High Technical High Media Arts

I went to High Tech High. It was an utter disaster. They have no advanced classes and the students are apathetic. I had to switch schools in 11th grade because I knew I would not be ready for college. This school is a hoax and it does such an injustice to its students. Now seeing what real schools look like, I cannot find enough courage to go back to my friends and tell them that they are not getting adequate preparation. My brother graduated before me. I asked him what happened to all his friends and the all dropped out. My brother was part of the nerd friend group. That says something. My brother has had to take 4 remedial courses. This school is a disaster and it angers me so that other schools are trying to be like them. In "leaving no child behind" you actually get "every child is left behind". At least this is how it was at HTH. They teach to the lowest denominator and we are all as dumb as the most unmotivated student wants to be. But the thing that kills me the most is HTH's reputation. I contributed to it. I used to be an ambassador (people who tour teachers around our schools and preach about PBL) and I would tell teachers, "At High Tech High we may not cover as many topics, but what we cover, we cover in depth." and "High Tech High teaches you how to learn." I felt guilty saying this because I would end my tour, then go work on my Geometry class through another high school, then leave school and get private math tutoring, and then go home and work on my biology course through the same online hs. And then, when I finally switched schools, I found out the hard way, HTH does not teach you how to learn. I could not take notes, or sit through a 20 min lecture. I did not know how to study or what the difference between a test and a quiz was. I took chemistry and did not know that pH had ANYTHING to do with the H and OH concentrations. I had to retake all of my science classes. Now, 1/2 through my junior year, I am at a HUGE disadvantage because I went to HTH. And this school is the model? High Tech High is one flashy circus with unmotivated kids, stressed teachers, and lazy admin. I saw my principal's son at my math tutoring center, learning all of the concepts that they did not cover in class. That is disgraceful. I have been hurt so badly by this school that I have to debunk any myths when I come across them. Please, examine this educational model carefully before flaunting it around.