Carmel High School

520 East Main Street

School District

Carmel Clay Schools
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
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 October 21, 2023

Excellent school that really prepared my daughter for college
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2022

This school assumes everyone works around them and everyone including parents that are new to the school system know everything. Also it doesnt look like they try to help students that need help but more so create confusion. If a kid needs guidance he or she would be lost in this school environment. They treat kids like seniors in college, that is great to prepare them for college but they need help, guidance and hand holdings at times that you can not expect at this school. Counseling is useless and it is not clear how kids are doing until it is too late.
Submitted by student on April 18, 2020

Carmel High School is an interesting school to say the least. It's definitely very hard to make friends unless you're not in a "clique" and even on sports teams and such all the "popular" people are together in a little friend group and you're left out if you're not like them. In terms of diversity and accepting everyone, most students, except for those annoying girls who are in younglife camp, accept people of all different races, sexuality, etc. When I was a freshman there was a whole scene because the transphobic vice principal of the freshmen center wouldn't let a trans girl use the women's restroom due to a complaint filed by two younglife girls of course. I think in my opinion teachers are a hit or miss. Some really do care about you especially the ones in the english department and want you to excel but others honestly do not care, especially the science department teachers. I do think that there is a place for everyone here if you're willing to go and look for it but they don't make those things well known. It is very rigorous academically especially with honors/AP classes but I think it will make college somewhat. And of course let's not forget that the only thing the administrators care about is how many state titles we've won.
Submitted by student on December 09, 2019

Very good I love to be here
Submitted by other on August 30, 2019

Personally I hated my time here. To put this into context, Carmel Clay Schools is a public school district with schools of very large student bodies, even in elementary school. However, I struggle with crowds and making friends in general because I get too shy and anxious, so spending the first two years of high school in Carmel was very overwhelming. The kids also tend to form cliques (the proclaimed "friend groups") as early as the second grade so if you have a hard time making friends, are just a loner in general, or are ostracized for any reason at all then you will find it very hard to fit in socially. Keep in mind that I spent Kindergarten through sophomore year in this public school system and during all of those years I made only three-four close friends (all of whom I barely ended up seeing anyway). I was also dealing with the worst of some very personal issues during these two years that I'm only now starting to recover from, which made my school experience worse. I already mentioned in a couple of other categories how I felt about the homework load and the effectiveness of the teachers but what really strikes me is that for all of the classes offered at Carmel and for the set up of their schedule (two out of the only three things I really enjoyed about my time at the school) the lack of attention/focus on these classes is as great as it is. Carmel is, in essence, a very sports-centric school and even then the only sports that seem to get hyped up are football, basketball, and just recently girl's lacrosse. All of what the administrators can talk about is how many state championships the school has won in their athletics and how many of their academic departments are "one of the best" if not "the best" in the nation. It's scary in all honesty, as though the administration only sees teachers, coaches, and most importantly the students as nothing more than trophies/trophy-winners rather than as individuals with their own emotions, personal troubles, and limitations. The school, for as large of a student body it has, the makeup of the student body is not very diverse. Some students are very accepting and it's great to see the kids with disabilities get treated like any of the other kids would and be welcomed and accepted by the students. However, it's not enough to cover up the fact that most of this school and the people there live under a bubble.
Submitted by other on June 07, 2019

Excellent. Carmel prepared me for college beyond all expectations, and going there made college seem easy.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2018

Not good, late-policy is asinine. She was in the facility before the bell and received a detention for being late on a rainy day.
Submitted by other on February 12, 2017

I graduated four years ago. It was challenging I'll admit. Carmel kids are held to a higher standard for most things, during high school I thought it was challenging. Going into college I knew much more than most of my classmates. I had an advantage, and I have to say it was Carmel High Schools curriculum. They tought me a more challenging pace but in the end it helped me greatly in college. This is a college prep school. It actually does prepare you. I advise for parents to put their children in the AVID program, not everyone gets in though. Only a select few. This program helps you with filling out college applications and teaches you most, if not all, basic core curriculum for college. I had no surprises. A overall great school! Size is big, but that is why it's important to get involved!
Submitted by student on August 14, 2015

As a student learning at Carmel high school, there are many challenges with the curriculum, but the challenges have taught me new things. The education that the teachers provide is unmatched and many teachers take the time to help me with any questions. Also there are so many clubs and sports offered at my school. With so many sports teams and clubs, it engages the interests of many students inside and out of the class room. I love my school and couldn't imagine going anywhere else
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2015

When my daughter attended the 8th grade, Carmerrl Clay Schools decided to change their method of teaching math. It was changed from a more traditional teacher led method to an "investigative" student led method. No one warned the parents. The resulting decline in student grades prompted a meeting at the high school. Needless to say the problem was never addressed and many parents chose to drop their child down a level which sucked for the 11th graders applying to college. My daughter was taking Algebra I in 8th grade. Her math grades drop and so did her ability to get into advanced classes, which we learned when we spoke with the Carmel High Freshman Counselor. Because of the math grade the high school counselor suggested she start all over with lower level classes (even though she was doing very well in 8th grade honors English). We decided to send our daughter to the International School of Indiana were she is now an honor roll student and has earned the opportunities to built an outstanding resume. Carmel is not the place. UNLESS OF COURSE YOU ARE AN OUTSTANDING ATHLETE!
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2015

I agree with the person regarding administration. There is an arrogance about them which makes it nearly impossible to address problems they refuse to acknowledge. The large population makes it very difficult for students to get involved in sports and other activities because it is too competitive. There are some fantastic teachers at Carmel as there are awful ones. Math is known to be terrible. Receiving low grades in core subjects does nothing to 'showcase' Carmel math as the best place to 'prepare' kids for college. What it does is force kids into less selective schools which may or may not be what is the best fit. Carmel administrators do not acknowledge this math calamity, in spite of the very vocal parents who have been outraged. Some of the sciences are similar in approach. Parents are spending thousands of dollars tutoring their kids and most of the tutors are Carmel teachers. Is this some kind of guarantee subsidy for teachers? Make classes so impossible you have to pay big bucks so your child can survive their class? This is a huge conflict of interest epecially in the math dept. Someone should investigate this. Such a travesty!
Submitted by student on February 09, 2015

Carmel High School is a wonderful school, with a great learning environment; with wonderful students, and wonderful teachers. However, the administration is god-awful and my only complaint with the school. If not for them, Carmel would be a definite five, but at the moment its a borderline four and almost a three. That's how bad the administration is, I can't stress how bad they are.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2014

The math department is terrible along with inferior math teachers. If your student isn't a math genius, choose another school.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2014

I moved to Carmel Indiana 28 years ago so that my then 5 year old son could go to Carme school system. This is the best public school in Indiana. I wanted my children to have the most and best opportunities available to them. Carmel school does just that. I now have my 4th child attending Carmel high school as a sophomore this year. Each one of my children have had their own individual experience at school and I have both enjoyed and dredged through the years with each one of them. Even after all these years , I still wouldn't change a thing. I am still very happy AND proud to say that my children attend/ /attended Carmel high school!
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2014

Carmel High School is a Midwestern school that lacks culture, sophistication, and humility. Like many that suffer from hubris the school is unaware that they posses these characteristics. The school is preoccupied with reminding everyone how many State championships they have won and have created a school that fits nicely into their bubble that Carmel is the best place to live in the World. Similar to Washington D.C. this illusion may be beneficial for the very few connected families and the small percentage of kids that will have the opportunity to play sports. The school is so massive that the well connected rise quickly to the top and look down their nose at the rest of the school. Great place to live if you are not concerned with your kid being exposed to culture, diversity, and reality.
Submitted by student on February 01, 2014

I hate this school the students are snobby and teachers are not involved in the class they never explain anything. The school has a very sink or swim mentality. This school is only good if you are rich and from carmel.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2014

Your typical high school, except I'm unbearably large. Yes, they offer a wide variety of classes including a multitude of AP classes, but when the work offered in said classes is at a level so low they students hardly learn anything- not impressed. The only challenges my son faced was getting to class on time and without being bullied. If the average grade in the high school is high, it's because the work is so easy my three year old daughter could do it. Teach my students something.
Submitted by other on December 29, 2013

I am a student at Carmel High School and it's truthfully much worse than people hype it up to be. I have a reasonable GPA, 3.3-3.5 in mostly AP classes. To start off, there are some teachers who are absolutely amazing in every aspect but they're overshadowed by the teachers who have zero talent teaching, I have both types and my grades in those classes reflect that. Carmel does have extremely difficult courses in every department, take that as you will. If your thinking of moving into the area I seriously recommend putting kids in elementary schools first. Carmel tends to get very cliquie and becomes harder to make friends the old you get. If I could, I would move schools instantly. Even thought I get good grades I don't feel like I'm learning anything and fear that I'll be unprepared for higher education.
Submitted by other on June 11, 2013

Carmel High School has a large variety of programs that cater to a student's interest. If a kid is willing to put work into it he can be very successful. I don't think any of the programs are overrated, kids can challenge themselves with AP courses if they wish. There is a college prep division in the administrative department which works with every single student during their junior and senior year. Their performing arts program is one of the best in the state. Many of the kids are pretentious, but that is the parent's fault and it's not something to blame on the school. They have a model principal that cares very much for the students. The discipline system is bureaucratic and careless at times, admittedly. If your child is willing to work hard this is one of the best schools in the country to send them to.
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2012

As the parent of 5 children who have attended Carmel Clay Schools, we moved to Carmel primarily because of the school system and we have not been disappointed. Three of our kids have graduated and gone on to college and we still have 2 students in the system. While the academics are rigorous, our kids found college to be a breeze because they were so well prepared by the Carmel School system. The size of the school was intimidating to me but the kids have all found clubs, organizations and activities that they have participated in which has helped them connect and form great friendships. Our kids aren't all star athletes which has limited their ability to participate on the school athletic teams. Carmel has an incredible level of talent given the large student count. However, we 've found the Carmel Dads Club is a great way for kids to participate in sports. The teachers are highly engaged and committed to the success of their students. Ultimately there are pros and cons in every school system. If parents want their kids prepared for a higher education and a highly competitive job market in the future, you won't find a school system that will do a better job than Carmel.