Palm Harbor University High School

Posted: January 5, 2026

Within a matter of months, our experience with PHUHS and its IB Program has been deeply disappointing and concerning. Our daughter entered the program as a motivated student and a member of the Junior Honor Society, yet during this short period her academic confidence and GPA were significantly impacted, with little meaningful intervention or support provided.

As parents, we made multiple attempts to communicate our concerns to both administration and instructional staff, seeking guidance and solutions as our daughter began to struggle. Unfortunately, many of these emails and voicemail messages went unanswered, and responses, when received, came only after the situation had already escalated beyond repair.

While we fully acknowledge that students must take responsibility for their academic performance, the transition into a rigorous high school program—particularly one as demanding as IB—requires timely guidance, support, and active involvement from administrators and counselors when challenges arise. Regrettably, this level of support was not evident in our experience.

The program promotes a commitment to student success, yet we have observed multiple students being released from the IB Program due to declining grades, which raises concerns about the adequacy of the support systems in place to help struggling students succeed. As parents, it has been disheartening to witness the emotional and academic toll this experience has taken on our daughter, who entered the program with strong aspirations and motivation.

Posted: January 5, 2026

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Posted: October 4, 2024

Our family has had a great experience at PHUHS. Like any school, self-starting students perform well whether they are in the IB, Medical, or Traditional track. Safety has never been an issue for us here and the students are friendly and supportive. Teachers are good. Excellent front office staff. Too many extra-curricular activities and athletics to name - it would be hard for a student not to find something they can participate and excel in. PHUHS exceeded our expectations.

Posted: October 4, 2024

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Posted: August 25, 2023

It is an excellent academic school, but poorly managed. Communication from top down varies and leaves students, parents, and even faculty often confused. IB program is excellent with mostly the best teachers, but a few of the teachers are terrible, the school knows about it and can not release them. Students in IB walk away prepared for college and life, but stressed out and some students fail in college due to burnout. One student we know chose to enlist immediately after his 18th birthday because his parents forced him through IB. Medical is great for students who are interested. Most clubs and athletics, excellent, although significant advantages given to athletes who came from club sports. Sadly, traditional students mostly fall through the cracks unless they are self-starting. Be advised, if your student is a high achiever, early college in 11th or early admission in 12th HIGHLY recommended. The school doesn't offer enough AP courses to make it through 3 or 4 years of high school in key subjects such as English, history, and math. There is a wide variety of science AP courses. Guidance, faculty and admin have a fairly high turnover rate.

Posted: August 25, 2023

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Posted: May 4, 2023

Fantastic school. I have children who have graduated in both traditional and IB. Teachers work with the students, administration is very engaged, safe campus, and there is something for everyone to be involved in between athletics and clubs.

Posted: May 4, 2023

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Posted: April 24, 2023

Palm Harbor High is the BEST rated and most sought after school in the area. I know from what I’ve heard that it’s MUCH better than Eastlake High. I found it strange that it has such an average score, in my opinion, it’s a 5-star school. Most students who are enrolled there come from wealthy families. If I had to think of something negative, I would probably say that there isn’t much diversity, if you know what I mean. Some people consider that a good thing I guess? However, as a former student who graduated from PHU, I think it was an excellent school, I would highly recommend.

Posted: April 24, 2023

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Posted: May 17, 2021

Great school, kids are happy. Great location.

Posted: May 17, 2021

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Posted: April 28, 2021

Moved here from Nashville and have been very pleased with the school. My 16 year old is happy and excelling and loves his teachers.

Posted: April 28, 2021

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Posted: February 25, 2021

Great experience. We moved from out of state and this school did a much better job handling the Covid situation than our previous school system. My daughter has had really good experiences with other students and she likes her teachers for the most part. Consistent homework and fair communication from the teachers. Very pleased overall with PHUHS.

Posted: February 25, 2021

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Posted: February 8, 2021

When Covid happened last March and schools were closed, I thought the COUNTY system did a good job rolling out the remote program. The school, however, was horrible. There was no accountability for the teachers, let alone the students. Everyone went awry and once the kids fell behind, there was zero help to get them caught up. With the new school year also being novel, with hybrid learning, again there is very little accountability for the staff, but the children are being held to traditional standards, with little leeway - during such a strange set up (i.e. some teachers are actually teaching remotely, while the students sit in the classroom; and most teachers have online students, and students in person). So now my daughter has not achieved learning benchmarks and has been removed from the program she was attending. I was told she would report to her zoned school. I placed phone calls to PHU and to the Pinellas County administration offices to get the information on timing of her removal - to no avail. Today, my daughter went to school and not until 6th Period (out of 7) was she told that she was dropped from the school and supposed to be at another school. So, all day, my kid was wandering around campus after being "kicked out" and nobody noticed. This is wrong on so many levels. Just another example of the true motto - "kids don't matter here." They worry about their reputation and nothing else. Absolutely NOT the wellbeing of the students.

Posted: February 8, 2021

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Posted: July 20, 2019

Read the reviews before enrolling your child in this school. It failed at every level for our child.

Posted: July 20, 2019

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Posted: February 17, 2017

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Posted: February 17, 2017

Should IB program not work out for you, what are your child's backup options? Back to trad program in the zoned district school with a destroyed GPA? All the while the former peers are in AP classes, great GPAs, scholarships, etc.
Check the IB drop out rates - real rates

Posted: June 21, 2016

In the IB program, there is a constant rotation of classes so I felt that the amount of homework was just right to juggle all the demands.

Posted: June 21, 2016

I attended PHUHS in the IB program and I'm thankful for a great education that has led me to where I am today.

Posted: March 6, 2015

one of the most over rated schools in the county. They only get away with calling themselves a 'a' rated school because they only include I he IB program in that statistic not the other 3... the teachers are rude and the school never enforces the dress code. You can get away with wearing booty shorts however you get yelled at for your bra strap...Countryside next year for us

Posted: September 12, 2014

Both the Traditional And Medical Magnet programs are excellent academically. Much of what your child puts in is what they get out from an educational standpoint. Prefer this school vs. an overrated East Lake HS.

Posted: August 27, 2014

My son is in the 9th grade in the University. I tried numerous times to contact Mr. Papp his guidance counselor to change around his schedule. I called and emailed. I received NO Response to any of my inquires. Frustrated, I decided to find out who the Special Education Person in charge was. (While he does have an IEP he no longer requires any special education classes). The school year has just started and today is day 9. I was very happy to meet with Julie Kemble, the VE Specialist. My son has an IEP and it turns out, she is also his case manager. She was able in just 24 hours to change around his schedule to accommodate his love of music and the arts. He is very happy and so am I. So far, all the teachers I have met seem very nice. They DO have portables behind the school, and they are nice and air conditioned but son has gotten wet going outside during the rain from class to class as most of his classes are in these portables. I am hopeful, that with my parental involvement, that my son will have a great school year. So far so good but without Julie Kemble, my son would not have had Musical Theatre in his schedule this year, and for that I am grateful.

Posted: August 24, 2014

I have been in the Palm Harbor area for two years. My child goes to PHUHS and she is a straight A student. However, sadly enough, my daughter has told me on numerous occasions how rude her new teachers are this year. Being role models for our children, I am disgusted when the hypocrisy is so prevalent. What ever happened to leading by example. They expect our children to have a positive attitude about school but just like going to a job where your boss is constantly nasty, wouldn't the overall morale eventually decline? I was in the office today requesting some information from the school and the office staff was so patronizing to me. It's awful that they are so use to talking this way to parents and students, that they become ignorant to the fact that they are disrespectful and rude. As parents, we are going to really have to place extra emphasis on helping our children to continue to have a positive attitude regardless of low morale from the ones that are suppose to be helping mold our children's minds!

Posted: May 22, 2014

PHUHS is an overcrowded school. I know. I read some reviews and have seen a lot of complaints about how the IB students and the regular students are segregated. I, as an IB student, believe that that is very good. In the one regular class that I have (my elective), you can CLEARLY tell who is and isn't in IB. The behavior gap is so large. IB kind are here because they want to learn and succeed in life while I don't think the regular students care! Bullying, Drugs etc... goes on at every High School. Go to Largo or Gibbs High School for a day! Sure there are cliques but just join a sports team of club that you are interested in and I can bet you a majority of your friends will be in that club. No school is perfect but that doesn't mean nasty comments need to be left about all of them. The IB teachers are great and care because their students care. Maybe the problem isn't the teacher or the school, it's the student. Just something to think about...

Posted: April 25, 2014

I have two kids at PHUHS right now and I wish there was a better school in the area for them. Unless you are a IB student or a Medical Student THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOU. My daughter has spent her entire Freshman and Sophmore years at that school in those wretched trailers in the back. She has never had a class in a building. The IB kids/Medical are in doors all day long enjoying the A/C, but traditions are out in the rain and heat all year long. The drug problem is absolutely out of control. There has been two kids OD within a month or so of each other and died. The wealth there has to be the main factor contributing to this. The school has way too many students in it and boarders on unsafe. My kids tell me that the traditional kids really do feel like they are segragated against because they aren't IB/Medical, and that is just an absolute shame. Unless you absolutely have to go to this school don't. If we had known going in this was how it was going to be we would have seriously considered a home school program.

Posted: January 14, 2014

I had heard that PHUHS was a highly rated school and highly sought after. I feel that this is true for the Ib and the Medical program only. It appears that the other kids are just lumped together and assigned to the 30-some portables on the property. It looks like a trailer park back there. This is a wealthy area and it is a disgrace that this school has not been enlarged to hold the overcrowding. Teachers are arrogant and condescending for the most part and seem rude and overwhelmed. One teacher doesn't talk, She just says look at the board. One teacher not only continually eats in front of her students but is now selling, yes selling, food to them . Teachers are slow to enter grades into the Portal. I am not impressed at all. This used to be a much better school than it is now.

Posted: September 6, 2013

My two boys attend PHUHS. One is in the traditional Univeristy program and the other in the Medical magnet program. The education quality is excellent in both and frankly I think the public schools in FL are reflective of parental involvement. The kids are generally strong academically and of course there are others that don't care. Sadly, I would blame the parents for the poor showing for some of these kids. The school offers accelerated honors and AP courses so if your child is not challenged , I would say there are opportunities. I really dont see other Pinellas ISD schools as better than PHUHS. Actually I would say PHUHS is tops in the district when you factormin other social issues of drug use, fights, self ego-wealth, etc...

Posted: August 12, 2013

Don't let the "A" fool you! (That's the IB Program pulling that grade up) This school is losing its reputation, for good reason, students are segregated, there are 40+ portables with no catwalk, kids get soaked when it rains, and it's Florida so it rains a lot. Teachers are snobby (some are bad and don't even realize the only reason their school perpetually gets an "A" and extra MONEY is because of their prized IB/Medical students are children of wealthy doctors or lawyers, can afford Sylvan tutoring or frankly would still get "A"'s if they went to Gibbs etc.) , students are snotty with cliques (absolutely cruel to one another, the stuff you hear about on Facebook doesn't tell half the story). Administration on cruise control or completely useless. If they were at a REAL High School they wouldn't have the foggiest of an idea what to do. It's not all bad, there are many good kids (if they have good responsible parents) and some good teachers, the sad part is that this is probably the best (if not, top 3) High school in the county. If this is the best Pinellas can do, students & parents should be asking for their money back & marching on Tallahassee with pitchforks & torches!

Posted: July 16, 2013

I am a parent trying to find more info about Palm Harbor University high school.

Posted: July 4, 2013

I just recently graduated from this school and I was in the university which is just the normal part of the school I went to this school for four years and while most the student were extremely nice and helpful there were a few that I wish would have gotten fired also the student that go to this school all they take about is drugs the violence in the school is very very low the fights that I have seen and heard were just a bunch of yelling. as for "fitting in" the only people that did were the ones talking about parties and rowdies and sports kids. there was also the kids that were left out of everything because they dressed weird. I hope when reading this you understand that high school is not a perfect place but it is the best and somehow the safest then most. To the parents hope this helped.

Posted: June 14, 2013

We are a military family moving back to Florida and PHHS was recommended to us. I had my son go into the office and ask for a registration form, I wanted to see how he would be treated without a parent accompanying him. He was treated unprofessional and yelled at for not having his registration forms in yet, if this school was professional and caring to their students she would've taken the time to help him and understand our lifestyle. He came out and told me how rude the women at the front desk was, I walked in and I was treated as if I was bothering her, before I even got a word out she said "we don't give tours". I knew then I was dealing with someone not happy with her life. PHHS should hire someone to represent their school (especially in the front office, where your parents of future doctors, lawyers, teachers etc. see first) with professionalism enthusiasm, school spirit, also have knowledge of the school instead of saying go to the Internet. I hear great things about your students, but good lord your secretary with short dark hair full figure sitting up front would've been fired if she was my employee. And I'm most positive this isn't her first complaint.

Posted: April 20, 2013

This school is horrible, I wish I could give it 0 stars. There are so many reasons why this school is retched. It is over crowded, the teachers don't care about their students, the IB kids and regular kids are segregated, and the people are extremely snotty. If you can help it DO NOT go to this school.

Posted: August 8, 2012

The teachers were awful and the people were snobby. Don't go at all costs. I was in the ib program