Perry Hall High School in Baltimore, Maryland

“Things I like: -Variety courses and encouragement -Parent/teacher conference day: creative -Parent visiting day (super,need highr enrol -Super activities/committees to join -Interview day -90% teacher email responses -Phone messages for events -Interim reports -Wonderful/helpful secretaries Topics to improve: -Professional signs in hallways to main office, dept. Hang art (especially on open house) -Bigger emphasis on continuing a foreign language (if they want to quit, then introduce them to another language after 3 years...it's important. Other countries speak multiple, these kids are our future) - Dances: dress code for girls...skirts should be to their knees (Adminstration needs to address) It's getting out of hand. - Guidance counselors...don't even know their name and child is graduating. I'm sure they do a great job, but some kids suffer. So how about a mentor program between older students and younger students Freshman year. - Injuries out on the field (teach kids to respect the other team and get down on knee) - school needs to be prettier”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a current student in perry hall. I absolutly love it here. I used dread going to school. ever since I started at perry hall I loved school. the teachers focus on their students. Last year we got a new principal who has helped our school so much. I would completely recommend this school to any parent or kid who wants to enroll.”
This review was posted by a student.

“This is the best High School in Maryland!!! The teachers really helped me a lot. The Math department is extremely excellent in the ways they teach students. Loved the way they are using resource classes for special need students!!! One downfall is its such a great school, that its way overcrowded now. I graduated last year from Perry Hall High and we were the largest graduating class of 2008 in the whole county and in the history of the school”
This review was posted by a student.

“My daughter has Mrs. Cox. What a great teacher! She attends to all children's needs and really helps every child succeed.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Phhs is a great school. Because of how large it is, one can pursue and get involved in many different activities. For instance, there are many sports teams, theater/drama/art, and clubs that can interest many. Our music department is the best in the nation. If you want it, you get it; people are too quick to blame teachers or administrators sometimes. Also, as a senior who has been attending this school for four years, i want to clarify a misconception: although the school is overcrowded (by approx 200 kids, since phhs was build for approx. 2100), It doesn't mean you cannot maneuver through the halls. I haven't ever been late due to overcrowding.”
This review was posted by a student.

“PHHS could not have done a better job preparing my daughters for college. My oldest earned an engineering degree, while she says that challenged her, she had a job before graduation and it now pursing her first masters while working full time. My younger daughter said that PHHS actually 'over prepared' her, her words not mine. She said that if anything is hard, that is was high school, hence the Deans List in College semester after semester. If you are willing to learn this is the place to be.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“cons: dangerously overcrowded hallways, the first of 4 lunch periods starts at 10:15am, the administration is not consistant with discipline (the larger problem, however, is bcps) pros: an outstanding staff from the teachers to the custodians and cafeteria, a terrific community, good kids (even the bad ones are pretty good)”
This review was posted by a teacher.

“great school.....very overcrowded”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am a student at PHHS who transferred in from a small private school and entered the AP/GT program. While yes, the school is overcrowded and the trailers are a drag, the quality of my education is excellent. I've had classes in the trailers, and while it might be annoying to have to go outside to get to them, the classrooms are well-equipped with blackboards, televisions, and heating so that learning is not a problem. At PHHS, you get whatever you seek. If you are a hard worker you will get a great education as the teachers are very willing to get involved and help however they can. If you are unmotivated and don't care about school, however, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. One complaint is that the administration is extremely unorganized and communication among the staff is terrible. However, extracurriculars and other electives are plentiful.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a mother of a senior and a freshman so I feel as though I can speak from experience. My senior has done very well at Perry Hall High School and is looking forward to pursuing a degree in the engineering field. My daughter is a freshman and although she doesn't care for school overall, she is enjoying the opportunity to play on a junior varsity sports team at Perry Hall High School. The teachers are terrific and are well educated. The administration is easily approachable. I would recommend this high school to any parent.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“12-5-05 I am a very intellegent student among many at perry hall high school. In each and every single class that i have had here at perry hall high school, i have learned a moral. This moral is that our teachers are so eager to pass all of their students. Many teachers strive each day to help each student as individuals. Our teachers work so hard in everything that they do. Everday, they come to work. Through thick, and thin.. They are there. If they are sick, they are still prevalant and ready to work. The teachers give us every opportunity to be succesful in life. I have learned to try my best.. Even if my best isn't an a+, i have reached success! I love this school! I feel as if Perry Hall High School is the best school in the entire world!!! go hall!!”
This review was posted by a student.

“Im a student in 11th grade and i find the school to be great the croud is not that bad and the new hallway is helpful and u can get to the old wing faster that way. I think perry hall is a great school.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Iam currently in the eleventh grade and I think Perry Hall is a great school! The music program is outstanding and there are a wide variety of sports teams and extracurricular clubs and activities. The AP/GT program is excellent and the classes are taght by experienced and dedicated teachers.Though so many people complain about the school being overcrowed, as a student who currently goes there, the crowd is not that big of an issue. I arrive to all my classes on time with relative ease and there is always somewhere to sit at lunch. As for the trailers, they are not the most appealing site, but they provide an adequate learing environment. I would definalelty recomemnd Perry Hall High Shcool.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a parent with two children, a son and a daughter, who both graduated from PHHS. They were fortunate to be attending in the 1996 to 2002 time frame, when the number of 'portable classrooms' cluttering up the landscape was near a minimum, thanks in part to the major expansion of the new wing. Now, I drive by the school every day and shudder to see the cluster of boxes outside, warehousing students instead of giving them the learning environment that they deserve, and our exorbitant taxes pay for. The Board of Education and the county officials are still 'studying' to see if they think an new high school is needed!!!! Houses are being built all over the Perry Hall/White Marsh area at a phenomenal rate, and people are gravititating to the area en masse, but the PTB aren't sure if we need a new school??? Give me a break!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The AP classes are excellent! I have 1 son graduated and 1 currently enrolled. They are both AP students. However, it is a CRIME how overcrowed the school is and they build a hallway? My son even said it is a waste. If your child is not focused and mature they can get chewed up and lost in the crowd. I only recommend this school for students who are serious about their education and cannot be lead a stray.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school offers many good academic classes but it is simply way overcrowded. Last year, an additional lunch had to be added because the fire marshall came in and noted the lunchs were a fire hazard. This school has way more than the posted 22xx students. It's operating capacity is under 2000 already. No school should have to have TWELVE trailers, and the school's solution is to build a $700,000 hallway.”
This review was posted by a student.

“If you are a GT/AP student, PHHS is a great place to be. Those teachers are dedicated and will always help their students succeed. However, lower level students tend to get left behind. The administration makes no sense sometimes, making ridiculous rules because of a small number of delinquents that have nothing better to do than get on everyone's nerves. I graduated in 2004 from the GT/AP program, and I made it into one of the country's top universities, but the majority of the graduates end up at Essex. Just a warning.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I think that this school is horrible. The teachers there are rude to the kids. They don't care about the kids, all they care about is making money for themselves. It is way crowded there. The kids there are out of control. The teachers are rude to the students and to the parents. They need to build another school. I don't know what they are waiting for. I graduate from the school and I hate to tell people that I did.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I graduated in 2004 and very pround to say from Perry Hall High School. It is overcrowded, but PHHS is not alone with that problem in this county and supposively going to 'fix' it. I was in mostly standard/college prep classes and got a great education. All of my teachers that I had were extremly helpful and caring, with the exception of a few. I particapated in the color gaurd and indoor gaurd twirling a rifle and had the time of my life. Everyone can be friends with everyone and it's just an awesome school.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“As a 2004 graduate of Perry Hall, I found my entire experience rewarding and enriching. There are so many extracurricular activities to become involved in at the school, that everyone can find something to suit them. The teachers are absolutely amazing. Majority of them will bend over backwards to help you succeed. True the overcrowding is a problem, but if you are in honors or GT/AP level courses, the classes are smaller. The music program is amazing, and as a former band student, marching band participant, and former musical participant, I cannot say enough good things about that aspect of the school. The discipline of the students is getting increasingly higher as the administration is becoming stricter, which at times isn't a good thing. But nonetheless, the administration has the students interests at heart, and do what they can to protect them and feel safe at school.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“My daughter is going to 10th grade this year. In 9th grade it was hard for her the first couple of days. It is a very over populated school. Also, many students got suspended for drug use, fighting, and cusing. Also, I don't believe it is right for entering 9th graders to have to sit with 10th, 11th and 12th graders at lunch. They should get to know people in their own grade. My other daughter is entering 9th grade this year. I hope she has a better experience than her sister. She is very nervous but she will have to go through with it.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Perry Hall High School is so big, it has great and awesome teaching. I loved my child going to Perry Hall High School. It is crowded though.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I went to PHHS in 1979 and children didn't act like the students today .parents have to take responsabilty for some of the things their children do in school. some things are learned at home. Some parents believe you should not yell at your children bull crap, Some children will run all over their parents and some children could care less if they get suspended from school. Children that act up in school should have to have their parents sit with them in class. The parents then will take a good hard look at their dear darling children and see what they really do in school when they are suppose to be learning.Wake up parents your children are capable of harming other students.Also the school needs to bring charges against these students that assalt other students.Our children are here to learn not to be bullied by other students.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My daughter attended PHHS two years ago. The overcrowding produced several problems. Because the halls were extremely overcrowded, delinquent students are able to assault their classmates without revealing an identity. Between classes, my daughter experienced other students spitting on her from an upper level stairwell. According to my daughter, this is one of many known disturbing incidents which occur daily when attempting to change class. When I spoke with the administration, this student's accountability for the violation of snotty green mucas landing in my daughter's mouth, was zero. Although, I witnessed this same incident occur twice that day. There are programs in place at PHHS for poor performance. If these students are not performing, decrease the teacher/student ratio. The posted teacher/student ratio is 17 at PHHS; I have personally walked these halls, and I this must be a PHHS joke or something; A number of 35-students/teacher would be extremely conservative.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son graduated last June, the first year or two were great. During his last 2 years the level of problems increased as student were bused in from other areas. This caused over crowding, less teacher control, and multiple incidents of shoving, fighting, and racial tensions.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am certain that the two previous parents are not graduates of P.H.H.S, or they just didn't use spell/grammer check. I also wonder just what is meant by 'diverse faculty'(not really, I know exactly what is meant). The student population is 84% white, I would bet that the faculty is well over 16% 'other'. If students were not 'shipped' in from other school districts you wouldn't have nearly the problems. For the most part, I feel the students and parents work very well to see that the students are actually getting an education. It's only the professional cry babies that gum things up!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The school is overpopulated and needs to be bigger. My child comes home and complains about how the hallwys are always crowded and that they can't get to class on time. I think that the principal should stop denying the fact that it is over populated and needs to do somthing about it. If you are a parent that is thinking about his school for your child, please consider somewhere else. This school is too crowded and needs to be larger.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“While the school is extremely overcrowded, over 2,400 students for the 2003-2004 school year, the staff and programming are excellent! As a matter of record, there were never 3100 students enrolled in the school in the 3 years that my child has been attending.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“We are Filipino missionaries and even before we came over to this area, we already have someone research for a good school for our kids. Perry Hall High fits the need and have come up excellent with our expectations. Our daughter is now in college and is enjoying full scholarship not only because of our financial standing but because of her high academic ratings. She was with the band and dance chorale. She sings really well and is now the worship leader in our church. Perry Hall is tops in music! My son is presently in the 9th grade now, excited to go to school when it starts.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I beleive that due to the significant growth - the current school population is actually 3,100 students and not what is listed ,it is impacting the quality of the education and the environment that the students are learning is not ideal- trailors/ overcrowding, etc... I also have concern that the faculty is not a very diverse population to reflect and understand the current needs of the student population and the growth.”
This review was posted by a .

“I think the size of school needs to be expanded due to more over then a hundred students get enrolled each year.”
This review was posted by a .