Ralston High School

"I do have an issue with Ralston High School I currently go here as an 11th grade student and I have gone here since freshman year. My freshman year I was pretty lazy and barely passed my classes but that was on me. Although I was lazy the school was a very well functioning school with good rules. Ny teachers all cared about me and didnt give up on me. My sphomore year I started to have anxiety and was glad to see that tables were being put in the commons I was able to go and be away from the loudness of the cafeteria and overly large crowds. After a while they took our commons privialges I sat in the cafeteria. Teachers seemed to stop caring and there we MULTIPLE times where I witnessed a teacher bringing a kid down, making fun and humiliating them, teachers who were making racist remarks. Now In 11th gade its been my worst year, my anxiety got very bad. In the begining of the year tables were put in the commons closer to the cafeteria which is where I sat in order to not have a panic attack or get a headache. I had to drop a class because the teacher went to fast even when I asked her to slow down and when I asked for help on a class assignment replied with " weren't you taking notes or were you just not listening I am not going to help you ask a neighbor." This teacher also gave us way to much homework 3 online assignments and 2 worksheets every night knowing some of us work and we have homework in other classes. This is ridiculous some of these teachers target kids because of how they look. I year I was also told a teacher discriminated a kid with special needs publicly saying "and this is why you shouldnt drink when ypur pregnant". Multiple changes have also been suddenly made like the tables at lunch have been moved into the cafeteria. Kids now only have 5 minutes to get to a class during homeroom and if are caught in the hallways get a demerit. Kids like myself with anxiety have no where to go during lunch so I sit in the hallway by my next class and I do not eat because there are to many kids in my lunch and don't have enough time to finish. Recently Ralston high school had a lockdown and after scaring half the school and had kids in tears claimed it was false when it was not. After being locked in a dark room we were moved outside where I had a panic attack and then they took us back inside when it was "clear" and "false" although multiple students saw someone get arrested and taken away. Besides the point my sphomore and Junior year have been awful. I have gotten pretty good grades this year the social environment of the school is not appropriate. One last thing, today we had a kid who smoke marijuana in one of the bathrooms and the whole school smelt like "weed". This is inappropriate and this school has deep issues"

"Today was the first day of school for my now 11th grader. I'm highly disappointed as I listen to my child who has carried nothing lower than a 4.0 for 6+ years (currently 4.1) talk about how much she hates school now. Expecting it to be related to teenage drama, I was surprised when the issue turned out to be the new principal and all the new changes. Some I guess being made only a few days before school starting. Now my child chooses to study and keep up her average on her own without us, her parents, ever having to ask, remind, or check as we know she has gone over and beyond allowing us no chance to take credit. By choice many of her classes are electives. At the age of 16 she has already been promoted to Manager at her job that she worked all summer, made it to every soccer practice, while also volunteering at Camp Monroe which is working with kids with special personalities. Once again all choices she made showing the amazing intellectually driven young woman she strives to be. Now that I've explained the type of student/personality behind this review I will now define the problem at hand. She was told today that she no longer had the option for a study period unless she took on a guided study consisting of no ability to talk or leave the room. Back when, it was known as in school suspension or at least that's what it sounds like. The other options have no fundamental substance towards her future goals. My once optimistic daughter actually teared up a bit as she rightfully explained how with all her elective classes, she really needed that study period in order to help maintain her average especially since she will be working most days after school. She was turned down after suggesting the possibility of being given access to the library during what should have remained study hall on her schedule. It's not only students and parents complaining about ALL the changes but also the staff itself. I work 51 hrs a week so my children can go to a school district I feel will benefit their future more so than the others. As I'm starting to regret my decisions I truly hope the new Principal can figure out what it is she needs to be doing in order to keep these kids headed in the right direction unlike the negative outlook she has chosen to bestow at the moment. At least consider the students who have exceeded expectations and are also taking electives to have the study hall options they deserve and actually need to improve their future and decrease their stress levels."

"Ralston may be the smallest district in town but wow! All of their schools are clean and well maintained. They have many great activities for the kids and this high school is state of the art."

"I was a student of the Ralston High School for four years now and three of those years with the Principal of the school Mr Steve Schrad. I would like to say that this school was outstanding to me! I loved all of the teachers and staff and with my heart and lung disease and 17 surgeries, they did a phenominal job for me leading me to my high school diploma. (This was written the day after the 2015 Graduation Class which is when I graduated). As a student of the school it was just so much fun and I would like to say to all of the teachers and staff, thank you for everything you have done for me! I am your Hawkeye fan who graduated on May 17th by the way:) Yes I am your Sports Rants fan who has written this nice review for the school. If you are a parent that is looking for a smaller, calmer high school that has kids get work done but is a friendly staff of great teachers and administration, this is the school for you to take your kids to:) Lots of memories have been made in this school throughout my high school career. For example, my sports show Sports Rants and the final episode and being in the ralston recorder. Another example is the friendly arguments between me and the principal everyday at lunch on sports topics. Overall it was a phenominal school and a great school district in general."

"This schools teachers only care about how their overall review is, not how single students do grade wise. The students here are either spoiled and think that they can do whatever and get special treatment from teachers because of their wealth. I do NOT believe this is a good school at all, especially because if they see bullying they don't stop it. The kids who are athletic or the skinny well dressed people get away with virtually everything. I would not recommend sending your child here, especially if they are not from ralston or the ralston area."