Woodland High School

This high school is no longer the fine school it once was. I will say that the vice principal and some of the teachers are very good. Very political school and those that are "favored" for sports, etc. are allowed to get away with things others are not. Several attempts to address issues with principal and superintendent were completely ignored with NO response whatsoever. If someone at your job location tripped you, kicked you and continually called you names, would that be tolerated at your place of employment? Is allowing this to happen in schools really preparing our children for adulthood? More like preparing them for survival in prison. Again, there are some fine teachers at this school but you many consider other options for your student(s) such as Lewis River Academy, homeschooling, CAM, etc. A new high school in the future may help ease some of the tension but right now, I am very disappointed.
--Submitted by a parent

The school is overcrowded due to an exponential increase in the towns population with housing developments all over the place. Taxpayers voted against building a new high school so there is no hope in sight. The middle school and high school are connected and share the same cafeteria, commons, and library. There are 12 year olds in the same school as 20 year olds. The high school has earned the nickname of portable city. Most of the teachers have given up on teaching the high schoolers anything. My daughter went from an honor student in Vancouver, WA to a 1-B. 1-D and the rest of her classes are F'. I believe the drug use by teens is much higher than average. I also think the number of students has surpassed the 675 or so listed by this site.
--Submitted by a parent

The primary and elementary schools have good teachers. The high school has more lazy teachers than good ones. I have 3 kids in the high school and the teachers spend more time trying not to teach than teach the kids anything. My daughter refuses to go to class a lot of days because they are just watching another movie for the third time or give them two weeks for a simple project that takes at most 2 days. She has better things to do than sit in class and learn nothing. Very unimpressed.
--Submitted by a parent

i love this school...great teachers
--Submitted by a student

I'm not a parent but i did go to Woodland High School all four years. I think it is an amazing school. The teachers really care about the students and about what they are teaching. I always knew a teacher or the princiapl was available if I needed help. All of the sports programs are great. Most of my favorite memories during high school are from some sporting event or other extra-curricular activity. Now I'm in college and I began by taking college level courses. I probably wouldn't be at that level if I went to a different school, with different teachers and different classes.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm not a parent but I grew up in Woodland and went to elementary, middle school and High School there. I moved my sophmore year and was that a mistake the teachers are way more advanced in woodland and the quality in learning was so much better for me. If I could repeat it I wouldn't of moved. I felt that the teachers related to the students more and all the academics were outstanding. Woodland elementary, middle, and High School are all one big happy family in my eyes and as a student that is important, kids need to feel comfortable and be respected.
--Submitted by Stephanie Foster, a former student

I had kids in Key West. F; and Ilwaco, WA. Their school test scores were as dismal as Woodland. I ended up home schooling with wonderful results. Kids go into college very well prepared. It is odd that Kalama, LaCenter and Ridgefield are so superior. I am a firm believer that there are too many chiefs and the workers, the teachers, are underpaid. And they have no authority to get rid of unruly kids. It is a mess and everyone seems to meet the challenge by giving all kids perfect or near perfect grades. Thus kids leave school that were four points more or less and cannot even balance a check book. We are short of books but never, never the latest in sports equipment. The whole education process in the country begs for an overhaul.
--Submitted by Moze Meeker, a former student

My neice entered Woodland High School in mid March. The school advisor/counselor was very helpful in setting up classes for her. We were introduced to the principal who also gave her sound advice. As a new student coming from a much larger school district, my neice is enjoying the smaller setting. She has voiced some concerns about the lack of discipline in one of her classes. She said it is very distracting and disrespectful. Her experience over the past month has been good overall.
--Submitted by a parent

When I went to school here a couple of years ago kids were allowed to be disruptive and disrespectful. Looking back I am irritated at the fact that it hasn't improved. The school and district as a whole need to be held accountable and they aren't. If the school and district don't change soon I will be looking for a charter or private school to send my kids.
--Submitted by a former student

Bullying to some degree or another happens at all schools and it is always unfortunate. In some instances students that are disruptive are given too many chances when they should be removed from the school altogether. However, it is hard for teachers to be teachers, parents, counselors, and more, every second of the day. More proactive parent involvement would be appreciated. The faculty and staff at WHS care deeply for their students and community and are committed to making it the best school possible.
--Submitted by a teacher