Research Redford Union High School public Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“They do the most with what they have.”

“i have to say that i really do not like this school at all. this is my second year and it seems like it keeps getting worse and worse and worse. they don't know there priorities at all. they'll buy a million chairs around the school to make it look pretty but they'll barely buy books, or desks, or things that us students need. and i absolutely hate the idea of 'freshman academy' because not only they had to put them in the main hallway, but they treat the sophomores [last years freshman] like were idiots, if half of the freshman last year failed there should be no reason why the this years freshman should pay for our mistakes it's retarded if you want to send your kid to this school i advice against it. but then a school's a school and thats why I'm still there.”

“I hate this school!!!! I am going to be a junior this year and it has changed for the worst. I would not recommend that you send your child here nobody learns anything. I am very disappointed and I feel that my education is getting ripped off. I am not ready to go to college and I try very hard. The hallways are crowded with people who don't want to be there. The classes are overcrowded and in one of my classes the teacher didn't care what you did if anything. I want to leave this school but there is no where to go. Parents if you want your child to succeed don't send them here its not worth anything!!!”

“THis is a horrible school. My child was an 'A' student and not one teacher let me know that he had all 'F's until I asked. This school is only out get the student out of the school for any reason. Instead of caring about what the child is acutally being punished for, it is easier for them to suspend them. The rules are harder on a child not wearing an I.D. compared to a child getting all 'F's. That is when I was called, when my child did not have an I.D.”

“I belive Redford Union is a great school even though I cant wait to leave it. The teachers really do care, but it's a two way street. If the student doesn't try the teacher is only going to push so much. I am currently a Senior at RU and I had the rocky start more than others did. I regret and it's all my fault. So I ask for parents not to blame the staff at all. It's all in the student, the parents and administration all to be involved in their high school career of your child. The teachers are great and are always there to help when needed. But there is a negative I've seen. The counselor's are impossible to see and the administration is not in tune. Other than that there is an exceptional music and art program. As well as the sports program.”

“continuity blew out the window, counselors, principals and even the superintendent changed too often. counselors don't know the kids well enough to direct them. I've had three children go through this high school, I'm so glad this is the last one and our last year here.”

“Things have been rocky thus far, with overcrowded classes, schedule mix-ups, double-assigned lockers, lack of funds, lack of teachers for certain classes and other issues. I'm a senior, and I hate to see where the school is going. It seems that with the issues, students are losing their 'school spirit'. We're about three weeks into the school year, and I have to say that I am very impressed with the staff at RU. Teachers are helping students cope with the changes in the school this year and counselors are working hard to fix mixups. I'm most impressed with the security at RU. I've never felt that they were doing their job more than I have this year. I've seen more staff securing the hallways than I ever have. Things are still quite shakey, but RU is a great school and this year will be no different, despite the rough start.”

“I am going to be in 10th grade at this school this year, and it seems like this school has changed for the worse of the past few years in quality. I had a class last year where the teacher didn't care wether or not we did the work or listened that much. This teacher said she would give out detentions and what not, but she never did and as a result most of the students chose to do whatever. I believe this school is going down the drain if it isn't already. Some of the classes have more then 15 students which effects the learning process. So in conclusion, this school is horrible.”

“RU is not a good school I will be a sophmore this year and I will not be comeing back , I'm disappointed about the school. You hardly see the principal, The security guards hardly do there job, and the counslors are hardly in there office if you needed them.”

“We hardly see the principle in the achool, and the only person that does her work is the vice principal Mr. Evans. The security guards really doing anything. I'm a freshmen at this school and I must say i'm disappointed about this school, and I also say don't send your child to this school ever.”

“I am a current sophomore at this school. I must say I am very dissapointed in every aspect there is. The english department is the only good thing this school has to offer. The education is not great. Most teachers do not care about the students, but rather the 'non-negotiable' rules and the id-cards. The rest of the staff is no different. There is a very good athletics programn though. Unless you are on the varsity boys basketball team, you really have to meaning to a few of the teachers. I would never send my children to this school!”

“this school is poor in the 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 school years the freshman didn't even get a science book and all the other students books are in horrible condition. there are great teachers that make learning fun . the art department does not even get a allowence this year because of the debt. this school needs to take their own accounting class!!!”

“I am a senoir currently attending Redford Union and have to say that there are a great deal of teachers that really care about the students. Even with the lack of funding that i constantly hear about, the overall academic and extracurricular activities seem to be pretty good. Yes, of course, we need some improvements such as new books, a more diversified staff, but I feel that with the current efforts being made, the school is doing fine handling the districts problems. I only think that teachers and staff should be a little less worried with the ID tags, and more concerned with students that are not following other parts of the code of conduct.”

“I am currently a junior at RU and I totally agree that this school mainly focuses on sports programs.The teachers and staff totally worship the jocks .RU is a very poor school.We need new textbooks ,books, desks etc.I give this school a rating of 3.”

“I graduated from Redford Union and recently graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I am unsure why I maintained a 4.0 gpa in advanced calculus my senior year of high school and only placed into pre-calculus upon taking my entrance exams at U of M. Despite my dissappointment with the math department (and chemistry department for that matter) RU had a lot of great and extremely dedicated teachers and staff. Advanced biology was superior (with a unit on forensics) and extracurricular activites such as student council allow students to volunteer their time, something that a lot of colleges look for. I did very well on my ACT and MEAP exams, and I wish the counselor would have encouraged me to apply to more schools, ie ones outside of Michigan. I was never really told or given advice about my various opportunities after graduation.”

“The principle cares too much about how the school scores on the MEAP tests and not about our over-all education. the staff is also way too concerned about making sure that the students have their identification tags on during class and passing time that many if not most students are late to class or don't even get to make it there, having to wait for hours at a time for assitance in the office. the text books and other classroom materials are grossly out-dated. the school's focus is mainly on appearance and athletics. as a senior, I have seen the quality of education deteriorate. I believe that this school is in dire need for a change of school officials. most of our budget goes towards superflous things instead of what we really need like books and desks. many classes are over-crowded, having thirty-eight students to one teacher.”

“School is what the kids care to make of it. We had one child at RU who got involved in nothing, she didn't have a great high school experience; our other child was very involved in many activites, both in and out of the classroom, she had a VERY positive experience. I ABSOLUTELY agree with an earlier comment that financial aid, scholarships, and college information is NOT enough a priority for the counseling staff. My child WAS one of those honor roll students - she still got nearly zero assistance; we had to continually follow up on things the counselors were supposed to be submitting, to make sure it got done. Many of the materials they have regarding colleges, scholarships, grants, etc. are BADLY outdated. Most teachers (and many, not all, coaches) care a great deal and invest a LOT of themselves into the kids. The counselors, it seems, couldn't care less.”

“With budgetary problems and a lack of deversity in the teaching staff this school will continue to recieve middle of the road achievement.”

“My siblings and I all graduated from RUHS when it was one of the elite school systems in Michigan. My son graduated in 1999 and I have to say although the funding was limited, the leadership of the principal (even through tremendous adversity by the school board and superintendent at that time -- all of whom I pray have been readily replaced with individuals committed to see RUHS become financially and educationally stronger) and the dedicated teachers as a whole made for a very rewarding educational experience. All schools need (require) the support (both emotionally and financially) of the community in order to succeed -- it does, indeed, take a village to raise a child.”

“i'm an alumni with two kids presently attending.the school district has always has a good cirriculum with good extracurricular activities.”

“Because of the lack of funding, R.U. can not be fairly compared to other districts. Resources for college benefits and general information is not a priority for school counselours. The honor roll students, now they are the priority. The community is not what it once was and for that reason the children are changing. The challenges have increased greatly to our teachers and staff. Meap scores have been a severe dissappointment year after year at the elementary level. I believe the teachers (for the most part) are amazing and very dedicated. Under state average is not acceptable for our family unfortunately.”

“the school seemed to lack a lot of good qualitities that it takes for a school to be a great environment for learning & devlopment.”

“I am an alumni from Redford Union. It is a great school with an awesome athletic program. The teachers and coaches will help your child in feeling that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to. I hope that one day I can go back there to teach, coach and make a difference in a child's life.”