Mandeville High School

Skipper Drive

School District

St. Tammany Parish
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

School Map for St. Tammany Parish School District

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 other on January 04, 2025

I'm an alumni, and I can tell you that my experience with the staff was by-and-large was awful. During my senior year, I was in numerous arguments with my guidance counselor about courses I needed/wanted to take. Example: I was a creative writer, and when I asked her if I could join the 6th hour Creative Writing Course, she advised me against it, saying I should just take the final two hours of the last semester off. When I told her that I really wanted to take the course, she kept giving me pushback. Then she said I would need to schedule a 5th hour in order to take the 6th hour course, and that there were no courses she would advise me taking. So I went to the teacher of the Creative Writing course, and asked her what I could do. She told me I could jump in as her assistant for 5th hour, and then could pop into the 6th hour writing course. I got written permission from the teacher, and brought it to the guidance counselor. She was furious. And for what? Because I took initiative and showed interest in my education? At some point, my mother asked to meet with the counselor, to which she told my mother "your son should consider a trade school because he isn't college material." Really. From a faculty member. At that point, when I tried to approach administration to get a new guidance counselor, they weren't helpful or forthcoming with that information. Luckily, my friend's mom was a guidance counselor there, and when my friend (whom was working in the guidance office as an assistant) heard some of the arguments, asked her mother she could be my new counselor. She agreed, and I got to take my creative writing class with no love lost. Flash forward: though I wasn't "college material", I went to college and graduated with a degree in English. And while in college, I made friends and mentors with the faculty and was invited to attend graduate school for free under a Graduate Assistantship, where I received my Master's in (guess what?) Creative Writing. In addition, there were a few teachers who weren't up to snuff, including a math teacher whom would get visibly frustrated when students asked questions because they didn't understand the material. We just stopped asking the teacher questions and instead would ask other students for help. It was ridiculous. I know the ratings for this school are high, but from what I've read, things have become worse. As a parent, I would take an active role in insuring my child was being properly guided at MHS.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2021

First things first, I graduated with the class of 2020, so I just want to say that nothing I write is out of spite for the fact that we graduated on a bad note. This school truly is a toxic nightmare. MHS completely changed my parents’ perspective on Mandeville as a town in general. You would think that, in a wealthy-ish, suburban town, the high school would be full of classy and well kept kids. MHS students are anything but. All four years there, we had major drug issues, and I mean MAJOR drug issues. The administration is also a tragic situation. An incompetent principal (Bruce Bundy) who has been there forever, and unfit security personnel. The only good thing about MHS is that violence was very minimal (no more than 5 fights a year), but other than that, this school needs to go.
Submitted by other on June 09, 2021

The teachers are very hit or miss here, and I’ve had a few amazing teachers, but unfortunately a lot of the administration is rather selfish. This school also has a large issue with drugs and vaping. Kids will secretly vape under their desks while the teacher looks away or go into the bathroom and take some pills. It’s a huge problem that I saw very often. I watched quite a lot of my friends from before high school become addicted to drugs due to peer pressure from a few of the older peers here. If you do send your child here, please be careful.
Submitted by parent on November 05, 2019

My experience at the school has been great.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2016

Good staff, well organized, kids are good, few behavior problems, most of the teachers are really good. Lots of extracurricular and club activities. It is safe and my son feels comfortable going to school each day.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2016

I love this school. I have gone to the school every day to pick up my child and I've seen the staff interact with the children. Overall, almost every staff member is polite, kind and helpful, even when they are correcting the children. The front office staff and administration are exceptionally caring and concerned with the children. The principal is good at de-escalating situations before they get out of hand. From what I've seen and in dealing with him directly about my child, he is primarily concerned with the students well being. I can't say enough good things about this school!!!
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2016

It doesn't get better than MHS! The administration is kind, caring and compassionate for each student, regardless of challenges or needs. I've had one graduate, one getting ready to graduate and one still there, all with different needs and requirements and feel they are all being met. As any school does these days, they are challenged with extensive growth. Despite those challenges, this school perseveres. Principal Bundy does an outstanding job at the helm as the lead Skipper!
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2015

I have had three children graduate from Mandeville High School, and all three of them had a wonderful experience. The teachers and administrators care about the students. All three of my children did well on their ACTs and got their first pick of colleges. With all the clubs, organizations and sports teams, Mandeville High has a place for every student to fit in and thrive!
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2014

The top rated public high school in Louisiana. My child received an excellent education here and because of MHS high rating could go anywhere he wanted to go. Obviously lots of people here don't like the Principal Bruce Bundy who has been there forever and will probably retire soon. True he is more interested in the football team than anything else, [for some reason school boards seem to think that ex-jocks make good principals - what a fallacy!] but actually the place is really run by Vice Principal Kellie who is a fabulous administrator. The other big complaint that people seem to have on this board is that Bundy et al enforce the dress code too strictly! Personally, I appreciated that. The kids don't look like a bunch of heathens. The academics are first rate and there are so many extra-curricular organization that no matter what your child's interests, there is a place where they will "fit in". I found the teachers were commendable in their knowledge of each student. My son was in band and the emphasis on training, teamwork and leadership was outstanding and continued through several different band leaders. A great experience.
Submitted by parent on August 10, 2014

Weak leadership from Bruce Bundy, office staff is there just for the paycheck - rude on the phone, ignore parents and students when in the Student Services office. Teachers are good and know the material, however, they should focus on teaching instead of pointing out petty, teenage behavior like MINOR dress code infractions and silly/harmless behavior. The students find this teacher behavior to be distracting and lose respect for the teacher. Teachers and leadership need to remember that are in the business of children and rise above their egos. This would set a much better example for the kids.
Submitted by other on February 25, 2014

As a former student of Mandeville high, I will say the Mandeville's academics are strong and you can learn easily here. However there is one problem I must point out. The administration is too heavily focused on dress code than anything else. I encountered several students with an attitude that could only be described as "snobby". The principals are so focused on whether or not you are wearing your ID card that they often miss several other offenses going on at school. But the number of good students outnumbers the bad. Overall, Mandeville is a good school and is certainly to be considered if you are going to live in this area.
Submitted by other on June 17, 2013

I love how Bruce Bundy clearly tried to redeem himself by making a post by a "parent". I did not post those other posts, but did come across them when searching for an alumni association, and I couldn't help but agree with that person's post. Not only that, I was appalled by the clear attempt for Bruce to act like a parent on this website. It's quite obvious that's what happened. I graduated from MHS a few years ago, was EXTREMELY involved, on the nationally ranked Spinnakers dance team, a class officer, made a 34 on the ACT, went to a top rated college, already have a master's degree, and was just accepted to a top law school, and I can say that none of my success can be attributed to Mandeville High. Bruce Bundy is a TERRIBLE principal, and I can totally agree with the former posts. I have heard of some horrible things that have happened at that school lately, and they all point back to Bruce Bundy. Kelley Brondum is the best adminstrator there, someone should make her principal, and I think the school would improve vastly. Until then though, DO NOT send your children here. --an extremely successful, very involved, accomplished, yet extremely disappointed, former Skipper
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2013

This is an outstanding school. The faculty is supportive and motivates the student body to succeed. My son scored a 27 on the ACT as a sophomore - enough said. There are so many diversified activities to engage any student in becoming involved with their own education and growth. If your child cannot do well here - you cannot blame this school. It just might not be a good fit and your child may need more structure and more parental involvement.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2013

The three posts made in quick succession in May of 2013 all rating MHS as a 1-star school probably have a common author who seems motivated by a vendetta against Mandeville High school principal Bruce Bundy. In fact, MHS is an academically superior school rated by the state of Louisiana as the #25 school out of more than 1300 in the state. Sure, some teachers are better than others, as in any school, but for the most part teachers and administrators alike are doing a good job. My daughter will graduate next year, and most of her friends in the class of 2013 were accepted into their first choice colleges. There are a wide range of extracurricular activities, the schools athletic teams are generally successful, and there is an overall friendly and caring atmosphere at the school.
Submitted by other on May 08, 2013

Horrible, horrible principal. Bruce Bundy's only goal seems to be to ruin successful students. He only cares about himself and his reputation, and he is willing to throw any student under the bus in order to do so. I recommend that no one else send their children here, not with the plenty of other affordable private schools opening in the area. Do yourself a favor and seek out other schooling options if you live in the Mandeville High district.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2013

Mandeville High School There aren't enough textbooks for the students. Some students were told they could buy their textbook online because they couldn't take it home. Generally speaking, the students aren't prepared for the ACT exam or for college. They do offer AP classes, at the students/parents expense; which is confusing since they get money and points for offering these classes and having the students do well. They only offer 1 ACT prep class a year. My daughter has been on the honor since 9th grade, taking Honors and AP classes, but was not able to make over a 20 on the ACT. I was told private tutoring was available and well as classes for $1000. Yet, the school was able to build a soccer field this year. Academics are obviously not a priority at this school anymore. Graduation is so unorganized. There are over 400 students graduating and they were told there was only a time frame of 1.5 hours to pick up all their graduation supplies. The lack of organisation and poor management are evident. If I had another child, they would not be going to Mandeville High School. It has taken a definitive nose dive since Katrina.
Submitted by other on September 24, 2012

As of this year 2012-2013, this school has gone downhill. One of the main problems with this school is how overcrowded it is. No longer can Mandeville High brag about its small student body in comparison to its counter Fontainbleu High. The population get larger and larger every year as freshmen pour in and kids are forced to push through the main hallway like cattle. As a student here, I cannot express enough how crowded it is in the halls and how ridiculous it is that nobody do any action! Instead of focusing on either expanding the school or building a Madisonville High for a great number of students who live there, Mandeville High puts more money and focus into their sports and reputation. All the encouragement I ever got out of this school was to donate $$. This year they are particularly bad about class fees and such but the fact that they're now allowing current Juniors to take a free ACT just tops it all off. Take my advice: send your kid to Lakeshore High. This institution is much bigger, has a smaller student body, and is more focused on the quality of your student's education. Class of 2013 student.