| Date | Who | Comments |
| 1/24/2012 | student | I am currently a Junior attending MHS, and I honestly wish I had taken up my parents on their offer to put me in a private school my freshman year. I am in the Gifted Program, but have had to drop all of my AP courses to due work overload and overall class failure to pass the AP exams. I have found that it has become worthless to get A's and B's all year in my classes, but then somehow magically be in an entire class that does not pass the exam determining whether you receive your college credit. Teachers who care about my education and well being are far and few between. Administration favors burnt out teachers who have gained tenure and ignore failing classes and the rising amounts of drop outs coming from our school. I am being shoved out of this overcrowded school with basic expectations from my teachers. I will NEVER allow my kids to attend this school. |
| 4/21/2011 | parent | I went to Mandarin almost 10 years ago and at that time, the teachers would not go beyond normal call of duty and certainly never maintained discipline. Officials were quick to overreact in situations that required little to no involvement on their behalf and slow to react when true need arose. The thought of my kids going to this school fills me with dread. My worst years were at that school. Sure, there are a few teachers that outshone others like Mr. Waters or Mrs. Marks but most were jaded and angry. |
| 4/14/2011 | student | As a current sopohomore at Mandarin High, I'm somewhat ashamed to attend this school. Mandarin used to be one of the best schools in Duval besides Stanton and Paxon. Now, fires are being set left and right, drugs are being consumed by minors constantly, teachers don't care whethere you pass or fail, the kids don't care about anyone else except for who is inside the clique..thi school has major issues along with all of the kids who attend it. Like they just don't care if they hurt someones feeling and the administration...HORRIBLE! Bad school altogether, hopefully I will get into Douglas Anderson and can attend that school next year. |
| 4/13/2011 | parent | I am a parent who has seen 3 of my children attend Mandarin HS during the past 6 years , and several things have become more and more clear about the Leadership and staff-- they are being asked to do more than they are payed to if overcrowding is still happening at the school . But just as the favorite restaurant in a community struggles to serve the line of customers that extend out the front door and into the parking lot, I think this might say something good about Mandarin. With budget cuts looming and a lot of negative "waves" being transmitted by those who are genuinely concerned about their children and their future, it will do a lot more good to help than to criticize in this schools day of need. "A brother is born for the day of adversity" -- Volunteer or give or do both. Don't just complain-- anyone can do that. |
| 8/12/2010 | student | Mandarin High School is great! The classes are challenging (mostly in AICE though) and okay teachers. I mean, sure there are fights all the time, but it is the same at any other public, and sometimes even private school. I have had a great time so far and I still have a few years left there. Plus, the school is the 96th or 97th best high school in the country. I recommend it to everyone. P.S. ALWAYS stay away from people you don't know or trust, because you may very well end up in a fight. |
| 7/7/2010 | student | Contrary to the recent Newsweek article that ranked Mandarin in the top 100 schools in the nation, this school is anything but. Fights and drug deals occur regularly. There is a solid social system comprised of cliques in place. Poor administration and faculty. If you're not in AP or AICE you're bascially discarded and put into daycare classes after they try every route to get you to pass the FCAT and graduate with the minimum requirements. The school forces students that aren't qualified into AP. Even if you're in AP the passing rate is still attrocious, though they do have a very large selection of AP courses to choose from. Don't bother with AICE, it's extra work for nothing, despite what the teachers and counselors tell you. It's not even widely recognized by most universities. IB is better. |
| 5/3/2010 | other | Mandarin High was definitely one of the best four years of my life. i was so excited to finally be in high school and i dont regret anything about it.the kids are nice and it is easy to have a lot of friends there. the teachers are great and actually involved in my studies and homework and i got good grades. i graduated in 09 and now am planning to go to UF. Go Mandarin Mustangs!!!!!! |
| 10/13/2009 | parent | If one's child is so inclined, the academics to enter an excellent private university are certainly available, plenty of clubs, sports and activities. You should know also that multiple fights on any given day are the norm - in fact every day my child tells of fights - every single day. It is a very large campus that is most definitely very open and available for any weirdo to come onto for nefarious purposes. There are over 3000 students - yes - I did write 3000. You must be in contact with your child's teachers and counselors on a regular basis to make sure your child is on academically on track. We only recommend this school if your child is able to handle very many distractions and if your home structure is such that you are able to constantly advocate for your child. |
| 10/5/2009 | student | Ok many of the parents are saying things on here that truly could be debateable from someone who attends the school which i do. Im in the AICE progam at Mandarin and im a sophmore. The things that parents are saying, for instance ,'someone shouldnt be on a sports team just because their parents a coach', it obviously shows that your just made that your child didnt make a sports team and some coaches child did. You actually have to be good at the sport you are doing and most of the coaches children, for oobvious reasons, would be very good at whatever sport their parent is coaching. Mandarin is a very good school, but like in any other school there are fights and there are going to be some teachers who arent that amazing but overall the school is great. besides the classical music being played in our hallways. |
| 9/19/2009 | student | My school has just undercome new management and it is amazing!! We now have classical music between classes and a very encouraging personal message from our new principal everyday. I love going to school now it feels safer, more productive, and all around a better place to learn. |
| 4/28/2009 | parent | I must say I am very disappointed in Mandarin High School. I purposely moved in this area 5 years ago so that my children could have a better education than what I felt was being offered on other sides of town. Mandarin is really not all that different. There are the drugs, daily fights, teachers that blatently disrespect our children and finally how the administration appears to gloss over these major issues is sad. Hopefully this is not the state of every Public School in Duval County. |
| 3/5/2009 | parent | I have a daughter that graduated two years ago from MHS, and now have two other children that are there. I feel the school has gone down especially since Principal Rozier left. The unresponsiveness and rude attitudes is really unnecasary from the front office, staff, administration, and even the police officers. The favoritism is sickening, from class selection to sports. Just because your mother or father works at the school doesn't or shouldn't give you a free ticket onto a sports team especially if there is better skilled players out there. The overcrowding of classes and the out of area students compounds the behavorial problems and the amount of fighting that happens on a weekly basis. We can always find something to compain about, but my advise is for parents to stay on top of their childs education, no matter what school they attend! |
| 2/10/2009 | student | I graduated from Mandarin high two years ago in the AICE Program. Do not listen to any of these other reviews they are just of parents, not through someone who actually went to the school. I finished 15 in the class out of 700 and made it into good schools such as Wake Forest, UNC, and Univ of Richmond. Mandarin High is the school you go to to take ridiculously easy courses and get straight A's. It is NOT challenging, I took all AP's. I finished with a 4.3 and am relativley smart but also lazy. I am paying for going to Mandarin high now in college. I had to do little work in high school to get A's and now that I'm at a prestigous college I look like a fool compared to the kids with IB diplomas and private school education. Send your kids to Stanton, you wont regret |
| 1/31/2009 | student | I attend Mandarin currently and if you want your children to attend a high school that education is the top priority, this is the place to go. I am making better grades than what I used to at the previous schools I have attended, the teachers are highly involved and they actually enjoy helping students, there is excellent school spirit, there are tons of activities, sports and classes to choose from, and it is a very safe environment. I am proud to say that I am a Mandarin Mustang (c/o '10)!!!!! |
| 12/10/2008 | parent | Great school in one of the best school districts in the country. Duval is home to two of the top ten high schools in the country. Mandarin is rated 151 in the country this year which is huge. There are countless extracurricular activities. There are great teachers, tons of AP courses available, and is home to a music program that regularly butts heads with the internationally acclaimed, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts which is also located in Duval county. |
| 8/26/2008 | parent | I have to say that in the past 2 years Mandarin, although very large has truly improved. Dr. Sisler is one of the most competent people I have yet dealt with in the DUVAL county. Hopefully it continues and students reap the benefits. I have a Senior this year and then I am done...Good Luck MUSTANGS! |
| 5/28/2008 | parent | My child goes here. I think it is a great school. The teachers really try to help the child in need of help. There work is top priority. Thank you |
| 4/26/2008 | student | I absolutely loved Mandarin High School. I graduated in the class of 06!:) I think that any student would enjoy being there. It is a huge school, but one can easily get acclimated. It's academics and overall atmosphere is great. |
| 4/20/2008 | student | My name is Davin Peeples and I graduated from Mandarin High School in 2006 as well, and absolutely loved it. If you are an outgoing person and love to learn, it is the place to be. Alot of things kept changing while we were there but it was okay. The extra curricular activities are superb as are the academics. Any parent would be glad to send there child to Mandarin. |
| 12/6/2007 | student | I graduated from Mandarin High in 2006, and I am still proud to be a Mustang. Mandarin High is a great school. I have to be honest though, I never came close to failing, so I can not argue whether or not the 'academic notification and communication' is good or not. Oh top of being over-crowded the school is huge with a lot of diversity. I personally enjoyed it very much. Yes, the few times I attempted to get things straightened at an office I had a bit of difficulty, but one thing I can say is the school is strict. If you want your child to stay out of trouble this school is great. Especially with cutting class and leaving school. Overall, I give Mandarin High a 9 out of 10 |
| 8/23/2007 | student | Mandarin High is not really the best high school in the district to go too. It is way to overly crowded. Alot of students are late to class because of other students hanging around with thier friends. There are definitely not many lockers and students have to bring thier bookbags to class. And since almost all the lockers are taken, I always had to carry the heavy textbooks in my bookbag. The cafeteria food is disgusting and the teachers don't communicate very well with the students. When you walk into the office, not alot of help is available. And there are alot of fights too. |
| 6/27/2007 | parent | Our son was doing poorly in class. We did not know this even after contacting teacher throughout the year to check on his progress. He ended up with a D!!!! |
| 6/25/2007 | former student | I went to mandarin high all four years of high school. I really liked it. Some of the teachers were not to my liking but thats ok. The cirriculum was great, I was in AP classes both my junior and senior year and before that I was in all honors classes, it really prepared me for college. I loved the friends I made and as long as your child is a respectable young person and knows right from wrong they will make it here. Guidance was not as helpful as they could have been but overall I loved my high school years, I learned so much and I would never change a thing. |
| 6/6/2007 | parent | Horrific communication skills, my daughter was failing and we were not notified until the end of the year, luckily she busted her butt and made excellent progress this year (and I give the teachers no credit for this). The Main Office is a mass of confusion, most of the time it seem as if it is being run by the students. Plan on leaving your house 45-60 minutes before school starts..even if you live 1/2 mile from the school. The traffic problem is inexcusable and basically the administration doesn't care. |
| 4/24/2007 | parent | I have twin daughters at MHS, both sophomores, and have to agree with most of the other reviews about the school being hugely overcrowded and undermanaged. It is remarkably easy for any number of problems to fall through the cracks, particularly when it comes to academics. On the occasions when I have dealt with the administration and guidance staff, my worst fears were confirmed. Unlike any school I've ever dealt with, there is a profound lack of concern. If you have children in this school, you had better stay on top of what they are doing, before during and after school. Because you can be sure that you're likely the only one who is. |
| 9/19/2006 | parent | I have 2 children attending this school currently and a son who graduated in May'06. Luckily 2 of my children are above average students who will make teachers accountable, my son graduated with honors, but not because of the staff. The school is severely over-crowded to the extreme that kids stand in some classrooms and have no textbooks. This is ludicrous in today's society. Their is no accountability at this school and the administration is totally in effective, guidance is a joke. I could probably attend to the kids needs better as a parent than some of the staff who have degrees to do so. On the most recent report card not all classes were listed so we have no idea of the progress of our students in those classes. It is completely unbelievable! Our tax dollars at work! |
| 9/18/2006 | parent | The guidance department at Mandarin High is inept. They are not responsive to students or parents. On several occasions I have had to threaten to talk to the principal before I could get someone in guidance to talk to me. They do not help college bound students with scholarships, recommendations, or information on how to get through the college admissions process. I don't buy the excuse that the school is too big, there are many large schools in this country that do much better. The counselors show no compassion for anyone. Their customer service skills are very poor. Clearly a lack of leadership within the school and this department. I have one child who graduated from MHS and a child who is currently a senior. If we ran our business this way, we would all get fired. |
| 8/27/2006 | parent | A student was transferred about a year ago and it hasn't been a positive transition. Records shows that the student is placed in the wrong grade with wrong classes. When visiting the school to rectify, was told to come back later. No one knows what going on or why the records are incorrect. They have too many students for the number of teachers. And they are so overly crowded that they have to put trailers near the school for the student. That is not the environment that the student need to be in for their optimal learning and educational experience. |
| 8/23/2006 | parent | My daughter went to Mandarin for 2 years. The school is much to large and cannot be attentive to an average or below average student's needs. I felt that the goal for an L.D. student was to get them out of the 'A' status as quickly and painlessly as possible. With lack of concern of the knowledge they need to know to succeed in this world.. If your child is an honor student I think they will do well..But it is very easy for others to fall through the cracks of No Child Left Behind. GOU2006 |
| 8/21/2006 | parent | My oldest Son graduated in 03', just barely. My second Son is a Senior now. Unfortunately, neither were honor students, so they were placed in the average classes, where students were allowed to sleep through class. Both were lost in the crowd by their sophomore years. The school is way too big...very few teachers make an effort to form a relation ship other than a head count in class...I am very disappointed! My daughter, on the other hand, attended Loretto and we applied for Magnate Programs upon her advancement to Middle School, and she is attending LaVilla School of the Arts. She is an honor student and has incredible teachers who challenge her daily, and she is excelling in every way! We are excited about her attending anywhere but Mandarin High! Looking back, I should have done the same Magnate search with my Sons. |
| 8/12/2006 | student | Mandarin High is way too crowded. Guidance is very disorganized and nothing seems to happen on a timely manner. Some of the teachers are fantastic but the math CPM books do not teach the students. |
| 8/5/2006 | parent | I had 2 children who attended this school and fell through the cracks. I was not notified of their failing status until it was too late and I was told nothing could be done. I was horrified at the lack of supervision on campus and am aware of several instances involving drugs and sexual activity. While some students may do well others tend to fall in the wrong crowds. The school is very overpopulated, their drug problem is way out of control and even the 2 police officers on campus cannot handle the load they are dealt. After dealing with the duval school system, I refuse to send my younger children to a public school again. If your children are going to Mandarin, be very aware of the friends, teachers, and involvement in activities. Homeschooling would be a better environment than this one. |
| 6/17/2006 | parent | Our experience at Mandarin High has been quite positive. As a science oriented parent, I have been extremely happy with his science teachers and classes. I am quite unhappy with the CPM Math curriculum that has been imposed by the Duval County Public School District, however. Unhappy is an understatement. I wish that parents had the choice of what type of math class format they prefer for their child. I do not think that CPM is best for all students. I have found administrators to be helpful and reasonably easy to contact with concerns or problems. My son is happy their and has made several nice new friends. |
| 5/10/2006 | parent | I have a child graduating from Mandarin High this year. Since we moved here from out of state last summer, we have not been too involved. I do know that the school is so very overcrowded (3,000 plus students!). My child has had no interaction with guidance counselors as far as help choosing college, etc. Not sure if that is because he was only there this year or if they just don't help unless you are one of the 'chosen'. Check out surrounding counties before buying home in this school district if you will have high or middle school students. Will have new principal next year (2nd one in 3 years). |
| 3/28/2006 | parent | Good school. Very large campus. |
| 2/21/2006 | parent | this school is one of the top rated in the country my son went her for 3 years their curriculum is well rounded and the tachers strive to communicate with the parents my son was in the band here and the sports and music programs are great as well |
| 1/2/2006 | parent | My son went there his senior year. He said it was okay. He liked most of his teachers. |
| 12/1/2005 | former student | Mandarin high school is probably the worst school in the district. The school is run by the most incompetent people I have ever met and worst of all they don't fix the problems with the students. And other than two or three teachers most of them are horrible. |
| 10/19/2005 | parent | MHS is a large school and has been a large school since day 1. That, unfortunately, poses some challenges but overall, I think they have been dealt with fairly well over the years. I had two children graduate from MHS. They both did very well, were well prepared for college and were happy with their HS experience. We found the teachers to be caring, involved and some of the best in the area. Parent involvement was welcome and encouraged. Admittedly, the guidance office experience often left much to be desired. Over time I have learned that parent satisfaction with any school is often directly related to how well their student is doing. Perhaps that is to be expected. I do not understand where the school/prison design comment came from. MHS and First Coast High School are of the same design and modeled after a HS in Ft, Myers, FL. |
| 8/23/2005 | teacher | Great academic as well as atheletic and extracuricular activities. Parent involvement is high and overall well satisfied with the school. |
| 8/18/2005 | parent | Administration demonstrates lack of judgment in teacher-student relationships. They foster an environment which hinders creativity and doesn't empower teachers to take reasonable risks. This negatively impacts the quality of the academic programs. |
| 6/23/2005 | former student | After transfering from Sandalwood High School, Mandarin was practically a private school. The teachers are very concerned with their students and quick to contact you if your student is at risk. There are plenty of extracurriculars, IF you have transportation. None is provided on a regular basis. |
| 6/8/2005 | teacher | I think that this is a quality school. The school has an excellence academic program and the school promotes the enhancement of all its students. There are a variety of academic program offered to the students and the overall atmosphere seems to be pleasant. The adminstration can alway be seen on campus talking with students. The students seem to get along with the faculty and staff. The community involvement is great and the PTA at the school is excellent. Although, the school is tremedously overcrowded the school seems to handle the problem pretty well. The teachers all seem to be upbeat and satisfied with their job. There seems to be a tremedous amount of after school programs offered to the students like drama, sports, safety net programs, chess club, scholar bowl, and many other opportunities for the students to shine. |
| 2/18/2005 | parent | Mandarin High is a large school. Lots of sports. Seems to be a good high school. |
| 8/22/2004 | student | This school is horrible. Some of the teachers are okay, but the way the school is run is ridiculous. The administration focuses more on stupid things like dress code and that kind of nonsense, and generally ignore the concerns of the students. I was there for two years and hated every moment of it. To me, a dress code is necessary, but they really went overboard and were way too uptight about little things and not concerned enough with the education of the students. This is a school where a lot of students can fall into the cracks, and the administration desperately needs to evaluate their priorities. I got so frustrated with the lack of academic emphasis that I begged my parents to let me be homeschooled, but I ended up having to graduate from Mandarin. I'm just glad I'm out of there. And their band is pathetic. |
| 8/9/2004 | parent | Very disatisfactory experience. I now home school. Staff has too much to do and not enough time to do it in. Kids suffer. Public, government, education at its best. |
| 5/20/2004 | parent | To many students packed in to to small an area. It seems that the administration has very little concern for student achievement. CLass selection and assignment is troubling due to the excessive number of students at the school. Duval county needs another high school in the southern portion of the district. |
| 2/23/2004 | parent | I presently have 2 daughters enrolled at Mandarin High. My oldest being a senior this year and is the President of the student body, I must commend this school in all aspects as my children enjoy attending school there and as a parent I never hear negative comments from them regarding their education or school problems. They arise in the morning and look forward to going to school! I offer praise to all the teachers and the principal for their hard work and am a very content parent knowing my girls are in a safe place getting a great education! Thank you all! |
| 2/10/2004 | former student | I was very disappointed with this school. The teachers seem to give up too easily and the other staff seem to not be concerned with the students. I would never recommend this school to anyone. The fact that it was designed after a state prison was enough to turn me off of the school completely. The few decent teachers that were there finally were transferred to better posititions at other facilities. |
| 1/8/2004 | parent | We are new to the area, and this is my child's first year at MHS. She is very happy with all aspects of the school, as am I. She is getting excellent instruction and has many opportunities for growth. We are very satisfied with this school. |
| 10/16/2003 | parent | My child is in his fiorst year at Mandarin and he has been offered drugs on more than one occasion. I want to know what is being done about this situation. |
