Thunder Rdg
Jasper, GA 30143

The school-each year-is constantly opening new and interactive connection classes for students. Teachers are very supportive about getting students to learn and are always making connections with parents to help improve academic performance in class (e.g. emails, phone calls)

This is probably one of the worst schools in Georgia. As a former student, I’m speaking from experience and begging you not to send your kids to the Pickens County school system. The standards they hold their students to are an absolute disgrace to the public education system. They offer little to no AP/Honors classes. They don't encourage students to push themselves, and they give up on students who need the most help. There is very little college preparation other than the run-of-the-mill counselor's appointments just to make sure kids aren't failing their classes. There is a small group of students who are also the star athletes of the school, they choose this clique to promote all of their extra recognition programs. There are very few good teachers within this high school. And the good ones that are left are all starting to retire/leave this horrendous school. It's seriously gone downhill in the past 5 years as well. They have had a new principal every year for the past 4 years because it's so out of control at this school that no one wants to be in charge. The new principal, Matt Combs, is not even from Georgia or the southern US, so he is very out of touch with the community and the school environment. None of the principals will communicate with parents unless the staff member knows they are in a situation that they can get in trouble for. The assistant principal, Wendy Arnold is known for harassing and bullying students. The rest of the administration/staff will pick on students they consider to be "trouble" and make their lives a living hell. There are very few fun activities and extracurriculars outside of sports, and all of the school's funding is allocated to their mediocre sports programs. I find this important to mention because everyone deserves a pleasant high school experience and PHS is not the place to find that. On top of all of these negatives, this is an extremely unsafe school to send your kids to. From bomb threats every week, to kids doing drugs in the bathrooms. This school has it all. The drug epidemic at this school is a real problem and your kids will witness this if you choose to send them there. There are fights constantly, in the halls, in classrooms, on the busses, they are every. Young people are not prepared for adult life or the future at all. I am begging, for the sake of your children's future, don't send your kids to PHS

My daughter is in first grade and we have had a wonderful experience so far. I am also involved, I believe that makes a difference in how you feel about your experience. I wanted to get to know the teachers and staff. I feel like I am a part of the the Tiger family.

I have had 3 children at this school over the years and have mixed feelings about it. I fell like they do try to help the kids that are struggling to some degree, but there is a real lack of interest in the gifted program. It is pretty much non-existent. My gifted child met once a month in 5th grade and played games. That is NOT a gifted program! That child also felt like they were behind the kids from the other elementary schools when they got to the gifted program and honors classes in middle school. I had one child that was struggling and rather than make accommodations for the child, they said they didn t have the time for that with the demands of the other kids. This child has always scored average or above on all standardized testing, but they wanted to lower the level of work they were getting. It also appears sometimes that if you are not from a certain neighborhood, then you really do not have a voice. I use to love this school, but I feel like the quality of the learning and the willingness of the teachers has gone down over the last 5 years.