Skyline High School

I am former graduate of skyline high school and can say that it s a miserable place if you don t fit in. It all depends on who you are, where you re from, and how much money you have. The students have a really nasty attitude towards minorities as well. I used to be in sports and the team members really didn t support each other as a team and even excluded some of their minority members. It s not a very diverse school unless whites and Asians are diverse enough for you. I would not recommend this school to anyone who is not white or Asian. I guarantee you won t make many or no friends at all. The environment is a hostile one as well. The students are very cliquish and they do all kinds of nasty things to each other. The environment is very competitive for a high school and there is a lot of pressure to fit in with the kids who are rich. As a minority with a disability I am not satisfied with the students or teachers.

This school is great if your student is a star athlete or Ivy League bound. If your student does not fit into this category look at Issaquah or Liberty High. The teachers and attitude are better than at Skyline.
—Submitted by a parent

Very rigorous courses. Way too much emphasis put on athletics to the detriment of other programs. As a parent, be prepared to be your child's only advocate is this is a large and impersonal school. Very cliquey and very spoiled kids. Your child will do well here if they are either very gifted academically and can tolerate the nasty kids or talented athletically. Please do not use my email.
—Submitted by a parent

As I parent I am distressed to see the lack of fun and joyfulness in the students eyes, though it could be the lack of sleep they get. I think parents perhaps have set too great of expectations for our children and the students in turn feel a sense of competitiveness that doesn't allow for good friendships or the enjoyment of school in an atmosphere of brotherhood and sisterhood. The kids appear competitive, unsharing and unhelpful toward each other, even to the point of guarding their friendships from others. In this environment we will possibly have smart kids, yes, but quite possibly they will fail to learn the qualities that make them decent human beings. My child feels there are very few genuinely friendly students at SHS. It's such a shame. Please don't use my email address.
—Submitted by a parent

If you don't have money and I mean lots of Money your kid will not fit into the Peer groups here. I finally had to transfer my child to another high shool because of it. The kids compete socially by seeing who can drive the most expensive car to school. My child saw a lot of drug usage as well. The athletes are put on a pedestal at this school and are allowed to slide through classes academically. If you care about your kid and are middle income send them elsewhere Like I did.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a junior at Washington State this year, and i did not feel prepared for college. Instead, I felt left behind when I attended Skyline. Students can brag about their school all they want, but this is one that I would never send my children to. I hope that Skyline will turn for the better in the future, but I dont see that happening.
—Submitted by a student

Skyline lacks key qualities to make it even a fraction enjoyable. The other students are terrible. They know that their parents make triple what any teacher there makes so they feel superior, and the teachers unfortunately accept that. On to the topic of teachers. As a sophomore I have had only 1 teacher in the past 2 years that have cared about the students, and really care about their jobs. The classes , are designed for college level students. I would consider myself an average student, not that smart, but definitely not dumb. I could say truthfully that I struggle in every class that I am in. Now, skyline prides itself in being a "challenging" school, but for me to be STRUGGLING in every class, is completely unacceptable. The athletics are all based around football, which is quite frustrating coming from a volleyball player. The football players are also put on a pedestal and their academic infractions are almost always overlooked. My point here is not to vent about my teenage issues as a high schooler, but to bring up serious problems that are very present everyday in the halls, and classrooms of skyline high school.
—Submitted by a student

As I student I can honestly say Skyline is a stressful place to be. I am currently a Junior (only 8 more days!) and this has been the hardest year for me. The teachers varry from exceptional to poor depending on the subject. Though the school is difficult I do feel it will pre-pair me for college. My older sister, who is attending UW currently as a junior, said Skyline is harder than college. If you are willing to stick it out, the reward is worth it.
—Submitted by a student

Skyline is awesome. Some of these reviews say that the teachers are bad, and the classes are too hard, or that the students are mean but its not true. There is a great variety in rigour of classes and the staff is mostly good. Also the students get a bad reputation from these few that have reviewed the school
—Submitted by a student

Skyline is a great school! We moved to the area from the east and were in one of the top school districts in our area with small class sizes and have found this school to be fantastic with a great learning culture. Our child is in the IB program which is rigorous program and is thriving in it. The school also offers top knotch athletics. Great and caring teachers. A+
—Submitted by a parent

It is a great school. The teachers are there to help you. There are flaws though. I think that sports play to much of a part in it. The kids are rude and cruel. They are rich and expect things to be served to them on a silver platter. I think that it is not the schools fault though, it is the parents. There are still some good kids though. There are good music programs and other things you can join. It is challenging but later you will be greatful for it.
—Submitted by a student

Skyline High School is extremly challenging and is horrible for the average student. I would only reccomend it to students who think the average school is too easy and wants more of a challenge. The only thing I like about Skyline is the football program. Alot of the students are very rude to teachers and their other students. As a student of Skyline, I would not recomend this school to other students.
—Submitted by a student

Much of this info is old. Skyline NOW in our exp (06 grad & a jr):SHS's had public problems in admin over past 3-4 yrs. Suffers from poor culture that must be addressed top down. It is an adversarial one, not a collaborative one. Yes there are some wonderful teachers, but it's 80/20 rule. Setting bar high is good; realistic support structures to achieve that is what's lacking.
—Submitted by a parent

I think this school is an extremely challenging and harsh environment. Many of the students are disrespectful and I don't think there are that many good teachers on staff. A lot of the kids are stressed out and not happy. Great advanced orchestra program, but lack of AP classes is definitely a huge downfall.
—Submitted by Melanie, a student

I enjoy the vary of classes besides the lack of Art programs. Over all in a parents view Skyline is a great school but in my eyes it is not the best environment for some students.
—Submitted by a student

As a graduate of Skyline High School, I would NOT reccomend it. The school itself is good and the teachers are fine but the students are not nice to put it lightly. The curriculm is very challenging average students do not do well. I was in the IB program which was very hard, 3+ hours of homework a night and my friends and I would often study all night long for the tests. Many of the good teachers leave because the parents can be so demanding and the students can be disrespectful.
—Submitted by a former student

Great school, nice facilities. High faculty turnover in initial years, but has stabilized and established itself as leader in KC.
—Submitted by a former student

Skyline High School is a very challenging school, almost too challenging. A lot of the teachers don't have good realationships with us. I've had very few good teachers that I learned a lot from. It is a horrbile atmosphere for a lot of the students. Most of the students are judgemental and cruel.
—Submitted by a student

Skyline is a great school. There are absolutely no safety issues and teachers are great. It is a challenging and rewarding school.
—Submitted by a parent

The classes are all really rigorous and most students do fairly well on standardized tests. Skyline also offers the IB program which is actually more challenging than AP and there is a diploms if a student meets all requirements. Skyline also has the best theater program in the area with many students coming through NEVAC to take advantage of it. The sports at the school are also thriving, with the varsity football team just barely losing the state championship in their first season in 4A.
—Submitted by a student