[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by Blazah1080

and has some of the highest STD rates in the state

Just like Westport has the highest numbers of teenage drinkers, loose girls, etc., right?

Your posting history is... interesting.

[7express]

Originally Posted by Mike 75

The only negative I've heard about Greenwich schools is that the high school is too big.

That and Danbury both need another public high school (Danbury does have Immaculate, IIRC). If you think Greenwich high is too big, you should see Danbury high, it makes Greenwich high look tiny.

[Blazah1080]

Originally Posted by andthentherewere3

Just like Westport has the highest numbers of teenage drinkers, loose girls, etc., right?

Your posting history is... interesting.

I admit I do think the sky is falling

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by Blazah1080

I admit I do think the sky is falling

It's evident that that's not all you think...

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by 7express

That and Danbury both need another public high school (Danbury does have Immaculate, IIRC). If you think Greenwich high is too big, you should see Danbury high, it makes Greenwich high look tiny.

Greenwich High School has over 2,600 students while Danbury has over 2,800. Both are very large but I do think Danbury is the largest in the state. I do know that Greenwich High School performs much better overall and is a well maintained modern building. Students in Greenwich perform well above the state averages on the Connecticut Academic Performance Tests. Therefore I think it can be said it is a good school. Jay

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Therefore I think it can be said it is a good school. Jay

Jay is right, and the high school is actually broken up into five "houses", each with their own "amenities" if you will. So in reality, it's like four high schools all connected together. They only share a cafeteria, sports teams, an auditorium, a natatorium, and a gymnasium. Each house has different heads, similar to principals. It really is an excellent set-up for such a large school.

The Headmaster and the Assistant Headmaster have overall responsibility for the operation of the school. Entering students are randomly assigned to one of five Houses - Bella, Cantor, Clark, Folsom, and Sheldon. Each house has its own Housemaster, as well as its own guidance counselors and other support services for students, along with a core English/Social Studies program in grades nine and ten. The Houses adjoin a one-acre enclosed area called the Student Center, which serves as a cafeteria, meeting hall and a place to relax between classes.

[JayCT]

I went to a high school with the same set up as Greenwich and thought it was great. By dividing the school up into "Houses" you do feel like you are in a much smaller school. My school, Warde in Fairfield was laid out with six hallways making up three houses. It was an easy to navigate building. I wish they did the same thing in Glastonbury which I find to be poorly laid out, crowded and confusing. Even others I know that have left the area with their families agree it was a good design and wish more places had it. Jay

[Kristin85]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I went to a high school with the same set up as Greenwich and thought it was great. By dividing the school up into "Houses" you do feel like you are in a much smaller school. My school, Warde in Fairfield was laid out with six hallways making up three houses. It was an easy to navigate building. I wish they did the same thing in Glastonbury which I find to be poorly laid out, crowded and confusing. Even others I know that have left the area with their families agree it was a good design and wish more places had it. Jay

I agree, the houses are a great design. The only drawback is that you'll have to take courses on your own time & dime if you have an interest in something that's taught outside of your house. My high school in Bridgeport was divided a few years ago into Magnet, the Arts, Vocational, etc. which is great for helping kids succeed once they graduate because they get intensive training. The only bummer is if you're in Magnet you can't take more than 1 or 2 arts classes, if you're in Vocational you can't get a spot in the AP courses, etc. etc.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Kristin85

I agree, the houses are a great design. The only drawback is that you'll have to take courses on your own time & dime if you have an interest in something that's taught outside of your house. My high school in Bridgeport was divided a few years ago into Magnet, the Arts, Vocational, etc. which is great for helping kids succeed once they graduate because they get intensive training. The only bummer is if you're in Magnet you can't take more than 1 or 2 arts classes, if you're in Vocational you can't get a spot in the AP courses, etc. etc.

That was not how our school worked. You took most of your core classes (math, science, history, English, etc.) within your House. You would only travel outside your House for specialized classes like art, home economics, shop, music, reading, etc.). This meant that you did not end up walking all over the building which was good. What was bad was that there were other students you never met or saw. Jay

[jax12479]

In Greenwich High, you can take a lot of classes outside your house, it's not restricted at all. Usually most of your freshman core classes are in your house, but by junior/senior year you'll have classes all over the school (at least that's how it was for me). The student center is great, too - kind of like a quad on college campuses.