Wando High School

1000 Warrior Way

School District

Charleston 01
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Charleston 01 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 parent on October 21, 2024

I have had two kids go through Wando High School. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this school. Admin is amazing. They are always willing to meet with kids and /or staff to answer questions or concerns. Our experience with the school counselors has always been great. Our counselor makes suggestions specific to both my kid's interests and academic level. The school sponsors a ton of clubs and kids can always start a new club if they are interested in doing so. My kids took classes ranging from CP to AP and everything in between. They do not force your kids into one "track". My kids were both athletes and we have been happy with the coaches they have had as well. The band, chorus, orchestra, theatre dept and art department are also impressive. Student Government has grown a lot in the last few years so many kids can participate. Don't let the size of the student body concern you. The staff do a great job making the school seem much smaller than it is.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2024

I have had 3 kids graduate from here. They were all more than ready for college so classes or not. You can graduate with a year + of college credit. If you are not college bound, you are still set up to succeed with skills like automotive, cosmetology, culinary, pharmacy tech, and more.Parent / teacher communication is great. I just can’t recommend Wando enough.
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2024

We have several children who have all had a wonderful experience at Wando! The education was top notch and the opportunities are limitless. Our two oldest graduated with YEARS of college credit. Also as mom of a minority student we found Wando to be totally inclusive. So grateful for such an amazing school and community!
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2023

Students at this school are openly racist and homophobic. Administration is absolutely horrible. No one (admin, staff, principal, etc) actually cares about your student unless you've made them look good somehow. Homeschool your children instead, I recommend looking at K¹² Online School.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2022

Excellent experience so far with our daughter who is in 10th grade.
Submitted by student on October 26, 2022

this is my first year at wando and so far it’s been terrible. if you aren’t in ap course or an athlete you’re basically a nobody here. i’m not weird or a nerd in the slightest but i’ve found it really hard to make friends here just because everyone already has their own cliques. before i went to this school i kept mostly a’s and a few b’s on my report card. since being here i have a 63 in one class and a 72 in another. my highest grade being an 85. now i’ll have a lot more trouble getting into usc :) thank you wando.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2021

My kids were very well prepared for the elite college they attend.
Submitted by other on November 20, 2019

Exceptional experience where Wando well prepares their students for higher education institutes.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2019

Amazing school. Wonderful opportunities however it is a very large school and students need to self advocate.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2019

Some teachers are good but some are just plain horrible. It seems we have experienced more of the horrible ones than the good ones. Some may read this and think it is the student's fault. We had to move to Mt. Pleasant due to my job relocating during the summer of the students Junior year and we did not have any of these issues with the other school.
Submitted by student on December 18, 2018

my experience at wando was great. I love that school so much. Wando knows how to deal with students who passed.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2017

excellent school! I had my children in private schools and switched to Wando, when my oldest was a Junior. I would pay private tuition for this education.
Submitted by student on August 01, 2017

My experience with Wando High School has been awful. I am a Junior Cadet in Wando's JROTC and not only does the school try and ruin a program that's been around longer than most of its staff, but also shuns us. Our Raider Team recently became National Champions and not only did they not recognize our NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP title but they neglect awards we receive. Also, when it comes to scheduling they made it so hard for me to retake JROTC for my third year. Not only did they not sign me up for it but they have ruined several JROTC Cadet's schedules and just expect instructors to "fix it because it's their problem." When the school shuns a program just for existing it really affects the kids, a lot of kids feel their hard work doesn't get recognized. A Cadet can place 1st at a competition but they school won't recognize them but they will recognize a sport team for just playing a game or the band for just practicing. Wando doesn't care for all their program nor do they care for all their students. Going here for only TWO years has made me want to transfer else where. When a school only focuses on and gives support to sports and band, it's hard to do anything else. It ruins moral and it needs to be fixed. Wando's administrators need to fix themselves before i take this to a higher authority.
Submitted by parent on May 26, 2016

Great School! Full of so many choices! So much diversity! Great for the ninthe gradrers coming in.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2016

Both of my sons have attended Wando HS, and I could not be more satisfied with their education! Yes, the school is BIG, but there are advantages to a big school. My sons have had, almost without exception, excellent teachers that they've enjoyed. They have gotten a great education and my older son, between academics and music, has earned a FULL RIDE to USC. Also, I cannot recommend the band program highly enough. Yes, it is somewhat expensive, but the experiences my sons have had will last a lifetimes and have enriched them far beyond music alone. I really cannot say enough about the school. If you and your kids explore all it has to offer, there is very little chance you would come away unimpressed.
Submitted by parent on March 11, 2015

Being a parent of a senior at Wando High School, I am completely unsatisfied with the school. If my child is home sick and I write a note to the attendance office, they will not accept that as an "excused" absence. For instance, knowing that my daughter has a fever, I give her permission to stay at home and by doing that I am adding on to her unexcused absences. I don't think I should be put into the position where I have to pay money for a doctor to tell me that, yes she is sick. She has now seat time and her parking spot got taken away. With a job that she has right after school, she know can't proceed with that. Wando needs to get their rules and regulations together and stop punishing our kids. They have a freedom of speech as well as we do.
Submitted by parent on November 30, 2014

Wando is simply too big. The children are numbers and the teachers don't know all of their students by name. If your child is a high achiever and in the top 10%, they may shine at Wando. But for the average child, they just get lost. It sometimes takes weeks to see a guidance counselor, and the children are seen as guilty until proven innocent. It is a shame and is sad to watch. Our children need to shine and feel good about themselves, and it just doesn't happen here. Mount Pleasant is too big for just one High School. Very disappointing that we have let this happen to our children.
Submitted by student on September 04, 2014

This school is not only huge and uncomfortable abut also very bias and solely focused on sports. They offer very little in the arts and academics department, yet what they do offer is the bare minimum, chorus, theater etc.... not much else. The teachers lack spirt and you can tell, as well as the students who want to learn but often do not. There however some diamonds in the rough, i am calling out Ms.McDonald a fabulous psychology teacher and Coach Corrning a great American History and Sociology teacher. Both genuinely care and want to be there and enjoy the company of there students.
Submitted by student on January 25, 2014

Wando is a fantastic school. Having been in a very small school for nine years, I felt that I would be uncomfortable with the size adjustment. But the faculty and staff members are the best, much better than I saw in any other high school that I visited. My mother went to Wando when she was in high school, and it's great features haven't changed. Yes, it can be difficult to navigate and can be tough during class changes, but you really do meet someone new every day. It is a great environment full of people who want to help with any problems you might have, and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2013

Simply the best high school I've ever seen! Wando is an outstanding school in a state that's traditionally struggled to produce great public education. Its faculty, administrators and support staff are wonderful, concerned and focused on promoting excellence always. Yes, it's a big school - a very big school - but therein lies the opportunity for so many students. I've had two children at Wando, both of whom found their niches and have had marvelous experiences there. (My younger son, who loathed sitting still in class, has a straight-A average in his first semester at Wando and is doing terrifically on all levels there.) The amount of extra opportunity available - both during and after school - is a result of the large population - and having students majoring in an area with college-level courses (business, health sciences, pre-engineering and others) puts them way ahead of their peers at other schools. Their extracurricular programs range from cooking to sports to robotics to ROTC and more. I can't say enough about this school and am thrilled that my children are fortunate enough to attend.