Garner High

Posted: October 31, 2025

I’m a current student, and I honestly feel like this school needs to take a closer look at how students are being treated and supported. Many of us feel overworked, disrespected, and looked down on if we aren’t in IB or AP classes. Students who struggle don’t get help — they get judged or embarrassed instead.

Some teachers seem more focused on control or reputation than actually helping students learn. Public humiliation in class, rude or unprofessional behavior, and a lack of understanding toward students’ mental health are real issues here.

There are also teachers who don’t explain material clearly or waste instructional time, which makes students have to teach themselves. It’s discouraging when you want to learn but don’t feel supported.

This school could be great if the administration took student feedback seriously and emphasized respect, empathy, and actual teaching over appearances. Students shouldn’t leave class feeling smaller than when they walked in.

Posted: October 31, 2025

Posted: October 31, 2025

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Posted: March 21, 2021

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Posted: March 21, 2021

Posted: March 21, 2021

Posted: March 21, 2021

If you are in IB, GMHS might be worthwhile. If not, good luck. The principal was largely unknown to the students and has not created a positive climate at all. The morale was terrible among the teachers. The administration repeatedly set policies, just to ignore them and then create another one. Understandably, no one took them seriously. Graded work was supposed to be returned within two weeks, but it rarely was. The response? Give them THREE weeks! And the teachers still didn't make that deadline.

The teachers seem totally defeated because of all the behavior problems and disrespect. In turn, there was little respect shown to well-behaved kids - all my kids listened to day in and day out was criticism. It's a battle everyday just to get kids to pay attention, but when administration won't take quick and consistent action, it will never get better. If the kids just want to play on their phones and be disruptive, find another place for them and let the rest of the students actually learn something in peace. GMHS staff acts hopeless and dispirited.

In attempting to get kids to pass, much of the work is dumbed down. Tests are almost always multiple choice and can be re-taken. Honors teachers assigned lots of projects and papers, most of which contributed zero to learning and mastery of content. It seemed almost like the teachers competed to out-project each other with something they found on the internet. Then, most of the teachers didn't even read the lengthy reports they required. They would be handed back eventually with no notes - just a grade. How does that help? Because the teachers didn't want to have to make new tests, often the kids would just be told their grades. There was no "going over the test" to make sure the students understood.

We were told that anyone could sign up for honors classes - that the school could not control this - which is why they were such a circus. Even with IB, we were told, wcpss didn't want to exclude anyone, so kids who weren't strong enough academically to do the work plagued the program. Maybe 5 of 25 would read an assigned novel. There was no rigor in any of the classes other than IB and AP classes. The IB teachers were much better teachers but even they were hypercritical of students. It was completely counterproductive.

Beautiful new building but halls and stairwells are SO undersized, they are DANGEROUS. God forbid there's an emergency!

We couldn't wait for our kids to graduate. So disappointing.

Posted: April 8, 2020

Teachers aren’t that great :/ a lot of them don’t help you when you ask and then go and complain about how you should be teaching yourself the material. And then they continue to complain about test scores. Also the teachers couldn’t care less about your mental health. The only one that cares is the French teacher (shoutout ms. Awad) but other than her they act very condescending when you tell them that you aren’t very motivated because of your declining mental health. Some even still ridicule you if you have literal proof from your therapist. It’s ridiculous and incredibly upsetting and just makes an even worse impact on my already declining mental health. :/ other than that it’s pretty good when it comes to extracurricular activities but that’s pretty much it. It’s not really a great place to learn

Posted: April 8, 2020

Posted: April 8, 2020

We have strong school spirit I really like that

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Posted: January 9, 2020

Excellent and very friendly to new comers

Posted: January 9, 2020

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Posted: June 8, 2017

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Posted: June 8, 2017

I have very mixed feelings about Garner High school. I went there for 3 of my 4 High school years and I can tell you that they have some things worse than other schools, amd some things that are better. For example, the racial divide is awful and the political climate from this years election has lingered and affected students attitudes towards each other (black vs. white). Drugs are such an issue that dogs are sent in monthly to check for storage of said things. SOT finally collapsed this year; SOT for those of you who dont know is the start on time program that failed horribly to keep kids from skipping class and being tardy. On the other hand Garner has some amazing teachers, a great selection of AP courses, as well as decent class sizes and since south garner was made we've had a class size no bigger than 20 kids at a time. Overall Garner gets a four out of five because it is improving slowly but surely.

Posted: April 28, 2016

My paideia teachers are the most enthusiastic teachers ever, and my honors teachers really try to get the material taught in a timely and efficient way. All eight of my teachers so far have been nothing short of kind and resourceful.

Posted: April 28, 2016

I have eight classes all year round and most teachers are pretty slack about homework. Even my honors teachers. However, some of my classes have a ton of homework for the lack that I receive elsewhere. For example even though most of my core classes don't involve nightly work, my Biology teacher has us doing five pages of research like every night. Yet, it doesn't affect the degree of how I learn the material, nor does it affect the quality of the learning received in the classroom; I'm not just saying this because homework isn't pleasing. I'm saying this because the quality of the teaching and the depth of which it is taught, can be said to dispel the need for homework in certain subjects almost entirely. (like in English and Civics for example).

Posted: April 28, 2016

I feel like there isn't as much emphasis on character building as there could be, however it is appreciated when it is shown. Cheating isn't a problem, chivalry (in its simplest sense) is prominent, as I've had guys open the doors for me all the time here :) as far as integrity I know many people who do what they say their going to do, but the school didn't teach them that. XD

Posted: April 28, 2016

Garner isn't as bad as many people make it out to be. This is my first year here, and I just have to say that making friends was easy, especially due to the multitude of clubs and organizations the school has to offer. Also as a soon to be rising Junior I am aware that the counselors are really good at pointing you in the right direction as far as colleges are concerned. Not to mention Garner offers the IB Diploma Programme and we have a great many teachers and counselors who specialize in people earning and getting involved in the IBDP. I have been to one other high school before down in Asheville, and I can honestly say that Garner has it beat. There is a tight dress code policy, and a tight no drugs or alcohol policy (unlike my previous high school) and I can honestly say that I like it like that. I almost never hear of fights, drugs, or bullying & honestly Garner is a really nice place to learn.

Posted: November 1, 2014

I am a student at garner high I truly love this school. it is just like any other school everyone is different and have there own group. The teachers are amazing and want you to pass I recommend this school to everyone thanks garner for being a great school

Posted: September 12, 2013

Simply the best! Having had 3 children graduate from GMHS over the past 7 years, I cannot express how far this school has come. Tremendous growth in academic achievement, award-winning principal, superb fine arts and athletics programs, and a supportive community. No wonder they have been recognized in 2012 and 2013 as a Bronze Medal winner by US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT'S rankings of the nation's top high schools. Go Trojans!

Posted: September 12, 2013

Student I don't like this school, and thank god I already move and graduate You guys are overrated with the dress code, you live in the state that's always humid and HOT!!! we can even wear tank tops because if the girls show off there armpits too much it will cause a HUGE distraction to the classmates Some of the teachers I had were either lazy or didn't care if a student was being bully or having problems. Y'all need to hire new teachers who CAN teach and care for there students

Posted: June 18, 2013

Garner stinks, I can't wait to get out of this place. It is so overcrowded, when will WCPS system build a new high school in Garner. We are packed into classes like sardines.