Westlake High School

I love Westlake High school its great.!!!!!!!!

LearningI can say at this school they have been having more opportunities for kids to learn things that are more recent and up to date like the film, coding, as well as digital art in certain circumstances. Kids here are generally excited to learn if its a passion they have.TeachingTeaching here is honestly very hit or miss, there's great teachers but when it comes to the newer guys they generally only stay a year for a reason. Great teachers like Chris Cooper, Daniel Potter, Cathy Miner, Susan Purdy, Michael Felix, Darrin Edwards. Those guys make up for the really bad teachers who cannot compensate for their lack of accountability.Social-emotional supportYes and no! Same thing with the teaching category, there are just some teachers who treat it as a transitional teaching period and generally don't seem to see that support is needed on an emotional level. This will spill over into the Special education category as well because it seems like the majority (unfortunately) do not know that there could be some people with diagnosed learning disabilities and don't take it upon themselves to either assist them. What was also an issue for me was that at the school they had a grief group session for years and never invited me to it. They had invited my brother who shares the same last name an had never had a thought to invite me to join the group as well until my last year. My teachers were unaware there was even a grief group to send students like myself to.Special EducationThey do offer this but don't be fooled, if your kid does have a learning disability, DO NOT rely on teachers to self report learning disabilities during class. If your child is failing classes due to this, inform the school, they lack the ability to take initiative.SafetyThey leave this up to students, which I find a horrible idea because it is left up to the diligent and hard workers at the school. They do not consider other peoples circumstances (whom are not as fortunate) to the point where discrimination lives in the school. I'm surprised there is still faculty working there that have been blatantly discriminating kids.Family EngagementHard to find family engagement unless it is for sports games and the like. Only time families are openly welcome are for fundraising like the Homecoming dances and club participation. Besides that kids are on their own.Overall the School programs are worth it but look into who the Faculty are, there's lots discrimination your kid can face.

I think the thing that disappointed me the most when I taught there a few years ago was the lack of professionalism from the teachers. Just for that, I would avoid having my kids attend school there. But I guess you can just chalk up bad teachers to the teacher shortage...?

2 out of 10 just for those few amazing teachers among a hoard of horrible people. Stay away from the band teacher at all costs. He is still ruining lives. He ruined a chance for my cousin to receive a scholarship she had already worked hard for three years to get. And in some classes students don't get a desk and have to work on their laps because there is not enough room. I will never subject children to that horrible school.

I was nervous about sending my kids here because the school is HUGE....but, I have been nothing but pleased with my encounters with the teachers. The athletics department is a little sloppy sometimes in terms of getting information out....but, most of the coaches are AMAZING and Sharon runs a great ship when events are put on!