Research Central Dauphin Senior High School public Schools in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

“As a parent of 2 students at this school, I am never surprised by the lack of support. It seems that the administration is so busy trying to enforce ridiculous rules that they have no time or motivation to be involved with students or parents who want to help their child succeed. One child is an athlete, and upper average student. His evaluation of the school is that it is a hard place to be. The second child, although intelligent struggles with everything. I was told by the principal that he is not a bad kid, just a free spirit, 'and we here at CDHS do not encourage free spirits.' When I requested assistance to try to help get him back on track, I was told there is nothing they can do to help. I have nothing good that I can say concerning this school.”

“As a parent of a graduated learning support student, I found the school staff unwilling to assist with providing options for post secondary education.It seems as though the guidance counselors were more willing to assist the upper classmen than those students in the middle or lower section of the class.I would think that the counselors would be more involved with these students, since many were told by the teachers there is nothing out there. It also seems as though the staff only completed paperwork as mandated by the state in order to receive their funding and had no real interest in encouraging the student to pursue a higher level of education.What a shame for the students who lacked the encouragement from parents and teachers to pursue a higher education.Many of these students would possibly 'blossom' in an environment that is encouraging and rewarding for them.”

“Parents seem to be very involved (as we are) but repeated requests to the administration fall on deaf ears. School facility is modern and beautiful, wonderful extracurricular, but not much learning there. Too much emphasis on socialization among the students. Ethnic diversity is small (mostly a white school,) but this has more to do with the demographics of the feeder schools than anything else. More does need to be done about discipline and traffic issues.”

“The academics are okay. There are 4 State Policeman walking the halls at all times due to the discipline problem and drugs. A lot of incidents go unpublished. This school has NO diversity, so if you want your child to live in a white world send them to CD.”

“More emphasis should be given to teacher qualifications because I have heard many complaints from my children who attend both CD and CD East. Sure there are some good teachers, but the ones that are on the borderline should be let go and their jobs given to hard working newly graduated teachers who would make the effort to get the subject matter taught to the students. Extracurricular activities are fine...more emphasis should be given to the basics first.”

“I am a former teacher in this school. The academic programs are strong; however, the discipline problems are so huge that order and management takes much much priority over learning. Parent involvmenet is poor, I do not recommend CD.”

“A very negative environment...teachers expend more energy atttempting to control a bad demographical mix of students and less time teaching. Poor planning/leadership at the top does not encourage a positive learning environment in a difficult situation. (Admittedly a tough task)”

“The teachers need to get more involved with the students and get interested in them as people not just a body sitting in their class. This school also needs to replace the Police Guard with Anger Management Counselors. This school is all about saving face and not reporting half of the violence that actually goes on here.”