MT Olive High School

User Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

So much potential, so much waste: This is a mid to large sized suburban high school and has all of the benefits of being located in an area that should have no obstacles to having a fine High School (A large tax base/high school taxes; removed from many of the "big city" issues that can pull a school down, mostly college educated parents who are interested in seeing their child receive an excellent education and are involved in making that happen). However, due to, I believe, a grossly mismanaged school from the Board on down, this one comes up far short of that goal. Eductationally, there are some excellent teachers (tough, too!) but there are some who lack even basic knowledge of the subject they are to teach. In addition, these same teachers who don't have a command of their own subject, have very little classroom management skills-and many don't care to even know the students they are "teaching." Let one of the excellent teachers take over a department and this school would look vastly different. Instead of wallowing in mediocrity it could soar to high levels of academic achievement as of yet unknown to this school. After school activities abound in MOHS. There are many to choose from - should be something for everyone. But here too, unfortunately, you see the lack of real leadership from those who we are paying to lead. If you happen to play a sport that is a favorite of the prinicpal, he may show up and cheer you on - if you win states you are in like Flynn. But, should you be drawn to a lesser known, or not quite as successful, sport - you will be (as my daughter was) amazed to see any administrator attend your event. (Her teammates actually thought they were in trouble!) All people are entitled to preferences (I don't like to watch Hockey, for instance.), but the leaders of this school shouldn't be entitled to pick and choose a few students to support and not even show up for the rest. Finally, the construction. The school has been under construction since last August. They are supposed to be improving the building for educational purposes. (Why the big patio out back?) Anyway, during this process, the school officials have allowed the students to be exposed to far too many dangers that should have been eliminated before the building could be occupied. For instance, in a school with 1400+ students, during a fire drill ALL students and staff must exit through 2 double doors located at the far end of one side of the school. I'm not a fireman but that seems dangerous to me. (Their answer was more fire drills - though we all know that, in a real fire, the students may not be as inclined to form a single file line when smoke is overtaking them, or they can see flames, or so much as one teacher looks scared...) Anyway, as I said when I started, lots of potential...If you choose to move here and anticipate enrolling a child in public school, you may want to consider the high cost it may have on your highschoolers education.

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