Pinkerton Academy

5 Pinkerton St

Derry, NH 03038

11 Reviews

School District

Pinkerton Academy
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

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Reviews

Submitted by student on August 10, 2023

Pinkerton has a lot of classes that benefit for future careers. I feel like Pinkerton should do better on lunches though, sometimes the chicken fingers are purple and grey and have little to no taste. Pinkerton should also have more assemblies and grade activities to help students get to know each other better!
Submitted by other on December 17, 2018

The size readies students for college and also makes bullying and "cliques" almost non-existent. The AP classes are great and offered widely. They even have specialty programs fro various career fields which is unique and offers the ability for students to test the waters before making a 4-year decision based on little to no experience in a specific curriculum.
Submitted by other on December 15, 2015

I graduated from PA nine years ago, so my experience may be obsolete at this point. However, I just wanted to address a few things. Yes, Pinkerton is a big school; this means that they can provide lots of different classes, clubs, and sports. It really is like a college campus and, with about 3,000 students, it's about the same size of a small liberal arts college. At least in the mid-2000s, all the classes were stratified by learning level. The people I graduated with in the honors and AP classes are all doing amazing things now. I went to UNH for my undergraduate degree and I can honestly say that Pinkerton's A-level/honors courses had greater rigor than the majority of the college classes there. Even in graduate school, I still use a lot of what I learned in those four years. However, the stratified class system meant that kids in one level often didn't mix with the kids of another level, except in places like art and band. I always got the feeling that those in C classes became a little stuck there, surrounded by unmotivated troublemakers that certainly didn't help create a learning atmosphere. Being in all A classes, there was a different issue...never feeling good enough among all the other high performers. I also made life-long friends, many of whom I still see. I met my husband in band and I can count at least four other Pinkerton-high-school-sweetheart marriages.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2015

As a Derry resident of nearly 40 years, I have seen and been involved with 4+ generations of PA students. PA is overrated and over priced. They are living off their reputation from pre-80s. In a federal report of 5000 high schools countrywide, highest rating is 100, PA scored 48. That is a FLUNKING grade and describes what PA is today. Other smaller NH towns with less costly and more concentrated education, got much higher ratings. Sure some kids out of the 3100 will be treated well at PA, ie sports and outgoing kids mostly. However, the majority will get a mediocre education and basically just moved through the system. When my daughters attended PA, there were over 4k students. Most of the students are from Derry. Now we have an alternative to PA and the attendance is down at PA as those lucky enough to get into the alternative school has been increasing. I sure wish it had been around when my girls were in HS. One had health issues and missed a lot of time her jr year. PA picked a teacher to tutor her during the summer. The 'teacher' handed me the packet of material for ME to teach my daughter as she, the 'teacher', was away for the summer and PA knew it. Case of being paid for work not done and providing the 'teacher' a summer income. I had to fight to get another tutor. In spite of PA, my daughter graduated with GPA 3.75. In college she graduated summa cum laude.. no thanks to PA in the least. All PA did was get her through the system so they could claim a graduate. PA also has one of the highest drop out rates in the country. There are some good teachers and some worthwhile classes. Unfortunately, there are plenty of bad teachers and ridiculous classes which appeal to kids and are useless in the real world. Too many 'graduates' can't read, write, do basic math, or know history. Those commenting positively on PA haven't been around PA/Derry very long, have a student who is popular or into sports, or attended PA in the good ole days when the concentration was on education not finances.
Submitted by other on July 09, 2015

Pinkerton offers a lot of choices and opportunities, and I regret not taking advantage of that and being more involved. Because it is more independent than other high schools, it has a lot of freedom with changing education in a good way. The entire school is moving away from worksheets and memorization to project and skill based learning. Out of the 7 teachers I had this year, all were very good. Guidance is also very supportive. It is a great school overall, and I consider myself lucky because many students can't say that about their school.
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2015

Our family relocated here this year. We have a senior who transferred into Pinkerton Academy. Our experience has been very good so far and I would recommend this school. The teachers and guidance counselors are quick to respond to questions and my student likes all the teachers. They are fair, consistent and encourage my student to be challenged and learn. This will be a good final year before higher education. The campus is very nice and it gives students a glimpse of what they will do when they head to college (running from building to building to get to their classes:) As many school administrations today, it doesn t always seem like they are working with the parents to the level they should/could be, however, my hope is that all school districts will remember that when a great learning climate is created and it extends out beyond the walls of the classroom, into the community, majority rules and parents will rave about their students' school!
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2014

PA has been resting on its laurels for too long. It is not an Academy, just another high school. It is run by a group who do not accept inputs from the community and whose concerns in descending order (and in wrong direction) seem to be: 1. Maintaining legacy; 2. Building development; 3. Student s future educational success. For such a large school, it rarely is noted for academics, taking a back seat to sports. NECAP results prove that it is an average high school. In academic comparison to other high schools, it does not seem to be on par. There are good/great dedicated teachers at PA? Some are incredibly committed to their students and their profession. Also on a positive note, it is a fairly safe school. Because PA is such a large school it has needed to support the majority of student needs. It does not do well with marginal students either with lower or higher skill sets. If the goal of high schools is transition to higher education . I d give PA a C . Good, average. PA s shotgun approach of trying to be everything to everyone by developing skills in everything from dog grooming and the trades to a general education lessen it's legacy.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

Pinkerton Academy is a wonderful school, my child has Autism Spectrum Disorder and the Counselors, Teachers and Special Ed has been very supportive. They have provided me with information, sends me weekly progress reports. Just because it is a large school, every child is treated as an individual and is acknowledged by staff. The staff motivates the students to be their best and succesed at school and at life. This school has a wonderful reputation, many families move to this town because of this school. I attended this school and every year it gets better, they are there for the kids and many people have stayed in this town for this school, I hope that more generations of family members of mine and others do the same, the only complaint I have is there is not enough parking.
Submitted by other on July 21, 2013

My mom graduated from here and moved back to NH Sotho my brothers and I could go here. The school may be large and seem more like a college campus but the wide variety of classes, languages and sports it has to offers can't compare to the average high school. I no longer live in NH but would love to go back so thy my children can have the same opportunity to graduate from PA. This school prepared me for collage and I think can prepare students for the demands of the "real world". This isn't a school to just slip by there are high expectations and so there should be if you want your child to succeed. PA is in my opinion on of the best public high schools if not the best. (A private school education)
Submitted by student on November 12, 2012

i droped out of pinkerton the teachers are all burnt out from working their so long they dont care if you fail and will not help you unless told to if you dont comprehend what to do they dont care they will watch you fail, i also attended haverhill highschool in massachusets it is nowhere as hard as pinkerton they expect much more of you than any other highschool because they are conviced with their history they are better than any other,i know you will not agree majority because you went their in the 70's and it was middle school level compared to todays standard they have much more money than they should be supplied with they build new buildings all the time and do nothing for their appauling dropout rate,derry nh should build another alternative highschool,3000+ kids is far to much for a highschool to keep in check let alone educate.
Submitted by parent on May 30, 2012

Generally, PA is great. However the school has a lacking math department and seems a lot of money is spent on the lower level kids and new buildings instead of academics. That said, they love it there and they honestly offer more classes in anywhere else period. I fell that for a school of PA's size the dress code is a little lacking and you can see lots of revealing girls and guys. Since Pinkerton is technically an academy, it should at least do a code like polos and khakis or even better a button up shirt and tie. I fell it would improve the environment considerably.