Olympia High School

Posted: June 21, 2026

Decent school some terrible teachers/Vice principals, some of them there don’t care about the students well being or will blame the student instead of doing anything about it.

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Posted: November 24, 2025

This school is absolutely terrible. I went to their open house where I asked for help for my student, was promised a lot of things, and absolutely zero follow up happened. Now months later we are having issues for things I asked about months ago. They are quick to accuse but not to actually help. I would never recommend this school to anyone. We are pulling our kid for homeschooling. Never again will my kids ever go to this public school.

Posted: November 24, 2025

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Posted: October 11, 2022

Lots of clubs, great school spirit, great education...they're really focusing on the mental health of the students (especially after COVID). As a parent I'm impressed.

Posted: October 11, 2022

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Posted: September 13, 2022

Great school, great teachers, amazing students! What more could anyone possibly ask for?

Posted: September 13, 2022

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Posted: June 22, 2022

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Posted: June 22, 2022

A great school I recently graduated and can say that they prepared me for most of what I needed. Some staff and teachers are a bit bad at dealing with issues but the principal and staff are always kind and attentive. Overall they did me well and I can say this is a good school with a a wide range of students.

Posted: April 9, 2022

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Posted: April 9, 2022

Elitists. Kids get on sports teams based on who their parents are rather than any actual merit. Bullying is a constant issue. Once kids get beat down enough the grades start slipping, and the student advisors actually tell kids to just drop out! Start recommending trade schools and steering kids away so they don’t drag down the precious school rating.

Posted: April 9, 2022

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Posted: June 12, 2020

This school is overall pretty good. Getting better with diversity. Then before, kids learn a lot and are well prepared for after high school

Posted: June 12, 2020

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Posted: January 15, 2020

This school does well because they kick out the kids with problems.

Posted: January 15, 2020

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Posted: May 23, 2019

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Posted: May 23, 2019

Our son is extremely happy and challenged at Oly.

Posted: May 23, 2019

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Posted: June 11, 2018

No reaching out to students struggling academically who may not feel comfortable or know the process of asking for help, as well as not properly responding to physical violence when the offender is family of administrators. Students that do well in this school are most likely a part of the community in which their families have close relationships with the teachers and administration. In addition a certain science teacher that has been mentioned below multiple times is verbally abusive towards students, and has made them do push-ups on top of a lab counter while encouraging the class to watch.

Posted: June 11, 2018

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Posted: October 17, 2017

all i can say is they only care about you if your on the football team or have AP classes. if you have a learning disability or just need more help, you wont get the help you need. people are rude and hurtful everywhere you turn. teachers only care about their pay not what students graduate. i would never suggest for anyoneto send their kids here unless you hate them and want them to hate themselves.

Posted: October 17, 2017

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Posted: September 16, 2017

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Posted: September 16, 2017

The administration and teachers are very effective. My 4 children were well prepared to attend 4 year university and all have finished advanced degrees.

Posted: May 14, 2016

Both my children, minority students, went through the Olympia school system, starting at Centennial elementary, then Washington middle and finally Oly High. Quality education from start to finish. Oly high challenged and supported them. Both graduated with enough AP credits to knock off a quarter or more of their freshman year in college. Not every teacher was great. A couple shouldn't have been teaching, but they were the exception, not the rule. And, frankly, being exposed to an occasional bad teacher helped prepare them for UW, where they run into the same thing. Anyway, this is a very good school with high standards and quality staff.

Posted: May 14, 2016

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Posted: December 12, 2015

Olympia high school prepared me for college amazingly well. I cannot comment for students who are struggling, but OHS excels for students looking for an opportunity to grow and be challenged in their learning. Extracurricular activities, particularly music, are also very strong. In my four years, I was able to compete at the state solo and ensemble competition twice, placing both years.
Academically, OHS prepared be well for college. I went to a competitive engineering school, Harvey Mudd College, and found that I was much better prepared for math and science than most of my peers. I am glad I had the chance to attend Olympia High School, as it gave me my best chance to excel in school.

Posted: September 29, 2014

Last two comments by the same family most likely. Totally biased and discriminatory themselves. You get out what you put in. Oly High is a fine school and measures great across the board. Don't let the nay sayers influence your choice to send your kids here. A great school.

Posted: September 29, 2014

I think it's funny that a parent assumed 'They must be from the same family' due to two negative reviews. That same parent said nothing about why they thought OHS was a great school. Did you notice that? Just the same repetitive 'Oly is great, Oly is a great!' without ANYTHING to back that statement up! I am an only child, so I can assure you that I am not related to any previous posters. I went to Oly for 2 years before my parents transferred me into Tumwater High School where I graduated with honors. I am currently a college student at PLU thanks to my grades at Tumwater High. I was overlooked at overcrowded Oly and getting help with my homework was hard. I couldn't play basketball my first two years at Olympia High because I didn't have the same experience as the 50 others who had private coaches and been playing since they were 5! I got right on the team and lettered in Basketball when I went to Tumwater. Oly is an average school at best. If you have an average kid, better hire a tutor for them now if you insist they go there. They aren't going to magically do better or turn into some kind of genius just because you send them to this school. They'll be lucky to just pass.

Posted: September 26, 2014

This school is absolutely terrible. I went there for almost one full year as a freshmen. All these great reviews for this institution are quite false. This is because OHS has one of the greatest "brain-washing" programs I have ever witnessed. People literally cram how great this school is down your throat, and it just isn't true. The teachers don't care about you. You are just a number to them. Each transition between your class is like swimming amongst a chaotic sea of white children. The people there are prejudiced, judgmental, and homophobic. It's just unacceptable.

Posted: August 25, 2014

I had 2 graduate Oly (05' and 08') and I currently have a senior at Timberline High School since we moved to Lacey. When my husband and I moved from Seattle to Olympia in 2001, we were told that 'Olympia High' was the 'Best'! High test scores! At the time my children attended, they had about 10% minorities and I've been told they 'fudge' these numbers so they don't appear as an 'all white school'. English isn't a second language for many and so yes, they do tend to test better. The elitist attitude that parents have regarding this school is unfounded. It's not 'better' than any other school in the area. They get more funding yet they require the kids to bring $1.00 here and $5.00 there for various activities and snacks that other schools with LESS funding provide for free. You'll find you pay MORE to attend a school with the most funding. Due to the academic pressure at OHS my kids were burned out by the time college came and chose to attend a local community college. My Timberline Senior can't wait to attend UW next fall and she was less 'advanced' than her older siblings. OHS isn't 'the Best!' It's full of 'Middle class, elitist, white snobs' who just think it is...

Posted: January 1, 2014

I attended OHS freshman through half of my senior year. I believe if you read all of these reviews and take them as a collective mass you get a petty accurate picture. When I attended, the administration was a joke, as well as their bullying policy. I felt at times the bullying policy helped the bully more than the victim. It got to the point that the administration was required to parental permission to talk to me. I did well at OHS, but I tried. They leave many behind that choose not to attempt or succeed. The diversity of the school was good, but largely white compared to others in the area. I had some great teachers and two that I didn't care for out of four years. This is definitely a middle class school. Administration could use continuing education courses in bullying and students rights. I felt like many times the administration glossed over issues and tried to find the easiest way out instead of effectively dealing with the problems at hand. If you have no issues with the administration it was because you never dealt with them. I am glad I went there and had the opportunity because it prepared me for college.

Posted: October 7, 2013

The demographics help the school to be at an above average level. Teachers are motivated and dedicated!

Posted: September 26, 2013

I have a high achieving student at OHS, and it has been a positive experience so far. Classes seem challenging, homework required but not impossible amounts, teachers engaged. I feel she is learning time management skills and advocating for herself in the large environment. I cant speak to how the administration responds to struggling students or bullying etc, because we have not experienced those issues.

Posted: September 22, 2013

We have two students at OHS, and are very happy with results. The level of expectation and support for future success is high. I read most of the reviews below, and acknowledge that every school will have some poor teachers, but most at OHS are of a high caliber and very dedicated. That said, one teacher from last year that was not great, but we told our children they must find a way to work and learn even with a poor teacher. This also can be a learning experience, and thankfully -- at OHS will be relatively rare. Our kids have access to great academic, sports and music programs, and are thriving -- despite being distinctly different individuals with different learning styles. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on the student learning how to self-manage time and effort. Online access to grades and regular emailed updates from the school helps us keep on top of homework. Online access to syllabi and homework assignments is great. Students are encouraged and supported with taking AP courses -- which means getting College credit while still in high school, saving us dollars and time in the future. No wonder this school is rated one of the highest in the US.