Garfield High School

Garfield is a very mixed bag. My academic experience, coming out of the APP program, and having gotten very unlucky with teachers, was abysmal. It's staggering the amount of time that was wasted in half of my classes. I had three good classes: AP US, Biology and Marine Biology. I was otherwise very disappointed, and even these classes, though they were well-taught, could have been much better. My sister, on the other hand, has been very lucky with her teachers, and has been extremely happy with Garfield, academically and otherwise. We both agree that the students are excellent, and the school has some excellent extra-curricular opportunities. The outdoors program, POST, and the music program are both highlights, though with Mr. Acox approaching retirement and the splitting of APP, I worry about the jazz band's trajectory. If you get lucky and get involved, Garfield can be a great school. Chances are good that you will be seriously disappointed by academics here - there are a shocking number of truly terrible teachers at this school. I'm giving Garfield a four because I was quite unlucky with teachers, and entered with expectations that I now see were unreasonable.

It's done extremely well with the students and the community.

The enviroment for learning is exceptional! It's a great community oriented school with, great programs!
--Submitted by a parent

like any other high school, garfield is not perfect, but i am filled with love for this school and i would not be the person that i am today without the experience that i had there. the sense of community and pride that you gain from going to garfield will stick with you for the rest of your life. the academics and extra-curricular programs are wonderful, especially for an large, public inner-city school. there is so much history, tradition, and diversity; it is truly unique.

Garfield is an amazing place. Most of the teachers there are organized, intelligent, innovative and caring The coursework is rigorous and colleges value a GHS education. The music program and student directed activities are second to none. Athletics are very good and steadily getting better. It's a big school, but there's something for everyone here. Although he's student-centered and a wonderful student advocate, Mr. Howard don't play, so kids you had better be doing the right thing at this Great School. There are lots of tremendous opportunities at Garfield that you won't find anywhere else and although it's odd for a school this size, I don't know of any learning community with more of a family feel- that's why they sing in the Doghouse- 'Glory Hallelujah I go to Garfield High!'
--Submitted by a teacher

For a large inner city school, Mr Howard and most of the teachers has maintained and amazingly calm, safe,academically challenging, and supportive atmosphere. It is no more clique-ish than other high schools and we have observed a good amount of positive outreach from teachers and counselors. Shout out to Mr. Miranda, Ms Casavoie, and Ms Thompson. They are the tops!
--Submitted by a parent

Best school in town adcadenics and school pride u can't ask for more. Wonderful new building with a college feel
--Submitted by a parent

Garfield is a big school which offers many choices and activities for students. One of the schools many strengths is the student run clubs. They have a lot of autonomy and responsibility to make the clubs work. Classes may be good or bad but the actives are really great.There must be over 100 groups. pickchoosee
--Submitted by a parent

My child did not go to Washington for middle school but they did not feel left out through their years at GHS. They graduated last year, and though did not take all AP classes (which might contribute to the feeling of segregation) , he was very involved in Post, and CORE. Both programs are unique to Garfield and I highly recommend any incoming freshmen to join these programs. My son never felt segregated though he did comment that some of his peers did. He had an equal mixture of friends of all different races in all of his classes.
--Submitted by a parent

Sadly, this school has not worked out for our student. If your student is very bright and has attended the AP program at Washington, I am sure it is a good fit. However, if your student is coming from another middle school, be prepared for them to feel somewhat excluded or marginalized by the more dominant AP students. Classes are large, and teachers can be impersonal and dismissive at times when communicating with parents. We have requested a transfer to Center School, hoping it will be less impersonal, more inclusive and less elitist.
--Submitted by a parent