Oscar F. Smith High School

I had the privilege to attend Oscar Smith High School as a student from 1999-2003. I was very involved all of my 4 years there: cheerleading, dance team, soccer, student council & Chesapeake Student Leadership Forum. I graduated with honors and was even crowned both Miss OFS & Homecoming queen my senior year. The educators, for the most part, are excellent, professional & caring, and the extracurricular activities are abundant. If your child has a problem with "drama" or "skipping class", that is NOT an accurate overall depiction of the school or of its educators. More so, it is the student's (& sometimes, the parent's) lack to be proactive in their education & lack of maturity to handle various social situations. There is an obvious difference between the students who strive and the students who do not strive. It is what the student makes of it, & there is no excuse for failure in this school since the resources and the staff are all provided there for the students and for their parents/legal guardians. I highly recommend this school. If your child is willing to work hard for their grades, be active & be involved in the right social circle, they will be successful.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 kids who have attended this scool. Both were in the International Baccalaureate program. Very rigorous program - no slackers tolerated. It has positioned them for success in college. One is now a college senior, and the other a freshman. Also there are many activities to get involved with. Fantastic music program - very committed Band and Orchestra teachers. OSHS is largely what your student chooses to make of it. Yes there is a wide cross-section of students. YOU have to choose where YOU want to end up.
—Submitted by a parent

Oscar Smith High School will teach you more of a lesson about the real world than any other school in the area. You truly can not move forward in life unless you push yourself, contrary to other schools that received five stars because the students were shoved through school by more involved and economically satisfied parents. The students in this school have to do so much more for themselves and others in the classrooms and at home. Students have more independence with extracurricular activities and clubs than other schools, also more opportunities for roles of leadership that look great on college and scholarship applications. These other comments are truly biased by parents who may have moved from other districts, and who have children who are clearly not as exposed to other cultures as they should be (however it is no excuse for a decline in academic performance, which reflects their true work ethic, and who cares if the teacher likes you or not, HE/SHE can't change your grade for it!). The educators at this school will help those who want to be helped, it takes an effort on both sides for one to educate another. PARENT INVOLVEMENT MAKES A DIFFERENCE (PERIOD)
—Submitted by a student

These reviews are more than slightly biased. I graduated from OFS in 09 and the school is what you make of it. If your kid is unmotivated and takes regular level classes then they will probably have an uninspiring experience. If they put a little effort into their high school career they will encounter some great teachers who actually care about their students. There are were two teachers I experienced in my four years there that weren't great. Thats a pretty good percentage. You shouldn't expect miracles if you don't put forth any effort.

My son graduated June 2010 from this school.It had more negatives about it then it had positives.I did not believe my son when he told me his photo teacher did not like him until I sat in class on parents day and noticed that not only did he not like my son, he also did not like the other 4 white students in his class.I left the class and went straight to the principals office to discuess the matter.I was told that the principal and other teachers would do "sit ins" on the class to observe it.My son said not one teacher ever came in to sit in and watch.Im thankful that I moved far away from Chesapeake so that my daughter will NEVER have to attend OS.
—Submitted by a parent

An awful educational institution as a parent my experience with the administration has been extremely horrendous, which is a reflection on the persistent tremulous and catastrophic encounters that my children were gratuitously subjected to. The lack of concern and interest for students is unmasked and administration is quite adamant about making no apologizes for their practice of primarily receiving compensation over providing appropriate quality education - that is in the best interest of the students. An administration that promotes burly intimating circumstances against pupils and condescending actions of demeanor towards parents and adults is very appalling. It is a rather disappointing violation to have children denied a proper education and services in a city with sufficient resources. Bullying not only exists with minors but also peer to peer adults in bureaucratic administrative positions against citizens of the community
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current student at OSHS.! I hate the school! Way too much drama and children who don't care sbout life. The gangbanging, cursing, fighting, and disrespect is ridiculous. And then you have teachers that don't even care. They can't teach and cant even relate to our generation. If you dont want to teach and if you're just there for the money then just quit. I totally want to go to another school. And how is Oscar Smith only rated a three out of 10? Come on people! Get it together! STEP IT UP! But Psx!, Thanks Ms. Gray, Ms.Thompson, Mrs.Curry, and Senora Johnson -A VERY CONCERNED STUDENT!
—Submitted by a student

I am a rising Senior at Oscar Smith High. Even though some teachers cant teach. Teachers go out of their way to help us. Teachers are always asking me to stay back for help if i need it. Its true that the main focus is Football. But as a basketball player myself, we get mega support. The security here are great. They dont play any games. They staff here is very respectable. I love it here at Smith. I wouldnt want to graduate anywhere else. Kids dont have to worry about there safety. Im proud to be a tiger. The atmosphere here is fun. All the kids here goof off, but we know when to get serious. All in all Oscar Smith High is the best school ever.
—Submitted by a student

I myself am a sophomore at Oscar Smith High, and I can say with all honesty that this is the worst school a parent could ever put their child in. For one, a lot of the teachers don't even know how teach properly, it's no wonder a lot of people I know say they get bad grades...I can say so myself....and they don't even seem to want to go out of their way to help students improve their grades. There's nothing special about the peers here either...a lot of them don't seem to want to learn, they tend to goof off instead. No motivation whatsoever. Not only that, but a lot of people are also unfriendly, and you may not fit into the mold. There always seems to be some kind of scandal going on, and the staff does a poor job keeping things under control. Your child may worry about safety.
—Submitted by a student

My children love this school, ever since I've transferred them theyve gotten better grades.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a rising jounior at smith and me truthfully don't like the experence. Most teachers I have had don't care really at all it seems like they forgot what there getting paid to do. Don't get me wrong there are some amazing teachers at smith but there few and far between. It also seems like the main focus of smith is football football and more football yea the team is great but what about the marching band and other sports. Most people are proud of there high school but me I'm ashamed to say I go to smith. There sways seems to be a fight or something big going on and sometimes I don't feel safe going there.
—Submitted by a student

The safe and ease of access location of the school is both a blessing and a curse. Children will be children- its easy to 'skip' class here. However, if these kids parents would be parents I don't think this would be such an issue- my kid skipped once...never again - he graduated with honors his senior year. I got more involved in his life like I should have from the beginning. The staff are great, they return calls promtply and will meet with you and your child if you request. The marching band is above average- they can really put on a show whne they want to and I adored the orchestra! I wish I could have gotten to attend this newer O.Smith High when I was attending the old one in SoNo. The only thing I would like to see upgraded for the kids here would be more language classes.
—Submitted by a parent

Oscar Smith is an excellant school. My two children excelled at Smith and went on to become lawyers. The staff ensured that my children were well prepared for both undergraduate and law school. I could not have been happier with my children's acedemic experience at Oscar Smith.
—Submitted by a parent

Oscar Smith is a wonderful and also a horrible school. It depends on what classes and future and well attitude your student has towards learning. I have one student in the IB program and another who is well basically failing every class. My IB daughter shows me that this school has dedicated teachers and amazing resources. My son however also shows me that those teachers and resources are only found in the IB part of the schoool, and that everyone else is cheated out on their educations. However, it is not only the teachers and administrations fault, if parents aren't at home helping their kids with their homework, etc. then it will seem like the school is failing, to raise good children, we need dedicated parents!
—Submitted by a parent

I think that oscar smith is one of the worst schools in the chesapeake are. The teachers do not contact the parents about the student grades, even, when meetings have been set up and home phone numbers provided. Alot of the teachers either are not qualified to teach certain subjects or they just do not care. I have repeatedly contacted my childrens teachers about grades, and they do not bother to keep me informed when my kids are having problems. The teachers at smith have forgotten that they get paid to teach our kids, and some kids require a little extra help. I have been told if they don't get it the first time, we do not have time to help them.
—Submitted by tina atkins, a parent

I have had good experiences with the staff at Oscar Smith. Involved parents make the difference. Even as my child made wrong choices I had rapid helpful responses from his teachers to get him back on track. Some students and parents need to remember they are responsible for their attitudes and behavior. It would be interesting for some parents to have to see just what the teachers put up with from their children... Again, involvement makes the difference for the student and the parents!
—Submitted by a parent

I am moving to get my child out of Oscar Smith High. You won't know your child is skipping until they have failed the class because the school only reports attendance during first bell. It should be mandatory for attendance to be reported to parents for every class! It has been nothing but trouble for my child because they don't care!
—Submitted by a parent

Oscar Smith is a very good school. Two of my children have graduated from there. The biggest problem is student additude. Teachers should be able to teach with out feeling threatend. If parents would disapline their children at home all of the students would have a better chance of success.
—Submitted by a parent

Oscar Smith offers all the academics that all other Chesapeake schools offer plus the IB students are taught here. This to me says that Smith has the most qualified teachers in the City. The only thing this school lacks is parent involvment. That is because this area both parents work.
—Submitted by susan kinsey, a parent

I have learned through this school that every teacher is not qualified to be a teacher. There focus has gotten lost over the years. They do not take the extra time to give every child an opportunity to learn before they just try to get the child actually taken from out of there class, and then the child is left to sit in an inschool suspention class even though they are not in trouble. I am very disappointed with the Chesapeake school sytem, for not makig addiquit provisions for children that might have a tramatic past.
—Submitted by a parent