Patterson High School

Posted: April 17, 2025

I teach at this school, so this isn't an easy review to write. However, I think it will give parents and the general community some insight into this school.

This school's culture, if you want to call it that, is basically to repeatedly claim that the student body has a low socioeconomic status, so there's nothing that can be done to help them learn English or gain some understanding of the typical high school subjects that any parent would want their child to have. There is a lot of apathy about low levels of learning and an over-emphasis on empathy, because the empathy excuses the apathy.

The apathy manifests itself in the incredible retention rate for administrators, department heads, and "ed associates" at this school. The people who, in theory, are supposed to ensure that the school is meeting its goals are completely insulated from any accountabilty whatsoever. As a teacher, I understand that students from lower SES backgrounds aren't going to pass assessments at the same rate as students in middle-class and upper-middle-class schools. However, Patterson right now has exactly zero expectation that any student will improve or even approach proficiency. Not one student is proficient in math, and yet the same person has been in charge of the math department for more than a decade. The ESOL department isn't getting many students to have minimal English skills? No problem, the very same ESOL department head has been in charge for over a decade. And so on, and so on.

Despite perennially struggling to graduate students or produce any positive educational results, Patterson has an ossified clique of teachers who prevent any positive change from happening. The same relatively small group of teachers comprise its union chapter committee (UCC), its Grant-A-Wish group, and its Principal Selection Committee (the people who chose the current principal, who is failing). It's not a cross-section of teachers, it's not the best teachers, it's a subset of teachers who are obsessed with fringe political issues and maintaining control, even if it hurts the school as a whole. It has been incredibly corrosive to the culture of the school and many good teachers have left in the post-COVID years.

Posted: April 17, 2025

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Posted: November 16, 2022

I am putting 3 stars because if you live in the City and you can't go to City, Poly, or BSA, there are even worse schools--believe it or not.

Here's the current view of Patterson.
1) The new building is not great. It was thrown together quickly and does not have enough classrooms to create small classes in the major subjects.
2) Right now Patterson basically has no science teachers. The entire department left last yr and they haven't been able to hire anyone else. I think most people would agree that science and technology are important to the future of the US and understanding the basics of science could help almost anyone. So this is disgraceful. There are substitutes (babysitters) and virtual teachers (students doing science class on chromebook and teacher is virtual and lives in a whole other state).
3) A disproportionate amount of the best and most impactful teachers have left over the last few years. We're talking the most motivational and beloved teachers, gone.
4) A lot of the CTE pathways are lacking a teacher (engineering, business, nursing) or have an ineffective teacher (construction CTE has a notoriously ineffective teacher and no one attends that class).
5) Huge attendance issues. If you send your kid here, make sure you are checking in DAILY because so many kids skip school or walk the halls, the school is not going to be able to keep tabs on your kid. In any given day, way over 50% of the students miss significant portions of the day.
6) Failure and indifference is normalized in the culture. No one bats an eye if an 11th grader has only 8 credits or if a senior shows up to school 2 days a week. Many of the students graduating are graduating late, in the summer, or via some special program. Last yr way less than half the senior class graduated on time (June 2022). I believe under 40% graduated on time. If you include kids to transfered out, dropped out, or aged out, it's even lower.

Posted: November 16, 2022

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Posted: February 3, 2020

Patterson High School has the potential of becoming a well-known school to the nation since the development of students' learning is incredibly boosting. The School is old so it is difficult to learn in an environment where students are too hot or too cold, however, apart from that teachers, staff, leaders encourage the school to boost better the learning of students every day. The clipper nation has defects as many other schools have but that doesn't stop the Clippers to continue, that's why every day we say goooo Clippers!!!

Posted: February 3, 2020

Patterson High provides students with the best support, therefore it provides students with homework to formulate a great brain.

Posted: February 3, 2020

Teachers in Patterson try their best to make students feel safe and Also comfortable with the subject they are exploring.

Posted: February 3, 2020

Patterson High School is a really diverse school, therefore the school develops a strong character in it's students so they can develop a strong mentality on respecting, and sharing with harmony with the diverse faculty of students.

Posted: February 3, 2020

Leadership in Patterson High School is a priority since the principals in the school encourage students to do the same with those who lack understanding the rules.

Posted: February 3, 2020

Patterson High School develops a really tremendous attitude on the differences between students so there can be peace on the student’s beliefs.

Posted: February 3, 2020

Posted: September 25, 2013

I think Patterson high shcool has wonderful teachers and office staff. The teachers go out of their way to help the students achieve their goals. The only problem I see is some ot the students are disrespectful and to me that is sad, becuase they are only hurting theimselves. Other then that I think patterson can be a successful school if the students would be more serious about thier education and have respect for themselves and others.