Anderson High School

"I really like some of the teachers here. Some enjoy what they do and have not lost sight of why they began teaching. However, had I known how incredibly broken the system is at this school, I would never have sent my child here. I have observed office staff treating the kids (you know, their customers?) with rudeness and sarcasm. In the next breath, they turn to the adult with fake enthusiasm and insincerity. There seems to be a lack of "fun" at this school. There are no dances, except homecoming and prom. The students' morale is low. You can feel the stress and anxiety just walking into the building. (I loved my high school, mainly because the teachers actually enjoyed teaching. It was tough, but the faculty and staff were the best part of our day. They actually cared about US, not numbers.) The attendence policy is a joke. Half the time the kids are left to teach themselves, from packets, especially in some of the AP and STEM courses. The theater teachers are moody, going from being constructive to all out verbally abusive within moments. Straighten up, Anderson. You are better than this."

"We moved to this area because Anderson is one of the top performing schools. It seems to have the child's best academic interests at heart. The attendance office is staffed by incredible people. The registrar's office, however, is staffed by people who treat kids with zero respect. You are greeted there with sarcastic remarks instead of helpful advice. These are children who need guidance, not disdain. Some teachers are incredibly inept to teach high school children, and so they do not. They hand out packets, tell the kids to study, then test them based on the students ability to teach themselves. Your kid is out sick with the flu, they get a note from the dr, but because they are out longer than 2 days, the note is not excepted. So, they have to make up all the class hours they missed by giving up their lunch hours, EVEN THOUGH their work is made up within the first two days back. Money is a priority here, and it is proven when the student checks into a principle's office to eat, so that their make up time is actually recorded. It's stressful for the student and frustrating for the parent. Students are threatened that they will not pass to the next year if they do not do well enough on a Standardized test, even incoming students, like refugees. The kids are completely stressed out and it is RIDICULOUS to scare them like that. Come on! Don't get me wrong. A lot of the teachers here really enjoy what they do, and they do an awesome job inspiring the kids. The physics and engineering teachers are great. Some core curriculum teachers really invest in your student to see that they succeed, not just for a "test," but for a better understanding of application. The selection of plays and productions offered by theater department are outstanding, but when kids are reduced to frustrated tears because a teacher decides you are not worth her time, what can you do? Rudeness and sarcasm have no place in teaching kids. You are touching the future through these kids. Relax and enjoy this privilege, if you can't, then move on."

"You think Murchison is a prison, you clearly haven't been here. Very old building, prison like, not fit for 2,500 students. Principal likes to take all fun out of everything, and I MEAN EVERYTHING! One bad apple does ruin it for everybody else according to administration. All of the APs follow the bullsh*t rules, even knowing that they shouldn't be there in the first place. There's also this other bullsh*t rule that school enforces, you miss 4 periods of any class(even if you're sick) and you end up with no credit for the entire class, it might be nice if they weren't so hungry for money, trying to scare the kids from missing worthless classes .Most of the students/teachers/police officers are really awesome though. Don't send your kid for fun, send them to learn how to sit in a desk for 7 hours and follow orders from people they barely know."

"Until Donna Houser is out of commission, I wouldn't recommend sending your kid here. She likes to take every bit of fun out of the school. There is no school pride because she has taken every Anderson tradition away from the students. Her motto is "one bad apple ruins the whole bushel". Her focus is having a good image, yet her words to not represent her actions; "Dont judge a person by their words, yet define them by their actions". Anyways, the kids are fine, they're smart and well rounded. Teachers are astounding and the academics are challenging but advantageous."

"I have been at Anderson for 3 years now and I like it. I have had great teachers all 3 years and they really work with you to make sure you pass. Anderson is a pretty nice environment, it is true the school is very old and kinda wore out but they are working on making the campus look better."