Prattville High School

Terrible school security guards talk to kids as if they’re animals.

Overall, I have been really impressed with this school. So far, I e had one child graduate and is going off to college. My middle child will be a junior next year(22-23). Her ACT was a 24 on the first try and I think that reflects the schools prep work. My kids are all “band kids”. Overall, the band program has been a great experience, (although the director is a micro-manager), but still, when other schools are cutting music, prattville has music in middle, junior high, and high schools. There is a reason that people pick Prattville’s school district to live in. There is a reason that the cost of living is higher in prattville vs the surrounding Montgomery area.

To be fair PHS has the most choice as far class options for schools in Autauga County which is why we kept our son there instead of transferring him to a private school. The Autauga County Technology Center, which is right next door and which PHS students can walk over to for some elective classes, is a benefit. Although PHS only offers Spanish and French the students can take them for four years which is not the case at some private schools.PHS is underfunded, understaffed and uncommunicative. Although we've had good results emailing teachers directly, do not expect that the office will answer the phone or return messages. If you need to speak with them you will probably have to go to the office. They will send only a few messages during the year and the same applies to the school website. I believe their motto is "We don't need to let you know because we've always done it this way." However, if you want to know any information about sports that will be readily available. As PHS does have parent contact info they use once in a while I'm not sure why they don't do a better job of keeping parents informed with a weekly email newsletter like other High Schools do.BUSES: Kindergarten through High School students will be on the same bus. With stopping at every school the routes are LONG - possibly an hour or longer each way. The bus garage and schools do not communicate well with each other. If you need to find out bus stop information you'll probably have to call or stop by the bus garage.DRIVERS ED: It is my understanding that PHS is only able to offer 1/3 of students Drivers Ed and those students get very little driving time. It is mostly a study hall class. Students MUST have their permit already on the first day of class. Without drivers ed student auto insurance rates will be higher. Some of the private schools offer drivers ed.There is only ONE guidance counselor for each grade. Do not expect much from them.My son says there are fights and bullying in the lunch room and halls and occasional lock downs for drug searches. None of this is communicated to parents.In the two years my son has been at PHS, several of his teachers have quit in the middle of the year or there has been a temp teacher at the beginning of the year. He has had teachers NOT complete the required curriculum for the year.

I think this High School is as good as any other my children have attended. We are a military family and only in the area for one year. Prattville High School is like any other school in that if your child is diligent and does his/her work they will be successful and have a good experience. They are very welcoming and the teachers I feel did a great job!

My child has been in this school system since 3rd grade and I can tell you that this is a horrifyingly bad school system. The teachers play favorites so badly that it is just plain cruel if you're not on the favorite list. There are a few teachers that actually care, but they are far and few between. Most don't seem to care at all about teaching the subject they are assigned to. And if your child is not one of the most popular kids, comforming to everything as a "yes man" to appease them, your child will be the constant target of bullying by the students and the teachers as well. Thank god my child is finishing school and going to college elsewhere. Staying in this awful place would be unbearable. I've often heard people say that we should be grateful how great Prattville schools are compared to the Montgomery schools. Well, to me that's like saying you can choose 2 ways to die.....1. Someone will aim and fire straight at you, or 2. Someone will come up behind you and stab you in the back. This school is no better and you have to fight for everything. I had to fight with administration at times just to see my daughters school work, because they don't think parents should ever see their childs work. I even had to go into the principals office to view the work but couldn't take anything with me so I could review with my daughter her mistakes. There is nothing fair or good about this school, even when you as a parent are constantly in there fighting for the best for your child. The school only cares about sports/football and education is an after thought......If you want any chance of some kind of education here, you must go with the Honors and AP classes. You'll at least get some chance then.