Westlake High

"Unfortunately, WHS has an undeserved good reputation. Try to ask about the criteria for its high rankings. You won't get a specific answer and a lot of attitude that you dared to ask. The environment both academic & social is rife with classism, the school has an offensive and racist mascot, and has a de facto two-tiered extra curricular environment; if you can't afford to pay, you don't get to participate (and they are in deep denial about it—the less income you have the more pressure put on you to quit). Booster clubs are notorious for acting like creditors demanding payment and treating lesser income families like criminals and cheats. Teachers are nearly inaccessible to students and parents, use of 21st technologies are discouraged and restricted, and information from teachers and the administration in general comes at a substantial cost in time and energy investment for very little return. A lot of elitist attitudes, snobbery and bullying among students. Incredible peer pressure and social stigmatization within the student body and seriously dysfunctional administrative and parent denial. Their academic system does not prepare a lower class student for college systems, while supporting and rewarding upper class privilege. If you are upper class and look like it, you'll have a great experience. If you're a square peg or lower income, this round-hole school is a nightmare."

"Unfortunately, WHS has an undeserved good reputation. Try to ask about the criteria for its high rankings. You won't get a specific answer and a lot of attitude that you dared to ask. The environment both academic & social is rife with classism, the school has an offensive and racist mascot, and has a de facto two-tiered extra curricular environment; if you can't afford to pay, you don't get to participate (and they are in deep denial about it—the less income you have the more pressure put on you to quit). Booster clubs are notorious for acting like creditors demanding payment and treating lesser income families like criminals and cheats. Teachers are nearly inaccessible to students and parents, use of 21st technologies are discouraged and restricted, and information from teachers and the administration in general comes at a substantial cost in time and energy investment for very little return. A lot of elitist attitudes, snobbery and bullying among students. Incredible peer pressure and social stigmatization within the student body and seriously dysfunctional administrative and parent denial. Their academic system does not prepare a lower class student for college systems, while supporting and rewarding upper class privilege. If you are upper class and look like it, you'll have a great experience. If you're a square peg or lower income, this round-hole school is a nightmare."