Debakey High School For Health Professions

Posted: August 10, 2026

Most of the teachers are great and very knowledgeable, however there are a few who will pride themselves on how much work they give their students. The really bad part about DeBakey is the administration at the school, who are so extremely unhelpful and just bad at their job. One of the administrators hit a child and the other few will complain about just having to do their job.

Posted: August 10, 2026

Posted: August 10, 2026

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: September 26, 2022

This school is a lot of pressure and hard work than other schools.I’d say that if you have much time on your hands and want to be in the medical field this school would be great option to choose. Otherwise, I don’t think this would be your first option as it would be assignments and presentations that would eat up the rest of your day. If your student is not mentally prepared or doesn’t want to be in the medical field, id recommend a different school option which partakes more to your child’s interests as this school would be a waste of time as it is most definitely suited for teens who are interested in attending the medical field. As a person who has attended Debakey , I’d admit to suffering mental breakdowns and crying about homework and test which at my hardest efforts received a low score even if I had studied for them. The only good praise I had is the school surroundings and students who are all pretty good which is likely you will gain a lot of friends.
Keep in mind,the teachers here are very 50/50 some teachers teach the curriculum well while others … struggle on teaching their topics.

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: September 26, 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022

I have 2 kids at Debakey. I thought it would be this amazing academic environment that cultivated curiosity, critical thinking, etc. What it IS is a hotbed of rote memorization, meaningless busywork, scoring that takes into consideration the quality of your handwriting with the same weight of your actual answer! The cheating is unimaginable, and like with all schools there are a slate of teachers who should have retired or not be in a classroom. This is a pressure cooker of competitiveness, with sleep deprivation and self doubt being a likely companion. Seems like every week I hear about some kid crying (tears) about some assignment, having a mental break or lamenting the fact that their parent forced them to go here. All that being said, my kids like the school, have lots of friends and say they would still choose to go to Debakey if the had to do it all over again.

Posted: July 23, 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022

Posted: July 23, 2022

Posted: September 22, 2018

Posted: September 22, 2018

Posted: September 22, 2018

Posted: September 22, 2018

Posted: September 22, 2018

Bad school to learn at. 0/10 bad.

Posted: September 22, 2018

Posted: September 22, 2018

Posted: May 4, 2017

One important point to make about this school- Parents and students- take note of this. DeBakey will tell you when you are applying for college how universities will choose you due to the fact you attended DeBakey. NOT TRUE. Colleges admit students based on their GPA and since DeBakey is incredibly difficult the average students GPA will not be as high at DeBakey vs. a standard HISD High School. Take this into consideration when planning your future. DeBakey's rigorous daily requirements are extremely difficult for 14-18 year olds, students are literally on a college schedule with all the stresses and demands of college life. Very few students attending DeBakey are prepared for this atmosphere, great for some, most struggle. To struggle for 4 years and not be recognized by colleges due to your GPA is heartbreaking. Out of 8 colleges applied at, not one had any interest in the fact I attended DeBakey. DeBakey will tell their incoming and current students/parents "Colleges will be knocking on your door". My GPA was above average and not one college knocked on my door. I do not recommend this school unless you are extremely mature and on the level of a genius.

Posted: May 4, 2017

Posted: May 4, 2017

Posted: May 4, 2017

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Posted: May 4, 2017

Posted: November 30, 2016

so far very bad... A. principal doesn't wanna hear anything about teachers is very rude, insulting and loud. overall not met the expectations and its rating..

Posted: November 30, 2016

Posted: November 30, 2016

Posted: November 30, 2016

Posted: November 30, 2016

Posted: November 30, 2016

Posted: November 30, 2016

Posted: May 7, 2016

Some of the teachers are great, and some are so-so. There will never be a school where every teacher is amazing. Some of my teachers have changed my life over the years, and have supported me in doing whatever I aspired to achieve. Others of them were ok, nothing exceptional, while still others never taught anything ever. It all depends on which classes you are taking and who you get. Overall, I think most of the teachers are pretty good... it follows a pretty decent bell curve, with a few exceptional ones, a few sucky ones, and most of them in the middle.

Posted: May 7, 2016

Most people will say it's too much. Yes, there is about 8 hours of homework everyday. Is that a lot compared to other high schools? Yes. But I think that's the point. Debakey ISN'T like other high schools; it's a college preparatory program that introduces medicine to students and teaches them to deal with the rigorous coursework that they will face in college. So even though students may complain about the homework load, I think it's necessary. The hard work pays off in the end, I promise.

Posted: May 4, 2016

Posted: May 4, 2016

Posted: May 4, 2016

Posted: May 4, 2016

The average student of this school is way above the great students of other high schools. Each student is taken utmost care by teachers

Posted: September 28, 2015

This school really brings out the best of people. It develops a strong character with its rigorous coursework so that students are prepared for college and the expectations that are set at that level. This school stresses on professionalism and emphasizes the importance of certain behaviors in the workplace.

Posted: September 28, 2015

Debakey is a great school for anyone who is willing to work hard. Yes, it is an extremely challenging school, and if you aren't up to it I don't recommend you go. But, if you want a high school experience that prepares you for medical school, and really college as a whole, then this is the school for you.
Just a fun fact: half of the freshman class don't make it to sophomore year. Yes, HALF of the students drop out of their first year here. It is overwhelming if you aren't prepared for it, and it isn't the typical high school. You must know that you have to work very hard just to get good grades like all A's. Studying every night and getting all your work done is a must. You will probably lose a lot of sleep over the course of the year, but you (and your parents) will sleep better knowing that you are ready for college and beyond.
If you think that you are smart because you breezed through middle school, chances are you're in for a shock.
I, as well as the majority of the upperclassmen, do agree that it is better to be a top-ranking student at your base high school than it is to be the bottom-bencher here. But, with a little extra hard work, you can definitely do well here. It's far from impossible, contrary to popular belief.
Overall, this unique school is really gives you the opportunity to have an amazing high school experience, expose you to the medical field, and prepare you for the rigors of the coursework in college.

Posted: August 18, 2015

I have mixed feelings about my DeBakey experience. First and foremost, I am incredibly grateful for the wonderful teachers who helped shape my educational journey forward- I was accepted to Ivy League universities and well-regarded liberal art colleges with full ride scholarships. I appreciated the student body immensely, with its uncharacteristic diversity and friendliness. The health science opportunities I received would have been unheard of anywhere else. My experience in the high school itself was ultimately positive, and I did not expect to worry about college rigor since I did very well at DeBakey. However, the transition to a liberal arts college, which I matriculated to, was incredibly jarring and uncharacteristic. At these colleges, there is a significant emphasis on independent thinking and creativity- characteristics which I lacked in due to the more pre-professional, task-oriented nature of this high school. Despite receiving distinctions in my English classes and earning a score of a "5" on both AP English Literature and Language, my first college paper was a C-. My peers had extensive preparation in seminar styled coursework and discussion, whereas I was learning these skill-sets for the first time. While I was able to adapt, I often felt that while I learned a lot at DeBakey, very little of it was actually used in college. More significant was an implicit bias towards STEM disciplines due to the heavy emphasis they receive at this school, which stunted the amount of growth and curiosity I sought out at my college. Although this school is one of the highest rated in the country, be warned that the education offered here is by no means exceptional- much of the rating is attributed to the strength of the student body itself.

Posted: February 8, 2015

Very unhappy with this school. At orientation the administration paints a fantastic picture, so much of what they tell the parents is not true. i.e.: The assistant principal told us- "our students are good kids, trustworthy, so if for example we see a student on their phone in the hall or at lunch we will not punish them". This statement couldn't be further than the truth. Last year DeBakey collected over 14k in phone fines, highest amount in the district. Personal experience, my child calls me during lunch and phone is confiscated, can't pick it up for days and fine is $15. The administration in this school should change careers from education to the Prison System. Or possibly the military. Students are treated and spoken to with no respect. You would think...students attending DeBakey who study 6-7 hours every night and much more every single weekend just to keep their grades up would be treated decently. At orientation principal and asst. principal inform the parents: Colleges love students from DeBakey. NOT TRUE. Colleges only care about GPA/class rank. I would not recommend this school.

Posted: December 3, 2013

DeBakey High School is Houston's number one high school for a reason. However, it is not for everyone. It is for those willing to give up free-time for homework and studying. The loss of this time is compensated by the great experiences no other high school can offer such as more exposure to the medical field and access to knowledge of medical science. In addition, the students are kind; none or rarely any bullying. Many are willing to help. Also, the preparation makes college easier. The pros outweighs the cons.

Posted: August 14, 2013

DeBakey has very rigorous courses but it's only worth going to if you're able to take many Pre-AP and AP classes. Course selection is very inflexible and the counselors do not care for the students at all. Most of the teachers are very good and want to help you, but some are just awful; however the administration does not care and it is nearly impossible to complain or even change teachers. There are no sports teams and extracurricular activities are hardly existent with the exception of HOSA. You should only consider DeBakey if you're willing to give up other activities and your social life. Despite this, it still leads to many other opportunities, including the hospital rotations and Baylor-UoH program.

Posted: June 24, 2013

How do I get my child in this school. He is being homeschooled. Does he needs to take a test and where can he take rest. Need help

Posted: January 5, 2013

Debakey prides itself on a lot of meaningless work. The school does not emphasize creativity or individuality, which is a shame as the school contains the brightest minds in the district. The way the administration treats the students is atrocious. You would think these were the most troubled students in the nation. It enforces stupid rules for no reason other than to give students a hard time. Rules are important, no doubt, but the school seems to have no trust for its students. Despite forming a diverse community, the students are very segregated. The big divide comes with AP/Non-AP, and race lines are common and sad. The school has next to no social events for the students, which makes for a limited experience. Some teachers are incredible, and others are extremely questionable. Most don't seem to care for their students but rather for their salaries or their stats. Most play favorites, and several make up grades. The few that do care are harassed by students for being unfair or difficult. Please think twice before sending your child here. Sure, Debakey is a prestigious high school, but it doesn't look nearly as good in reality as it does on paper.

Posted: December 15, 2012

This is my first year at DeBakey. I really don't like it. Most of the teachers dont teach, they expect you to know the book by memory. The staff is extremely rude and treats the student body like jailors. I would only recommend this school for people who are ABSOLUTELY sure about going into the medical field. But the one one good thing is the student body. Everyone is very friendly and sweet. The one thing that gets me through my hell-ish life at this bogus school.