Preston High School

2780 SCHURZ AVE

The Bronx, NY 10465

13 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 20, 2019

This school is not as great as it seems. For what it’s worth you’re better off sending your daughter to a public school where she she will have much better opportunities. Teachers don’t challenge students to reach their full potential.Very few teachers genuinely care about students. The only time they make you feel welcome is at open house. Once your child is in, its feels like a business. Too much segregation, white girls don’t mingle with black girls. GUIDANCE IS VERY POOR . If I had to do it over, my daughter would go to public school.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2017

My daughter had a wonderful experience in Preston HS. It was challenging and completely prepared her for college, it truly is a preparatory school. Although we made many sacrifices, it was money well spent. The teachers and staff are mentors and really take an interest in the students, Which is evident in her 4.0gpa in her first semester at Manhattanville college. Bravo!!
Submitted by parent on July 30, 2015

Wonderful school, great teachers and administrative staff. Money well spent. Girls are over prepared for College which is great!
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2015

My daughter graduated from Preston. While she was at the top of her class in middle school, it was not the case at Preston. Preston was a challenge. She was no longer an honors student at the top of her class who never had to open a book. She now had to actually study! Every step of the way teachers and guidance encouraged and guided her. While she may have struggled, she stretched and went out of her comfort zone. It is up to the student to seek help. My daughter went to extra help (which is free) and actively sought assistance from her counselor. College applications were a breeze, and even though she was not the top of her class (or even in the middle for that matter) she received scholarships from all of the schools that she applied to. As for her social growth, she was extremely shy when she began. I thank Preston for helping her develop her voice and confidence and for teaching her that in life you have to work hard to be successful. She did much better in college (and no she did not go to Iona - although I know many successful Iona graduates -and is not married with children) because she was well prepared and she found a job as soon as she graduated.
Submitted by student on December 18, 2014

This school looks good from the outside, but is completely rotten on the inside. You are better off sending your daughter to public school. The amount of money you would be paying to send your child to school here is not equal to the education your daughter should be receiving. She will not be taught how to THINK. They only care about money, not the key educational values of guiding students towards becoming problem-solvers, life-long learners, and independent thinkers who are prepared for life after high school. Your daughter will receive none of this here. There is absolutely no disciplinary action enforced. The students consist of spoiled, snobby girls who think the world owes them something and have an overblown sense of entitlement. The list goes on and on .a word of advice, stay FAR, FAR, FAR, FAR away from this school. You will regret the day you send your daughter here.
Submitted by student on September 25, 2014

Because all of the very outdated and negative comments i've decided to write my own review. I am a student at Preston High School and i can honestly say that the school is great. The teachers are fun and interesting and because the school is small you get more individual help and attention. The school is tough but 95% of the girls who graduate always come back and say that college is breeze because Preston really prepared them. And its very true. 80 minute classes and a block schedule give us a feel to the college life and teachers ARE engaging. Preston is a school big on sisterhood and we have monthly assembly's that focus on how to raise our school culture and avoid bullying. No students really get bullied. The same kids who say they dont like the school are the same kids that dont get involved and dont TRY to be apart of the school. The school is small, but everyone makes friends. There are clubs for everyone and the school is an all around great school. The school is challenging but it encourages students to get out there and join sports/clubs while maintaining high grades and focusing on college. WHILE also helping students have the "high school experience".
Submitted by student on September 03, 2013

When I went to open house as a little 8th grader I thought to myself that this is the school for me. But when i got into the school, there were to many cliques and way to much criticism. I felt like an outcast. I thought eventually it might get better, but it got worse. I felt as if you didn't get straight A's, were on a sports team, or knew someone in a clique, you we're judge upon. I feel as if someone is always talking about me behind my back, not just the girls, but the teachers too. There's way to much work, and when you ask for help, its like the world is ending to the teachers. Aren't you there to help us? I feel as if everything is the student's fault and nobody else's. Hopefully when I get to college everything will get better. But for now, I'm going to have some fun with my friends and make the best of everything I have.
Submitted by other on August 20, 2013

I have attended preston for one year as a freshman. I believe the only reason why I decided to choose this school was because I knew girls that were friends of mine and open house was a success. All the upper class men and teachers were nice. When I started it was not what I was hoping. The teachers pile and pile on work, the girls find cliques and leave you out. If you are not outgoing, smart, loud and preppy, you won't fit in. I did not enjoy my first year and I regretted coming to Preston. I decided to transfer and yet have to see if my decision was a better choice. Hopefully it is!
Submitted by other on May 15, 2013

I am an alumni of the school and while it teaches you to be tough, to fight for what you deserve and face the fact that life is simply unfair, it does not give you a valuable high school experience. I feel like I missed out on something special, because in this school the girls are constantly worried about their grades and how the bully teachers may treat them in their next class. The only thing I wouldn't take back from my Preston education is my best friend. That's it. Other than that, I feel as if I missed out on 4 youthful years and am trying to regain that youth in my college years.
Submitted by student on May 02, 2013

Preston looks prestigious and happy but it's such an act. It's all about "compassion" until you have the slightest trouble coughing up tuition money and you're treated like a leper. Their great "community" is filled with rich, snobby, stuck up girls. This school is as catty as it gets. If you're not an adored A+ student then forget about getting any help with finding internships, SAT prep, programs and scholarships. Guidance counselors are not helpful in the college application process. You will be very discouraged. You pay tuition to get nasty public school lunch and sit in old broken desks. Most of the faculty and staff are Preston alum so you can expect the same poor attitudes from them as well. They say they have a "college prep curriculum" but with poor teacher quality, it's all busy work. Unprepared girls are forced into AP classes just so the school is able to say they offer the class. It's all about numbers with Preston. Busy work doesn't prepare you for college, education is about building foundations and learning how to THINK. Your daughter deserves SO much more, spend your money elsewhere. Stay far away from Preston.
Submitted by other on October 14, 2012

This was the worst school I ever attended in my life. The teachers were dreadful. They had no clue what they were doing. Preston is all about being a "family" yet their teachers talk about all the students and spread rumors. It's sad. Everyone was horrible to me I wound up leaving and went to another highschool where I got a much better education and now a great career. The dean at Preston made my life terrible she is part of the reason I left. The girls who go here end up in Iona college with no job and children by the age of 23. You will have no future from this school. It's an overpriced rip off. The teachers and dean are really miserable and fake and sad. Had I stayed I'd probably had a degree from Iona 2 kids and be living in my parents basement like the rest of my class. (sorry guys)
Submitted by other on May 22, 2012

Preston is a great highschool. The Class sizes are generally small but it is better to have small classes.Preston is a high-quality college preparatory school and education is top notch. It is a really good school
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2011

My daughter is a senior. I have not been very happy with the school. More so now that she is a senior. The guidance department is not very involved with the senior college process and do not say encouraging things to the girls as it relates to colleges. I should be receiving the guidance counselors pay check I am doing their work. The principal is not very involved either and the faculty is allowed to do as they please. The bullying by students and staff is terrible. Minority students are not given the same attention as the non minority students. Yes there are plenty of activities but what does that do for students that actually need academic and guidance attention. The activities look good on the college application but honestly they are looking for a well rounded student and you have more disgruntled students than well rounded. Pay attention to your students. Listen to their concerns. Lastly, minorities are entitled to the same attention than non minority students. Many of the staff that left last school year agreed with me and therefore are not a part of PHS any longer. I can't wait until my daughter graduates. I have been the parent, counselor, teacher, for 4 years!