 14%
American Indian/Alaska Native 0% 0%
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Special education 10%N/A10%
Gifted/talented students 12%N/A8%
Limited English proficient (LEP) 4%N/A17%
Economically disadvantaged 7%N/A55%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 17N/A15
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Teacher experience

  This school District averageState average
Beginning teachers 8%N/A8%
1 to 5 years 23%N/A30%
6 to 10 years 20%N/A20%
11 to 20 years 24%N/A23%
21 or more years 26%N/A19%
Source: TX Education Agency, 2007-2008
Notice an inaccuracy? Let us know!

2200 Independence Pkwy
Plano, TX 75075
Website: Click here
Phone: (469) 752-9300

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