Braden River High School

6545 SR 70 E

School District

Manatee
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:21
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 16, 2024

My daughter is about to become a Senior at Braden River High and she is hoping to be accepted at one of the top State Colleges. She has been very happy and found a great group of friends with similar priorities. We were impressed with the AP courses offered and with one exception, they were also some of her favorite teachers. The Orchestra teacher is amazing! Well-loved by the students and parents alike and with her guidance, they earned top scores in all of the competitions. The theatre/dance teacher falls into the same category, well-loved and the performances have been outstanding! We have friends on the dance team and they have also won awards and scored very high in competitions. And, the school spirit is unmatched, just go to any game and you can see and feel the pride and school spirit in the students and the staff. I have friends whose kids go to nearby High Schools and they have told me they wish they had sent their kids to BRHS. All-in-all, we have been very happy at Braden River High School.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2023

My daughter went to this high school and now my son will be attending his 3rd year of high school here at BRHS, all I can say is that I love this school, ove of the things I like is the fact that you will not see girls dressed with shorts that look like panties, like other schools does because they don't have a dress code.They're strict in many things, but that's for good.Kids should know that they're going to school to learn, not to a party.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2021

We have been a Braden River family for 4 years now and have been very pleased with this school. Our oldest has just graduated and will be attending a top 30 university in the fall. Our second child has just finished his sophomore year and is also doing very well. We have been especially impressed with the number of AP classes offered and the quality and dedication of the higher-level teachers. Also, in contrast to some of the other reviewers, we have appreciated the strict discipline kept by the administration. Due to their vigilance, we have never felt like our children were unsafe at school, and the school events we’ve attended have been orderly and well-orchestrated.I should also mention that BRHS has the best (and probably the best-loved) chorus teacher in the county.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2021

I currently have two enrolled, one a senior who attended all four years and one soon to be completing his freshman year. I have zero complaints. My students have had better experiences with some teachers than others, but isn't that itself preparing them for life? Learning how to deal with and succeed with others with whom you don't connect is an important skill. As far as the administration, personally I find them a little too strict however I wouldn't say that's a bad thing. Mildly irritating but I understand the rationale, and if one were to err on too strict or too lenient they're on the right side. Learning (as opposed to memorization) is very important to our family and I feel my children have been given every opportunity to learn and grow. I can't speak to athletics as neither of my two participate however the music/drama/orchestra has been been top-notch, and the clubs (Key Club especially) have been outstanding. Best in the state in several metrics.
Submitted by other on June 02, 2020

Fine, but not the best. Strict, but in very strange ways. Pretty conservative administration, but the higher level teachers are pretty Liberal, so it's an unusual balance.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2018

This school is very disrespectful to girls, along with making body shaming seem okay to other students.
Submitted by parent on June 25, 2018

Extremely disappointing. Will not send other children to this high school. There is a lengthy list of failures on the part of administration and teachers from instruction to leadership.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2018

I am pulling my kid out. This school is a complete abomination, their policies are draconian, and it is run in a totalitarian way. Stay away!!
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2018

Horrible teachers and leadership. I pulled my child out within a few months.
Submitted by other on April 09, 2018

Now that it's out on the Internet, everybody knows how sick you all are. We won't stop until you're fired and the children are safe again.
Submitted by other on November 15, 2016

This high school administration practices an Authoritarian rule, which results in oppression in the student body (which does exist) and reduces the enjoyment in the learning experiences. This is a public school behaving like a socialist/communistic Administration. The current Administration and it's policies need to be fully investigated by the Florida Commissioner of Education. This schools overall ratings have dropped significantly compared to all other public schools in the same county and nearby counties. Very disappointing.
Submitted by student on September 07, 2016

They will give you detention for looking at them wrong and god help you if you have to deal with the administration
Submitted by other on October 02, 2015

This is the worst school I have ever had experienced. The school is set up like a compound- you cannot have contact with your child once he/she steps foot on campus. The administration can receive a flower delivery, but you are not allowed to drop off homework, lunch money, or anything what so ever to your child. The administration is both rude and disrespectful to students and parents. They exude a superior arrogance they are above all and always right. The administration has no interest in your child's success, only their long list of ridiculous rules created to serve only the administration and are not created in the best interest of the child. The administration takes pleasure in executing punishments that do not fit the crime for example: the majority of a broken rule results in a 2 day suspension. This school has no interest in your child's success, the administration is only interested in their own bureaucracy. If you are an active parent in your child's education- this is not the school for you. If you are a current parent having similar issues with this school- I recommend going to the school district and filing complaints. The superintendent has an "open door policy"
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2015

My son graduated from this school last year 2015 and he was born with birth defect. In his earlier years we had to take him out of public school due to teasing and home schooled him until 7th grade then we found a charter school. When it came to going to High school as parents we were nervous after what the public schools had put us and him thru. But I am happy to say. His high school years was his best years. He didn't have honors or anything like that . But he loved the school and the teachers are amazing. Everyone in his class was going to Collage or to the Service or to Tech school of some sort. The classes they offer they give the young people a chance to get a taste of things before college to see if that is what they want to do. He took 2 years of ROTC, lots of different types of computer classes.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2015

The principal Jennifer Gilray and Don French had to know someone in the Manatee School system to obtain their job. They are still in the stone ages in their evaluation of staff and the ability to make stable and good executive judgment decisions.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2014

BRHS has the WORST admin staff I have ever delt with! They claim to be the BEST in Manatee County but that is far from the truth. I called my daughters guidance councelor regarding a teacher and you know what his response was? I'm sorry maam there is nothing I can do. This teacher who clearly was an older washed up teacher. His idea of teaching was using a work book. Never gave out notes and never used the math text book provided to the children. I ask myself over and over how these kids are expected to learn anything using this method. Because of their ignorance and lack of guidance my daughter suffered a low grade the first half of the school year. They are so worried about what the kids are wearing to school or wheather they have a cell phone taking pictures, sending text messages or walking on their grass! And this is only one of the sorry examples of this so called A rated school. Do yourself a favor and do your research before you send your child to this sorry excuse of a school. You will be sorry & dealing with pure ignorance because they don't care about the acedemics.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2014

Braden River High School is possibly the worst school to attend. BRHS' policy on bullying is nothing like they claim it to be. Their method is pretty much telling the victim that it's their problem. My oldest daughter had both students and TEACHERS verbally harass her, one of which threw a marker at her face in the middle of class, and another teacher told her that "she wasn't worth teaching because she was so far behind and would be better off leaving" She was even followed home by students who threatened and said discriminating slurs to her; and when such things were reported; the school did nothing to solve the problem. When I called and asked for information about home-schooling or the LIFE program, the school refused to give me any of it, and would not answer my phone calls. My daughter eventually had to drop out of school, just to avoid the harassment from teachers and students that was going on unresolved. The school has such a problem giving out information for alternate schooling, but had no problem with getting rid of students completely. In my personal opinion, all of brhs' administration needs to be fired and replaced with people who know what theyre doing.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2014

We moved to Florida in 2013 from a small Midwest town. We love this school it keeps patents informed on everything going on with its students. The classes and activities offers our kids everything they need to get a great education!
Submitted by parent on January 19, 2014

I choiced both of my kids. Excellent school, excellent teachers, solid rules. You can tell the parents (unhappy) because they were unable to manipulate the system in child's favor. Another beautiful thing: rules are in place so the atmosphere is for learning. Dress code is district-not school-and requires students to dress for the business of learning. Dress like you are clubbing and you'll be sent home as to not be a distraction to those there to learn. Both of my kids succeeded. Both are doing well university. Thanks BRHS. HIGHLY recommend!
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2013

This is an awesome school. My daughter is a freshman there and I am very happy with the level and quality of instruction. There is 100% commitment from all faculty and staff to support the administration of the school. I can't imagine being at another high school.