Goochland High School

The teachers are very fun to learn from, and very trustworthy. The way Goochland balances out learning and having fun with pep rally's and opportunities on your future is perfect and overall the best i have seen. I recommend Goochland, you can't go wrong by letting your child attend this school. He or she will have fun, and learn at the same time. They will have plenty of opportunities with learning and collages along with a great sports program Goochland can fit every ones needs.
--Submitted by a student

I have above a 4.0 GPA and I am in all honors / AP classes. It requires very little work and I think if I went to another school I would have to work much harder to get the same GPA. I've asked my parents to switch me to a private school but we cannot afford it. Teachers and staff need to be much more assertive and strict in order to get students to take things seriously. There are many students who associate with drugs and innapropriate conduct within the school's walls. I have to deal with it, but I won't want my children to deal with it. I wouldn't reccomend sending your child here.
--Submitted by a student

GHS offers a range of ways for students to learn and excel. We have a dual-enrollment program, as well as AP classes supported by VASS. We also have classes with BRVGS. Simply put, there are plenty of opportunities to be challenged, to learn, and to get ahead. I guarantee those students who truly want to learn will learn. Most of the teachers I have known here truly love and care for their students and want them to advance. Many sacrifice personal time, staying after hours for students who want extra help. Our guidance department actively helps kids prepare for college. They are ready to assist students in applying for the SATs, even offering review sessions. They help students apply to colleges, and seek financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Recently, guidance sponsored a trip for interested students to a college fair at FUMA where we met representatives of schools from all over. GHS is a great school with accelerated standards and expectations. Any problems with the school, social or academic, can be addressed if students decide to behave and take learning seriously. As for me, I have been accepted into a college with a generous scholarship. Those are not just tossed out.
--Submitted by a student

I am a sophomore at this school and it is absolutely awful. It's incredibly small, and most classes are overcrowded. Many of the students here are incredibly homophobic, and I can't go a single day without hearing a crack about homosexuality. Sometimes I even hear such things from the teachers. Some teachers actually do teach the material, but others simply glaze over it, and all of them make class far too easy. Over and over again I've heard that this school doesn't prepare its students for college, and I believe it wholeheartedly. Furthermore, the classes are so large I'm being held back by other students because the teachers are constantly getting held up by others who aren't even trying to learn the material. All I can say is that I can't wait to leave this school for college.
--Submitted by a student

Goochland High School does not challenge the students. The only gifted program they have is very easy and does not promote creative thinking. I have had a child in it and to graduate with a great GPA took very little work. Not impressed with this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a teacher at Goochland. I did not grow up in Goochland. I earned both a Bachelor's and Master's Degrees. I attended High School in Fairfax County where everyone is a number. I have found that GHS is a very friendly school. No matter what school you attend you will have issues with students getting along. They are teenagers and they are human. But, we do have a good mix. One person commented that all likes of kids get along and I think this is true. The teachers are extremely willing to help students, the technology is outstanding, and the facilities are great. Students have great opportunities to do the College Connection, Blue Ridge Governors, and J. Sarg classes to earn College credit. Our students go to outstanding Universities. Those that stay home have chosen to do so. Life is what you make it.
--Submitted by a teacher

Im s student at GHS and to be totally honest, this school is a joke. Teachers teach the minimum, and most days I end up sitting around every single class, wondering if I might actually learn something. I guess it's a great school if you want to do absolutely nothing and still get good grades. Do I feel ready for college? No.
--Submitted by a student

I attended Goochland County schools all my life. I attended Randolph Elementary, Goochland Middle, then Graduated from Goochland High School in 2008. The teachers at Goochland schools prepared me for college and life after high school. They were always ready and willing to help you when you needed it. They help you but do not hold your hand. s I still keep in touch with many of my teachers. I was a good student, not straight A and I got into every single college I applied to. I know I couldn't have done as well as I did without the help of the teachers and staff. No school is perfect though, we did have a few flaws but I can honestly say that there was never a 'bully' problem or a 'homophobic' problem. I plan on staying in Goochland County and sending my children to GHS!
--Submitted by a student

Our youngest son attended GHS for his last 3 years. We couldn't be happier with the social environment and the sports programs. The students know one another and get along, and the coaches are competitive while individually supporting the athletes that comprise their teams. It seems to be a relatively clique-free environment where everyone hangs out with everyone. Students who are from affluent families mix with students who are less fortunate, 'nerds' hang out with 'jocks', and the students do not self-segregate along racial lines. It's refreshing. Academically, I would say the curriculum is not overly challenging, but my son enjoyed making A's with a minimal amount of work. He could live the same balanced life kids used to live before HS became a full-time job. He and his friends still got into the colleges of their choice (WM, UVA, JMU), and most of them earned 20-30 college credits before entering
--Submitted by a parent

My son went there for five years, since it opened in 2001, he graduated in 07 and since then he cant even mention the school without twitching. This school hurt my child and now he still lives with me. He is 22 Don't let your child go there if you want him or her to have a nice life. The school was homophobic... not a school if you want your child to learn, rude guttermouthed teachers, horrible uncontrolable students, but a nice selection of books in the library. If your kid likes to read that's for school for them.
--Submitted by a parent