| Date | Who | Comments |
| 12/15/2011 | student | Don't belive the hype!! Westlake is by far the best you can get in the area!! Dr. Rivera + awesome educators equals an awesome school!! We are who?? The LIONS!!! THIS TOO SHALL PASS!! |
| 11/11/2011 | parent | Westlake is one of the best high schools in Atlanta. The APS HS don't compare. The SAT scores don't bare it out because EVERYONE takes the test therefore the scores are skewed. We know everyone is not college material. The new principal is doing a great job. Improvements have started. The facilities are the best. The academics are very good and getting better with the new leadership. The athletic teams are very competitive (competing on the state level), the band has improved greatly, other activities are lively. Within the next two years it will be an excellent school. Parents are welcomed with open arms. Can do a lot better with parental involvement, but those that are there are stellar.Truly becoming a great school. |
| 7/13/2011 | student | PLEAS PEOPLE EXCUSE THE BAD RUMORS,, For the people that think or says Westlake is a bad school your wrong I know its YOUR "opinion" but Westlake isnt so bad.. Like for example,, if your having problems out of students or teachers,, you just need 2 deal with them in the best manner "not attitude",, or just pull them aside 1on1 and you talk to them after class,, speak your mind,, tell them how you feel.. But Westlake is an awesome high school.. I mean we can sometimes have our bad days,, but hey wat school doesnt.? We learn something knew everyday, and we also have fun while we learning.. The students that are in sports,, are getting better and better everyday.. Hey even the teachers are getting better and better at teaching,, the students are getting better at learning everyday also..!!! BIG UPS 2 WESTLAKE HIGH(: |
| 6/29/2011 | parent | DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT give these people any money for any extracurricular events, more specifically PTSA events. There are some serious issues with the handling of funds. Check past news stories, talk to parents and alumni before you hand over anything. Chances are you will not get what you paid for, nor any refunds. Academically though, its a great school. Just be extra careful. |
| 4/8/2011 | student | I am a proud graduate of Westlake High School. During my time there, I felt Westlake was and still is a superb school. The athletics as well as the Magnet Program are the pride of Westlake. Recently, they have incorporated different academies to better serve the career interests of the student. Westlake is not perfect but they handle all problems efficiently. Since I graduated, Westlake has continued to improve and strive for educational excellence. I strongly recommend Westlake High School for any student. |
| 3/28/2010 | student | This is a bad school and they dont put kids first. I know this because, I'm a student this year! |
| 11/11/2009 | parent | My daughter is a senior and we think Westlake is an awesome school with great leadership. I applaud the PTSA for their support of the seniors activities. Mr. White has orchestrated some great motivational program for the students. If anyone fails it is only because they do not utilize the great assistance that is already in place for their success. |
| 7/21/2009 | teacher | As far as south Fulton County schools go, I would put Westlake at the top of the list. I think the administration and teachers value education and it shows for the most part. There are teachers who will always teach onlyfor the paycheck, but the majority give an average to above average effort. Still, I wonder if that is enough and fair to our children on the 'southside' of Fulton. Our children continue to perform below students on the north side of Fulton, and I am concerned about that. The magnet program appears to be solid, and if your student happens to be 'magnet' you are lucky. The rest of the students must fend for themselves, be earnest about getting what they need educationally daily and try to stay away from the riff-raff that could care less about a free education. Good luck! |
| 5/27/2009 | parent | Westlake is awesome. My daughter is a cheerleader and in the magnet program and is excelling very well. We don't have any problem with the children that attend that school and athletics are superb!!! I would recommend Westlake to anyone that is looking for a new high school for their child!! :) |
| 5/20/2009 | student | this school is great and advanced i have no complaints!!! |
| 5/15/2009 | student | Westlake High School thinks that its the best school to go to but they are dead wrong. They feel as though they don't have to respect Students or parents...this is by far the worst school to send your child |
| 5/10/2009 | student | I really have nothing to base Westlake on. Just depends if you get lucky. Some teachers good- some bad. Fairly safe school, fairly all-around good people. The administrators 'trip' about the dumbest things. Food Fight weekly previous to a Fight Weekly (per lunch period) I'm in the magnet program and i is hard. (9th grade) Honestly, get lucky and this school is A-OK. :) |
| 5/9/2009 | student | Greetings, I am a student at Westlake and I have been there since the 9th Grade. PLEASE disregard the negative comments some students have posted. Westlake is truly a school of Excellence. As others may say, it really is the BEST school in South Fulton. This school is just like all other schools. It has its ups and downs. But its getting back up that makes us the best school. I encourage ALL parents to send their child to Westlake High School. It will be an unforgettable Experience. -Make it a great day. Thanks |
| 5/4/2009 | parent | Magnet Program is awesome - the best in South Fulton County! |
| 4/30/2009 | student | im a student here and westlake is not the best school to be at. i have a couple of teachers that are barely ever in class and when they are they dont attend or teach to the students. there are planty of fights and food fights. the kids always have drama and its someting new everyday. so parents i would advise you to not enroll your kids at Westlake |
| 4/29/2009 | parent | Westlake High is an excellent school. It consist of Academy of Liberal Arts, Academy of Healthcare Technology and Sceince and Math Academy. |
| 4/16/2009 | parent | There are some excellent teachers at Westlake. My daughter is in the Math/Science Magnet Program and I give it very high marks!! |
| 1/15/2009 | other | As a former member of the WHS Math and Science Magnet Program and a current candidate for a MPH in Epidemiology, I am very proud to say I am a Westlake High School Alumnus. While, WHS may have lacked the aesthetic ammenities that other school were afforded, I was privileged to sit in classrooms with dedicated faculty that never hesistated to give us honest evaluation and insourmountable support. I believe the faculty and staff have been unfairly blamed for the difficulties the school faces with disruptive behavior. I strongly believe in the adage, 'it takes a village'. As a former member of the Sandtown community, I take pride in giving back to the community-though trodden with faults, but strong in excellence, pride, and history-from which I came. Matriculation through Xavier University, persuing a BS in Chemistry, would have been impossible if it were not for the preparatory courses I received. |
| 12/18/2008 | parent | I am a parent of a sophomore and for Westlake to be such a beautiful facility the behavior of the children is still out of control. The food fights continue and some classrooms are uncontrollable by the staff. I pray that things get better because the truth it we face obstacles in many schools. Being a parent who has one child in private school and one at Westlake breaks my heart to know that I have to pay a fortune for structure. The differences between the two are tremendous. |
| 12/17/2008 | teacher | As a teacher at Westlake, I am confident in saying that there is room for improvement, as with any school. Administration needs to do a better job in making sure that the halls are clear and students are where they should be. On the other hand, we have a dedicated faculty & staff who have the students' best interest at heart. The majority of our staff gives 100% in making sure that Westlake exceeds above and beyond normal standards. Our principal, Dr. White is a very loving and caring person who treats everyone with respect. Parents and communit leaders need to recognize his efforts in Westlake's pursuit to excellence. Overall, the students are respectful and ready to learn. I have enjoyed teaching at Westlake for the past 10 years. |
| 12/17/2008 | student | whs has improved great lengths compared to a couple of years ago. Westlake has everything you need to have a genuine school performance and those of you who believe that other schools conduct themselves more orderly then you are sadly mistaken.You are depriving your students or yourselves of a true experience and further cripple them for what is the real world.Yes im a student and used to be under the same impression . |
| 11/13/2008 | student | Well I attend Westlake High School and it is like any other school. Yes it has its drama and fights from time to time, but it is school. You are there for your own purposes which is learning. I hate the fact that people want to make Westlake sound just wild and to whoever said that Mrs. Ervin did not make it a better school, you must have went to a different Westlake because she made it fun and a place where you can learn with confidence. So thank you very much!!! Anyway Westlake like I said has its ups and downs but overall it is pretty decent school. |
| 11/5/2008 | student | West lake high is a very intresting school i must say its one of the wildest schools in atlanta. West lake is filled with drama!! everyday there would be a fight. And the food fights in 2007 used to b crazy every1 would leave the lunch room covered in food. The adminstrators had no control whats so ever. I feel like mrs. Ervin didnt make the school any better. If anything she just made it worse. One thing i can say is that west lake had the best pep rallys we used to have so much fun doing the wave and representing our school colors. Looking back at all the problems that school had i must say i am a proud graduate from west lake. That school prepared me for war in iraq. |
| 9/29/2008 | student | I am very disappointed in the way that the students conduct themselves.I strongly advise that no one goes to this school.If you are not used to profanity,violence, disobedience and fights then please tell your loved ones to not attend this school.Those are just some of the reasons why I am transferring to a school that conducts themselves in a more manerly and orderly fashion.Attend at your own risk...literally!!! |
| 8/8/2008 | student | its a really good school...especially acdemically....im currently unenrolled from westlake to go to grady, even though grady is also a wonderful school, i would love to go back to westlake |
| 7/8/2008 | student | I graduated from Westlake in 2007. I am currently enrolled in college. When I entered college I was very prepared and I began to appreciate my teachers at Westlake. They were very detailed with our assignments and they refused to let us just slide by and do half work. Thanks to 'The Lake' I was ready and capable for the next phase of my education. |
| 6/28/2008 | student | Its a kool school! Just hang around the right people. Do your work. Socialize with everyone. Ans stay out of trouble. Then you gotta have a good time! |
| 4/1/2008 | parent | I have a daughter who attends Westlake and I may not agree with all the rules put in place, however under the circumstances Mrs. Ervin does what she has to do to keep the students under control. It was explained to me, before Mrs. Ervin the school was out of control and I can truly see why...I pop up to the school every now and then and some of the students are out of control. It is sad to say, but she has to run the school in the manner in which it is being ran in order for the kids who want to learn, actually learn and feel safe at the same time. |
| 2/14/2008 | other | As a graduate of Westlake in 2002 and now a college graduate, I can honestly say that I was prepared for college and life by my educational experiences at Westlake. When you take the time to read the critiques listed here, pay attention to the spelling and thought processes of the people with negative things to say. I attended the school when Mike and Marc Jones were the principals and they began the process of requiring accountability from teachers, students and parents. Beign tardy is inexcusable and these parents are upset because someone is actually holding them responsible for THEIR minor children. If your child isn't tardy, they don't have to worry about suspension. No one is doing young African-American children any favors by babying them and not holding them accountable and I think it is commendable for the Principal to require accountability from the students and parents. |
| 1/3/2008 | parent | I am very disappointed with the leadership. The principal is self serving and goes over board to give the appearance of change, when in actuality the students are being short changed. Our students are not being educated in a manner that will adequately prepare them for life on a college campus, much less one in the real world. |
| 12/5/2007 | student | I am a student that attends westlake.,and I feel that the school is unsatifactory. There a fight all the times, also food fights all the time. I fell that westalke teachers are not doing there jobs,and sometimes don't care about the students education. Some of the rules in the school a crazy. |
| 11/29/2007 | parent | I love this school. I belive that all students that attend westlake high school will graduate well prepared for their collgeg experince. Their principle is one of a kind and even though it is an prodominatly black school she does an swell job with keeping the students in line and their eyes on the prize. |
| 9/9/2007 | parent | My daughter is a sophomore at Westlake. I have been a teacher for twenty years. Comparatively speaking, Westlake is doing a fine job of educating my daughter. She does have loads of homework...which is a good thing! The athletic program is superb, and the school spirit is amazing. I am especially pleased with her AP World History course. She will be able to compete once she leaves Westlake, and for that I am grateful. |
| 8/10/2007 | student | I was a student at Westlake and also a former Math & Science Magnet student. I left after one year because of incompetent teachers and the disorganized structure of the school. The 'magnet program' was not a true one. It was more of a stress than a help. During the school day in most of my classes, work didn't take place. However, when we got home we had loads and loads of projects and homework to do. Some of my other teachers were very uneducated in the subject matter they taught. |
| 6/11/2007 | parent | The school is ok.It is not one of the best schools in Fulton county.You can find better schools in Fulton county.I think the school teachers are ok.They are not that great, only a few are great.The school has a lot of behavior problems.The parent involement is ok.There academic programs are ok.The school offers a lot of extracurricular activities. |
| 12/4/2006 | former student | As a proud graduate of Westlake High School, I must say the school has truly prepared me for life. The magnet program was a superb program for those looking for a challenge and if taken seriously could even provide students with college credit (AP COURSES). The school also offers a wide variety of healthy and culturally stimulating extra-curricular activities and clubs. I highly recommend this school for those who are serious about their future, and want to have a great time as well. I still keep in contact with many of my teachers and staff, that really says a lot about them and their interest in their students (past & present)! |
| 6/19/2006 | former student | Westlakes atheletics are off the charts. In the past '06 school year... the track team won state, basketball lost at state, football got to the second round in the state playoffs and the golf, rifle team did good as well. Westlake is definently the place to go when it comes to sports. When it comes to grades... they're test scores are always good. |
| 2/19/2006 | parent | This is my daughter's first year. So far, things have mediocre. We've had some issues with incompetent teachers, but we are working through that. For the most, things are okay. |
| 6/8/2005 | student | I am a rising junior here at Westlake High School. I first believe that we have a school full of discpline. Our new principal, Mr. Franklin, has made Westlake out to be a school for worth being there to learn. However, I do disagree on his actions of suspending students for tarsies, and believe he should use a better approach. Westlake overall is a very good school for extracurricular; such as auxillary and varsity basketball cheerleading. At the same time, it is an excellent school for acedemics featuring our Math and Science Program. I think the teachers can also put a little more effort into their job. Overall, after being at Westlake for four years, i can't see myself being at any other place. |
| 3/21/2005 | parent | The quality of academic programs would be great if they didnt suspend the children for tardies. The music department. art department, sports and other extra curricular activites are good over all. Parent envolement needs alot of help. Its like the parents don't care whay the child do. My biggest problem with Westlake is the principal, I just don't agree with his new plans in making the school better. As i stated before suspending kids for tardies??? is not the answer. I think we need a new principal for Westlake High school. Mr. Franklin you need a new plan, cause this one isn't working. Oh, Some of the staff need to leave right along with the principal. |
| 3/3/2005 | teacher | I had the opportunity to visit Westlake several times during my college career and, I must say that I am quite disappointed. Although Westlake is in an affluent African American community, the influence of a strong African American teaching staff is not present. Students are often left to learn throught the use of videos and its a wonder that the copy machine doesnt explode from the amount of worksheets they pass out to keep the kids quite. The teaching staff displays, in many ways, their unwillingness to adapt to the culture that is represented in their school. Rather than enforce discipline to allow those that want to learn do so, students are allowed to run the classrooms. I suggest that parents take other alternatives to Westlake. |
| 10/29/2004 | student | I am a Senior at Westlake High School and I have truly enjoyed my four years here. I am apart of the Math and Science Magnet and being in Magnet has greatly prepared me for the future. Mr. Edwards is the new magnet coordinator, and he is an inspiration to all students and teachers. Westlake has opened my eyes to the many opportunities that are out there for me as an African American Woman. I highly reccommend Westlake to anyone that wants to be challenged and forced to succeed. |
| 10/16/2004 | student | I am a junior at westlake high and I would like to congratulate every effort of hard work we have all put forth into our school. Our magnet program is awesome and provides challenges throughout all classes whether you have a honor class or not. I enjoy being at Westlake high. We great extracurricular activities, for example our band and auxiliary, and trust me we represent our school well. Our teachers are great and want the best for us, so since they want the best for us, they're giving us their all. Also our principal want us to be at an altimate high in our academics. So I encourage people to be apart of excellence and that's what our school portray. |
| 9/26/2004 | former student | Westlake is a very good school. They provide a good education for children in a calm environment that is good for learning. I know this firsthand. I am an alumni of Westlake. |
| 8/5/2004 | parent | Westlake is a good school and all but how can you be a magnet school that specialized in Math and Science and let a school, for example, Banneker High School pass you in those two subjects. To me Banneker High School is a better school. |
| 8/2/2004 | former student | Westlake High School is one of if not the best high school in Fulton Co. and in the Atlanta area. The magnet program set students up for success after high school. |
| 8/26/2003 | parent | My son has been on the magnet program since 9th grade, he is now in the 12th. This has been the most challenging program I've ever seen. All the teachers involved are very dedicated and Ms. Dotson makes sure everyone is dressed approriatley and conducts themselves in a mannerly fashion. If your child is looking for challenges this is the school for them. |
