Communications High School

1740 NEW BEDFORD ROAD

School District

Monmouth County Vocational
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Monmouth County Vocational 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 April 18, 2021

The school is designed for students with vocational interests in communications of all kinds, including art, radio, television, print, and computing. All of these programs are absolutely outstanding. Their students win external awards every year. They have an all-honors curriculum and everyone is challenged. There are very limited AP courses available, but what there is, is top notch. Their science curriculum is excellent - no kid left behind. Everyone learns, everyone is challenged. Math is strong and if a student needs more advanced work there are options, including the local community college, for which their curriculum is an excellent preparation. Students are admitted to highly selective colleges and universities. The faculty range between good and excellent, and the principal runs the school well. My only criticisms are (1) language arts is a little uneven and needs better consistency with more reading and writing, (2) their history courses are really not very good and the faculty need to rework and rethink what they are doing and how they are doing it, and (3) the school is not very diverse and it would be good to address that more effectively. Some have written about social aspects. My kids who attended this school all made good friends and found themselves in a positive environment without bullying, and the social environment was SO. MUCH. BETTER. than if they'd gone to our local public school. Negative social scenes can happen, though, and when a school is this small and is a "commuter school" from all over the county, it can be hard for some teens to find their people. I think the answer for that is for kids to get involved. They have a very active community service club that does a lot of fun and important work, for example.
Submitted by other on March 09, 2021

I was part of the second graduating class of Communications High School and I highly recommend this school and still have fond memories of most of my teachers who I feel had more of an impact on my life than my college professors. It was a unique experience that helped me grow as an individual in both skills and knowledge, but you have to be interested in learning more tailored subjects and applying your time to the offerings. As for fellow students - I made more lifetime "acquaintances" over "best friends" which doesn't necessarily bother me at all, because we cross tens of thousands of people over our lifetime and it doesn't mean I have to find the closest friends in 200-300 students. If you're luckier than me, kudos.The only pitfall of the whole experience is the size of the school, because that leads to group dynamics in kids. I have read other reviews that show that this is still happening, but I do not think this should be a detractor from a decision to attend. There is plenty of time in life later on to find a boyfriend/girlfriend and/or finding a belonging in some group. It doesn't mean the school is bad, it just means you haven't found people you resonate with, which is 100% related to the individual and sample size - plus the general expansion of humanity and choice must make this more complicated over time.Had a lot of fun times here like playing foosball in the lunch room with peers and faculty, CHS color wars (if that's still a thing), making and editing videos, creating graphics, and all kinds of awesome and progressive stuff. High school should be about learning and this school excelled in all areas around that mentality and looks like it still does.
Submitted by other on February 06, 2017

The acedemics are great but of you aren't rich, emo, or a have a specific personality trait people like, you won't find many friends. The principal us awful and the administration is too.
Submitted by student on January 03, 2016

Academically, this is an amazing school. Every class is taught at an honors level except for the 1 or 2 AP classes that are offered. If AP classes are what you're looking for, this isn't the school for you. There is a significant amount of stress being placed on you at any given moment that is caused by your intense classes and the pressure to get good grades and have a high GPA. However, the teachers know that the students that go to CHS all have a pretty high amount of stress and are considerate during the hardest times of the year: mid-terms, finals, Mondays. There are a few odd teachers who everyone hates but for the most part the teachers are very nice.What's the deal-breaker for me, however, is the students. There are a few different type of people who go to this school and if you don't fit into one of these groups, you won't be very happy at CHS.1. The Entitled Kids- usually rich, pretty, think they're better than you, most of them are sort of weird, they seem to enjoy being at CHS the most because they walk all over the teachers (the teachers just let them interrupt class for no reason), these are the "popular kids" of CHS even though literally everyone hates them2. Emos- you know who you are, there's a lot of them here3. Just odd people in generalI personally fit in at a normal school but at CHS, I'm basically an outcast. I only have a few friends who also don't fit in very well. I kind of wish I never applied because I had the option of going to a school that I would have liked better but now I'm stuck here. Also there are so many girls and around 20 guys in my grade so my chances of getting a boyfriend are 0.If you think of yourself as a normal person, don't go here. This school has been nothing but a burden on my life. I remember being so excited to come here in freshman year but I don't think the extra stress in my daily life is really worth it.
Submitted by parent on April 21, 2015

The school's administration is a complete disaster. Their priorities are drastically misaligned. Communications is supposed to be catering to students with creative, independent minds yet the principal's hypocritical beliefs, contradicting actions and improper use of power makes it incredibly hard for such students to excel.
Submitted by student on October 11, 2014

I am about to graduate as Communications High School's third Design Academy class. DA is a vocational program for sophomores going into their junior year that are interested in art. Being a senior, we feel as though it's our duty to inform incoming juniors as well as incoming freshman. This school is the most amazing, academic driven, socially accepting school I've had the pleasure of stepping foot into. Everyone here, students as well as teachers, is so welcoming and willing to help with any questions you may have. As far as CHS being socially awkward, I've yet to witness a student with less than five good friends here. Students are so outgoing to are eager to make new friends, so don't worry if you're the new kid. That title won't last long. I remember the first day of school, a Thursday actually, I sat with the senior Design Academy kids as they taught us the ropes. By the next day, no one wanted to leave for the weekend. CHS became our home away from home and I'm truly sad to graduate but this school helped me prepare for the outside world. Go to Communications and I promise you won't regret a thing. :)
Submitted by student on June 22, 2013

I am a recent graduate of Communications High School. All I can say is that CHS was the perfect high school for me. The all-honors classes were challenging, but the project-heavy curriculum and engaging teachers made them interesting and fun. Clubs at CHS are very important, and everyone is involved in them it is not "uncool" or "nerdy" to be in them. I read in a previous post that most CHS students are "antisocial." This couldn't be further from the truth; maybe in its first years CHS attracted more... intelligence-centered students, but I have found that the past few years' classes were full of social, involved, intelligent, and creative teenagers. Many are involved in their home high school's varsity sports teams, theater programs, and other outside activities. Block scheduling absolutely prepares us for college, the hour-long lunch period allows for all clubs to hold meetings during school hours, and traditions such as Color Wars and Spirit Week allow students to do more than just schoolwork. Overall, I would highly recommend this school to students with an interest in communications and a drive to succeed; but also who want to have fun and make great friends.
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2012

My son was part of the initial class entering CHS. The enthusiasm of the faculty and the students was infectious. They interacted like one harmonious family. Over the succeeding years, we saw that family grow and inclusive attitude grew with it. The quality of the instructors is top notch. They challenge the students to expand their perspectives and seek new opportunities. The fact that students seeking athletic opportunities return to their sending high schools does not detract from the school spirit. It does allow the students to remain close with their neighborhood friends while extending their universe to teens in other parts of the county. The glue that keeps this mosaic together is the principal. Mr. Gleason is ever present and engaged. It is great to see that the CHS family continues to remain connected even after they have moved to the next level.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2008

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