Smithson Valley High School

14001 Texas 46

School District

Comal Independent
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Comal Independent 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 August 28, 2024

I am extremely pleased with the school. I've never encountered any problems. The teachers are always supportive, and the community and environment are fantastic.
Submitted by parent on May 22, 2024

The teachers at this school are terrible! Especially if they are coaches, they aren't there to teach and could CARE LESS! I saw another review where it states if you aren't a star athlete or in the top 10% of your class you are pushed under the rug, honestly, I could not agree more and I am a PARENT of a kid not in the top 10%. Teaching and coaching jobs should be separate and coaches no forced to teach BECAUSE THEY DON'T!! Send your kids to a school that makes their education a priority not just a number in their stupid metric system.Terrible all around!!!!!!
Submitted by student on May 06, 2024

This is one of the worst schools I have attended and it is my 13 schools I’ve been too this has been the worst one yet. They push you under a rug if you are not the top 10% of your class and they push you under a rug if you’re not an exceptionally good athlete. They do not want to help, I was harassed and stalked by a student at the school and they did absolutely nothing and this year I was physically attacked by another student in the lunchroom and when I reported it, like you are supposed, they did nothing in both cases. The students are some of the rudest and meanest students I have ever make and say racial slurs and sexist jokes and they teachers let them fly with it. I do not feel safe at this school and firmly believe if anything were to happen at the school no one would be prepared. I would give this school 1/5 starts I have never felt so alone, abandoned, forgotten, and harassed at any place in my entire 18 years of life before until we moved here.
Submitted by other on April 17, 2024

sv is a great school but the admin /AP's lacks any sense of moral resposibility when it comes to attacking the issue of bullying. One of the AP's literally made me wait for a whole week to talk to someone about an issue although he was the one who initiated that we would talk asap after we returned from break. then he made me talk to a counsellor as if that was going to solve the issue, after waiting for a whole week to do anything at all just to say he is too busy.. yeah, clearly he is too busy to handle bullying. talk about good priorities! (irony intended). The very same AP has yet to take any form of action or talk to me about the issue at hand, it is sickening .... the ap's are supposed to be anti bullying, rather they advocate and condone this horrible behavior...
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2023

We have had a terrible experience at this school. Our child sat in a class for almost the entire school year with no teacher. Some of the teachers she does have are not licensed teachers. The support from the admin is lacking and new students do not get the support they need. Our student will be going online next year. We have several friends who have also pulled their students to attend online or in different districts. Think twice before sending your children here.
Submitted by student on October 15, 2020

terrible, nothing about this school is done to help students it is all done to keep those that are already on top and naturally gifted above those that are not
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2020

Both of my girls graduated from this school and I can not stress how happy I am with my experience and my girls experience as well. If you are thinking of moving to this area, you will be in good hands.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2020

The worst, my child was bullied because of the way he looks, and shoved into a pit of bad grades and friends. As soon as we moved him away he became the straight A student he was.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2020

SVHS is a good school. They do communicate with parents. My child likes it there and is doing well. It all depends on how much effort your child puts into learning. The teachers are helpful.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2020

Fantastic in every way. I appreciate the communication and the high standards especially the view to the childrens future without losing them today.
Submitted by parent on March 27, 2019

It's been overall awful. We came to this district FOR this school, and have disappointed from day one. The school have virtually no system in place to notify parents of a single thing. Ceremonies, events...all have the same 75 people there because they are the only ones told of anything. There is not way to find out a single thing. Your student is being recognized with an academic achievement? Ok, we will plan a "between class" obligatory ceremony, rush through it, pass out a cookie and you're done. And, also, we'll tell you the night before because we sent a note home with your kid. It's embarrassing and egregious how little this school cares about recognizing students for virtually anything at all. Just look at their social media pages...that should tell you EXACTLY where their interests and focus areas are. My student is in the top 0.5 percent of his class because HE worked hard in SPITE of the lack of direction, consideration or education provided by this school. Please. If you are thinking of moving here for THIS high school...please, please, please think again.
Submitted by student on July 05, 2018

The school looks nice but the teaching is not effective. bullying is under looked. As a student there, I feel uncomfortable and unsafe. I never really learned anything because my teachers were distracted by other students acting out who should of been taking care of.
Submitted by other on August 25, 2016

Many trailer parks with trailer park kids go to this school. Many disciplinary problems that teachers and coaches allow to fester effecting the good students. Avoid this school at all costs.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2016

My daughter is in her first year at West Point and is totally impressed with how well her Chemistry, Calculus and Physics teachers at SVHS prepared her for the US Military Academy. She is outperforming all of her classmates at this time and credits the excellence of the academic programs at SVHS for her success. We have another daughter who is a Junior at Smithson Valley who is maxing her abilities as well. The administration is very professional and responsive. The extracurricular opportunities are the best and the sports programs are literally the best in Texas. We had no clue what we were getting when the military moved us here 10 years ago. But the moment we saw the quality of the teachers and the first text message on my phone when our daughters scored below a 90 on some piece of homework or test we knew we had lucked out.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2015

Smithson Valley High school has been amazing. My son came in new to the area as a freshman. The kids, teachers and programs are all top notch. The facility itself is amazing. The high school provides so many opportunities for kids that everyone should be able to find a group to belong. I have never been so impressed with such a large group of first class teenagers - they are all expected to work hard, concentrate on their studies, be respectful, and give it their best! I could not imagine a better high school environment and am blessed to have landed her for my kids.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2014

For the parent who called the teacher that complained about the school bitter, you need to realize that not everyone is going to have the same experience as you are having, yet they are STILL entitled to their opinion. I know for me personally, the opinion of a teacher who actually works at the school and has a day-to-day perspective on what goes on there is considerably more important to me than the opinion of ONE parent whose child is having no complaints and who probably just drops them off with a wave and a "Make good choices Sweetie!". Staff are usually nice to parents but treat kids differently and how my children are treated is important to me. Also the fact that half the graduating class is failing is VERY important to me as I don't want to set my own children up for failure in a school where attention is not given to the reasons why so many are failing. I also do not wish to send my children to a school where they have to be fearful of their principal and teachers,but instead are directed to focus on their education. We are coming back to Texas from Europe which has really excellent schools. I am so loathing putting them back in the Texas public school system again.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2013

We moved into the Smithson Valley school district a year ago and at first the distance to school and our home seemed overwhelming since the drive is close to 30 minutes. Now it's second nature. My kids are in their second year at SV and love it! Initially, the transition to a new school is hard only because change is tough to deal with but it took my kids about a few days to feel comfortable at their new environment. SV has welcomed my children with open arms and if you ask them if they would be given a choice to move back to their previous school, their answer would be 100% NO!
Submitted by student on October 24, 2013

While by no means a terrible school, I would not consider it one of the best. As a current senior at Smithson Valley High School, I must admit that, while providing generally secure environment, much of the teachers' performances are inconsistent and uninvolved at best; while there are several advanced placement instructors whom try to offer the student quality education and enrich their minds, several others rely merely on handouts and provide limited assistance in the classroom, particularly those teaching regular courses. As has been constantly reiterated by several commenters throughout these reviews, the school does indeed have an excessive focus on athletics and dedicates less time to other activities that may potentially interest the student. Several extracurricular activities are in fact lacking as the school seems to struggle financially and more emphasis is placed on the campus' football team, limiting the surfacing of other activities for the student body. Much of the school is rather cliquish and close-knit as well, comprised mostly of students whom have known each other for several long years and seem unwelcoming of newcomers who can't seem to merge with the group.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2013

We recently moved here. When I registered my child, everyone seemed helpful and friendly. When my child started school, he received no guidance, no support and went through the first few days being ignored by students and staff. He didn't even eat due to how uncomfortable he felt. I have called the counselor multiple times and left messages, but she hasn't returned my calls. My son doesn't want to finish the year here. I am looking into other options or may consider homeschool. This school does not welcome newcomers.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2013

Smithson Valley Great school for Teachers and Parent involvement. A great community to live in.