Sanderson High

5500 Dixon Drive

School District

Wake County
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Wake County 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 December 16, 2024

Both of my children graduated from Sanderson, High School. As a single mother, raising them without a whole lot of family support. I will encourage anyone in that situation to Reach Out. Do not be embarassed, or feel shamed. It is very important when we parents are raising or children, especially when they are High Schoolers to be fully involved. The experience they both had at Sanderson, was different but good. They would have been amazing athletes, but me the mother should have made it that way. I will never forget when my Son graduated, it was after Covid, but the learning was during Covid. It was a tough time, but the Math Teacher was a blessing! There was another amazing woman, who I reached out to, and she helped! My daughter graduated a year and a half later. She was about five months pregnant at the time, but let me tell yall this.Not one teacher made her feel embarassed, or ashamed. A teacher even made sure her name was pronounced correctly at the graduation practice, and at graduation her name was said perfectly! Some teachers knew my daughter was pregnant, others did not, and no one Shamed her!!!In fact, one teacher encouraged her as I did, that she was going to Graduate. Dropping out of High School was never a thought that crossed my daughter's mind, I was not going for that, No Can Do. Some Single moms please stop being WORKAHOLICS like I was, and be totally intuned to your children!!!!!In High School, the children need the parents even more! Yes, they need the parents to talk with guidance counselors, teachers, etc. Do Not Assume, just because your child is a High Schooler, they are just so independent, they need you LESS. That is a LIE! Parents please do not Lazy Parent, no excuses! Get involved with thy children while they are in High School! II was a workaholic, and thought my children needed me less while they were in High School! Network with other Parents, do not just sit on the sidelines while thy children try to figure it out! High School can be a really positive experience, but it is also up to the PARENTS!!!! Do not depend on the teachers to do it ALONE! Sanderson is a great High School, with quality teachers! It is not a Bad School at All do not listen to LiesThe school has so many wonderful activities the children can participate in, but Parents you must get involved! Children need to know what they are going to do after High School, by the time they are at least 15 or 16 years old.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2023

My daughter is in her 9th grade and doing well at Sanderson HS. Sanderson HS provides many opportunities to get involved with sports and clubs. Her teachers have been positive and helpful. Her coaches have also been encouraging and supportive and provided a lot of guidance as she is just beginning high school. She is being challenged academically and growing socially and athletically!
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2020

Looking back, Sanderson was the perfect high school for my kid. The size kept things manageable without them being lost in a sea of faces. Teachers reached out at critical times.,My kid was not a genius nor high enough to be a junior Marshall BUT the preparation in the honors and AP courses prepared them so well they got accepted into all universities applied to and is performing at the highest rank possible as freshman in top tier school! The Academy of Finance is a hidden treasure in terms of preparing the child for real life exposure to computer programs, budgeting and business courses in college. Now they are a full year ahead of people in the business school already with a great resume. Sanderson was small enough to accommodate a lot of kids who might not have played at larger schools in the athletics arena. Special needs kids were treated to a wonderful club students volunteered in to make them feel special. The rankings do not take into account the high number of disadvantaged students who go to Sanderson but who make it a great place to learn about different populations in the real world. College was a seamless transition for my kid because they were at a school where the focus was not on rich kids driving up in fancy cars. The “relaxed” casual vibe meant kids were dressed fairly simply and They could bust it in the APhonors courses or find niches in ROTC or drama etc. Just ask admissions counselors how well they have taken to Sanderson students ;) I feel strongly that “education“ should include developing interpersonal skills with different types of people. The environment at Sanderson cultivates this because it is so eclectic and I appreciated growth opportunities that exposure to immigrants, etc. provided us. The parents involved in the school deeply cared and made significant contributions. It is a public school and cannot be expected to have unlimited resources nor enough counselors for the need but while my kid was there and Dr. Decker was the principal for the most part kids were manageable and had whatever opportunities they chose to take advantage of right before them.I’m always shocked that SandersonHS is not ranked higher given the success rate I have seen. Sad. One more thing... Every school has its cliques but at S it didn’t seem to be the driving part of the culture. Walk the halls and you’ll see wide diversity is accepted as normal.
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2018

I have 2 kids at Sanderson and they have enjoyed their high school experience and I have been very impressed with the majority of the teachers.
Submitted by other on October 19, 2014

Sanderson has very caring and dedicated teachers. The level of support available to students is huge. They focus on student success and are constantly looking for opportunities to get better. Scheduling was much better this year. Great school!
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2014

Sanderson has been wonderful for my son. It's a very nurturing environment. The administration and staff are fantastic!
Submitted by student on September 12, 2013

This school works against you every step of the way. Before I graduated, I married an United States Sailor and changed my last name. The office women put me down and paraded my marriage certificate around, asking for people's opinions on me marrying so young and always asking me when I was due. I was never pregnant. I graduated in the top 15% and also from the North Carolina School of Science and Math Online. Sanderson refused to let me wear my metal from the School of Science and Math without giving me a real reason. We couldn't throw our caps at graduation or anything traditional. DO NOT make your children go here, it will be the worst mistake you will ever make.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2013

This school has gone downhill fast. This year (2013-2014), the scheduling and student services staff have done an AWFUL job in preparing for a switch to a new system. NONE of the other area high schools had problems. Students received their schedules weeks before school started. Sanderson had the students pick up their schedules on a "walk around" day a few days prior to school starting. The schedules were ALL messed up. Holes in schedules, random classes, no upperclassman priority on getting in a class to graduate. It's been absolutely terrible and the principal and staff should be ashamed. Worst communication ever. DO NOT COME TO THIS SCHOOL. Find another option. It's abysmal and getting worse by the year. As far as the teachers, there are a few good ones, but MOST of them are just mediocre. Even in some of the honors classes you have some people just phoning it in. The Math curriculum is dreadful and getting worse with Common Core. They haven't spent the time to train the teachers so the classes aren't as available esp. for Honors students. It's a real shame. There is so much potential but it is being completely obliterated by some really incompetent people.
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2012

I LD child who attend Sanderson. He has done very very well there. Everyone from the Administration to his IEP team to his classroom teachers have always helped him to succeed. He is a proud AFROTC cadet. This Program is excellant. It has won the distinguished unit award every year for the past 8 years. I definitely would NOT send my son to any other school. Sanderson is also ranked nationally as one of the best high schools in the nation!!! Go check it out and you will understand why
Submitted by other on September 19, 2012

Sanderson is a well kept secret. It s not inside the beltline so it doesn t get the recognition that Broughton does. It is a great school and it has a family feeling. It s has an inclusive attitude for all the students who are there to learn. There are several programs designed to help students. They have a fantastic AFJROTC program with instructors who are dedicated to helping students get prepared for life after high school, whether it s community college, college, trade school etc. If you have the opportunity to go to Sanderson I recommend it and you should check out AFJROTC!!!!!
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2012

Trying to get back into the Sanderson school district because I love the Special Education services that my now junior has been receiving. I totally agree that Sanderson is Raleigh's best kept secret. I would not want my child to be enrolled anyplace else.
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2012

I have had one student graduate from Sanderson...doing great in college. He was definitely prepared for the rigors of college classes. Have another son that is currently a junior. Wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Great coaches, teachers and administration.
Submitted by parent on January 08, 2012

Sanderson is truly the best kept secret in Raleigh. Excellent teachers, rigorous academics, strong administration, and a real sense of community. Sanderson has very high test scores and success in the university system. We've had two children attend Sanderson and we would not choose any other high school. Our third will go next year. Excellent school!!