Plano Senior High School

Posted: June 4, 2023

As parents in a beautiful neighborhood in Plano and a top Great School's rated elementary school, we were trepidatious about the size and overall metrics of Plano Senior, however our Junior has had an excellent year. The AP courses and test-readiness levels / focus on SAT are excellent. Counseling is flexible and supportive. One area of opportunity is in funding for academic teams and fine arts -Debate Team/ Orchestra/etc., these groups are under-funded compared to sports and band which receive the limelight and the funds- which is not unusual for high schools in Texas. Fortunately, the commitment and coordination of the Administrators that oversee these programs is exceptional, as is their commitment to diversity and inclusion of all ethnicity, academic levels and socio-economic status. Our child was able to partner with a peer and bring Model UN to the school relatively quickly and with great support from the administrators. As parents, when we had a concern with the feedback we were hearing on teaching methods of a specific teacher the assistant Principal was communicative and met with us and our child, as well as others in the classroom to validate and ensure the brand new teacher's methods were aligned with the values and strategies of the school. I would rate the leadership and administration of this school a strong 5, as well as the quality of instruction. That- aligned with strong parent involvement is the key to a Great School, in my book.

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

Posted: June 4, 2023

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Posted: January 20, 2022

Posted: January 20, 2022

Posted: January 20, 2022

Posted: January 20, 2022

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Posted: January 20, 2022

Since covid this school has not been giving the same great education as it was before covid. PISD in general is failing our students.

Posted: April 21, 2021

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Posted: April 21, 2021

My 2 kids graduated from PSHS, and they both had an outstanding educational experience. Many AP and dual credit courses that can shave a year off a college degree. They both thrived In extracurriculars (orchestra, theatre, speech/debate, academic decathlon). We had good experiences with their academic counselors, who were helpful in navigating the complicated college admissions process. Both were very well prepared for college. One daughter had an incident with an online bullying incident, and the school was quite proactive in shutting it down.

Posted: January 28, 2017

Posted: January 28, 2017

Posted: January 28, 2017

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Posted: January 28, 2017

Posted: January 28, 2017

Plano Senior was an incredible high school to attend, and I am to this day extremely proud of everything that Plano stands for, tradition and diversity. The teachers that I had in my time attending Plano were dedicated to their jobs and would go above and beyond for all of their students. Once a wildcat, always a wildcat!

Posted: January 3, 2017

So much bullying happens, and it can be subtle and difficult to prove. The toxic competitive social structure encourages shaming and social isolation. The leadership at school isn't motivated to try to make changes, because that would be changing the culture.

Posted: January 3, 2017

Posted: January 3, 2017

Posted: January 3, 2017

Many examples of low integrity and lack of compassion throughout staff. More respect should be given to parents and students.

Posted: January 3, 2017

Posted: January 3, 2017

Too much homework for advanced students, and meaningless busywork in regular classes.

Posted: January 3, 2017

My two children both graduated from Plano Senior High School. I agree the academic opportunities are outstanding, particularly for very motivated, mature, focused students. One of my kids was that type of student. The pressure applied for these students to perform leaves little room in their lives to develop common sense strategies for getting along in life. Loads of homework and testing doesn't show them how to effectively manage their lives. And, while a high percentage of Plano students go to college, many of them return home finding their degree is not the only thing they need to start a productive life.

Plano Sr. HS is best equipped to provide the above-mentioned high achiever students with the tools to gain admittance to the finest universities. Students that do not fit that mold are left to fend for themselves. Administrators are more interested in finding flaws than providing real-world linkages that will help students live productively and look forward to a viable future. Admins use valuable time looking at students' Twitter and Instagram accounts.

If athletics is important to you, you will see that Plano Sr. HS is well equipped with good coaches, and students who work diligently to be the best they can be.

If I could start over, I would prefer my children to have grown up in a less competitive community with a smaller, more flexible school environment. The counselors should offer more complete guidance regarding future planning.

Posted: October 12, 2016

Fabulous Environment 11th-12th grades only. Moved from Houston Cy-Fair district - our Senior this year has been challenged & put with a lot of great kids teaches are there to help. A million groups / clubs & parents are active.... this school should have 2 rank of 9-10.

Posted: June 2, 2016

In 11-12th grade it is dog-eat-dog environment. Do whatever to get the grade. Pressure to get top rank.

Posted: June 2, 2016

greatschools.org is ranking this school as if it was 9-12 - it is not. using remedial and special ed scores for classes such as english 1 or 2 and algebra cause the computer to rank much lower than it should.

that being said, PISD DOES deserve low marks for the poor system of splitting 9-10th and 11-12 into different campuses. the eventual school is gigantic and does not build leadership skills.

PISD needs to abandon this poor model and follow Frisco 9-12 traditional setup.

Posted: June 1, 2016

This school refuses to honor those students that work hard and earn NHS endorsements. All other schools in Plano honor these hard working students. Choose one of those schools and stay away from this terrible school.

Posted: May 27, 2016

PISD has an EXCELLENT curriculum! Plano is committed to maintaining high standards. Plano Senior High School provides an education that is equivalent to a private school. Top Rating!

Posted: May 27, 2016

Posted: April 2, 2016

Gee - like 90% of the kids at Plano Senior go to college. They have just about every AP course that is given (and what they develop and teach is used all over the US).

Posted: April 2, 2016

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Posted: February 27, 2016

Posted: February 27, 2016

Some of the AP classes have hours of homework every week, but the regular classes don't have that much homework.

Posted: February 27, 2016

Students are held to a high level of academic integrity. My teachers were tough graders, but they were fair.

Posted: February 27, 2016

The teachers were extremely helpful in class and especially helpful when we were getting ready to compete in state competition.

Posted: October 12, 2014

My 3 kids graduated from Plano. We came from Arlington at one of its best schools. Plano system was initially a tough adjustment. Over time, my kids scored above 2200 on SAT and scored well in their AP saving us college credits. The system works if you want your kid to be academically competitive. 30+ AP courses is exceptional. It has multiple band and orchestra levels giving a child interested in music a chance to learn. Great extracurriculars and amazing teachers with the right amount of devotion to athletics. I owe a lot to Plano.

Posted: February 17, 2014

I feel the need to let others know the things that my daughter has been exposed to in this school. She has been exposed to bullying and segregation(not racial) in this school that is "overlooked" by a couple of the teachers. They seem to ignore things that are said and done to "lower classmen' byt the seniors in some of their extra curricular activities. I understand the normal teasing by upper classmen but being trated as less than human beings is not acceptable. They do not promote "teamwork" and the response from the principal was slow and the teachers were VERY defensive when asked about this. I would not recommend the extra currricular teams at this school-excluding the sports teams. I have no idea about the sports teams are managed.

Posted: May 30, 2013

Best north dallas high school ever!! Strong academics, great teachers, very balanced student life, heavy but healthy academic competitions, wonderful programs and clubs. My two kids went to this school and both went to prestige colleges, greatly attributed to the inspiring teachers!! Five stars!

Posted: July 2, 2012

I have 2 kids who graduated from Plano Senior High. We came from Arlington, TX and initially the kids struggled in Elementary. After only one year, my kids caught up and upon graduation from the fine schools of Plano, one was a national merit finalist, the second national commended and my third who is graduating next year will be national merit commended also. You can get as much out of the schools that you put into it. Most impressive to me was how often they tested the kids to ensure they have the right curriculum and the kids are doing above average. I cannot thank this school enough for the fine education that has prepared them for college. My 2 daughters have pursued science degrees in preparation for med school or research and my son will be going into engineering. This school had strong math/science emphasis in high school and outstading focus on the arts and reading and music in elementary and middle school. Plano only does remarkably well in sports and academic competitions. It's hard to believe it is a public school. No bullying issues for strong academic students; in fact it is admired there. Thank you PISD!

Posted: December 29, 2011

I have put 6 kids through Plano Sr. They have high expectations and foster a high sense of healthy competition for good grades. The kids enjoyed their time there, and the sense of school spirit is extremely high.

Posted: September 24, 2011

Our daughter attended here until we moved in the summer. We loved how the school prepared the students for college life and treated them with respect. The freedoms allowed here are truly missed by our daughter. We moved to Frisco unknowingling that it was serviced by Little Elm High School and this school is so behind. It is her senior year and they are doing things that she learned in 10th and 11th grade in Plano. The LEHS scoffed at PSHS and now they are trying to make their curriculum more like Plano. Ha! We've been fighting to get the same rights as we had at Plano Senior for our daughter. The counselors, principal and staff at PSHS were great...some of the students need a realtity check, but overall PSHS is a good school. Thankgoodness our daughter was educated in PSHS from Kindergarten to her Junior year otherwise she'd be in trouble. PSHS keep up the good work. If it wasn't so far our daughter would drive there every day, the offer was a great one, but 40 minutes was too much. PSHS keep educationg those students ....Good Job! Great school, great diversity.

Posted: February 23, 2010

As an alumini from Plano Senior high, I have the most right to give it ratings accordingly. I was never a school spirited person, but there is something about this school that made you care no matter what. The teachers that cared so much was probably one of the main reasons. The school spirit in this school was always very high as well. Even though I always said I didnt care if we won or lost the football games and I never attened the pep-rallies because they were the excuse for me to sleep in that day, I still cried when we lost our last football game. There was a part of me that made me want to be proud of graduate from this school, and I was, I still am; and now, my last semester of college and I'm still wearing my class ring and class crest aroung my neck.