Dulles High School-Perception Of?

It's all relative. My son went to Kempner for a year and begged to transfer to Dulles. He laughs that at Dulles there are some "posers" who pretend they are in gangs and he says "Mom, they have no clue. Kempner has REAL gangs, the Dulles kids that are acting like that are just posturing." He is much happier at Dulles and has lovely friends there.( He just finished his junior year there.) I have been happy with the teachers he has had- he is not a stellar student and so his teachers have had to work with him. I've also had contact with the counselors and they seem concerned and responsive. (As opposed to the Kempner teacher who told me "Yes, math class is loud. The kids are disruptive, but what are you going to do? Can't help it." HUHH????) He complains that the school is too restrictive and they keep the kids too controlled-but I think that is really what you need in a high school-a little more control than the kids want.... My second child is at DMS and has been very happy there and made the middle school transition with NO problems. We are not zoned to the Dulles area but I have jumped through hoops to get my kids transferred there. I'd move in a minute but we have elderly family close by and can't really do that right now. I've heard Clements is GREAT but also has its share of problems. Because there is money, there are also drug issues- and it is VERY competitive. As a friend of mine reminded me "The rich schools always have the best parties in high school- they are the ones that can afford the drugs and their parents are more likely to leave town and leave the housekeeper/babysitter in charge." I think one of the things you should check on the school ratings is the "free and reduced lunch" percentage. Being poor does not mean a kid will necessarily have problems- but if there are a great many free/reduced lunches, then that means there are a great many kids whose parents/guardians are more concerned w/ getting food in the house and paying bills than worrying about their kid's grades. Also- since your daughter is just 9- realize that by the time she gets to high school the demographics of the school could change again- although Dulles is in a fairly stable area at this point- so there is no guarantee that what we say today will be true in 4 or 5 years. When we moved to our house, Kempner was as good or better a school than Dulles- but lots of apartments and some rezoning later- that is no longer the case . The principal is also a huge factor in how well the school operates,as well as parental involvement. I do have friends whose children go to Kempner- and their kids are having positive experiences there- so it really depends on the kid sometimes. (The ones I know at Kempner are in the GT program which seems to insulate the kids from some of the chaos of school.) In fact, I think the best thing you can do is have a GT kid at any school- those classes are full of kids that want to learn! Next best is to have a kid with an identified learning difference- the counselors keep an eye on those kids and the teachers know who they are. It's the middle of the road kids that can get lost in the shuffle. I'm sure you will get many other comments- good and bad- (and I'll probably get some flak for what I've written!) but everyone's experience is a little different and everyone's kid is a little different. Some will bloom no matter where you send them, others will struggle no matter what, some really do need the ideal circumstances and those are the ones that the right school for them makes the difference. (I'm also a BIG proponent of keeping them with their friends- as long as their friends are ones you like- I can't say enough for how a few good friends can make or break the school experience...)

I am(or was)a student of Dulles High School. I am graduating this weekend, and I just want to say that Dulles is the best high school possible. I was to attend Kempner, before we moved 4 years to be zoned to Dulles. I was very upset at first, when I heard that I was attending Dulles. However, now I am so grateful that I got the privilege of attending such a great school. I was involved in so many wonderful activities that Dulles offered. Dulles offers about 50 different clubs and organizations, so I was always busy. I was involved in the Orchestra, National Honor Society, and clubs such as Teens Assisting Special Kids and Spanish Club. I was also enrolled in several honor and AP courses throughout my 4 years.

Dulles High School teachers work so hard to ensure that we pass and learn the subject. I have a hard time in math, and my teachers would stay before and after school for tutoring. All teachers have a conference period, and at least 2 day of tutorial sessions. They are really one on one, and genuinely want to help us do good.

As far as the "rough crowd" is concerned, if there was one, I was completely oblivious to it. The principals do an amazing job of keeping us under control, and they do not let rowdy students disrupt the student population.

I do not know if this will help you at all, but I want you to know that I have enjoyed every minute of my Dulles High School experience, and I will truly miss ALL of my peers and teachers.

hey L.,
Our neighborhood is zoned to DHS and my daughter (currently a junior) has never had any problems what so ever with other students. In the past three years, she has only mentioned one fight breaking out (in the caf.) between two boys. She likes the school and even though she's not a social kid, she's made some really good friendships. As you mentioned, all schools have problems but DHS doesn't have any more than any other school (and I have heard things regarding Clements, Elkins, Bush etc) Our neighbor's daughter is a freshman and very shy.. she's doing just fine and hasn't been hassled etc. by any other student and there have been no problems in any of her classes due to disruptive students. I haven't heard any thing that would cause me to pull my daughter out of DHS and all the kids I know that go there (in my neighborhood as well as other neighborhoods) are doing just fine both academicly and socialy.
My daughter went from taking 'regular' classes her freshman year, to taking all Honors and AP classes last year and this year. She's had some wonderful teachers and being academic rather than the social kind, she's intolerent of kids who disrupt the class. That said, she has never mentioned any problems regarding the teachers not being able to teach.

I know some parents who are not happy with the school but they have problem kids and would most likely have the same problem no matter where their kids go. They are also the kind of parents who are not willing to work with the staff and feel it's the school's responsibility to deal with eveything.
Dulles used to be filled with gangs etc (about 20 years ago) but they cleaned up that problem and it's sad that they seem to still have that reputation.
My son is in elem. and while I know middle school will be a challange (due to hormone changes etc. for all kids that age) I have no worries regarding his education at DHS.
Hope this helps.

You may want to get more feedback from others. What does the "rough crowd" consist of? You may want to look at the data for the school at the tea website: www.tea.state.tx.us

Go visit the school and see if you would feel comfortable with sending your children there.

We are zoned to Dulles. However, I pulled my daughter from there and she is going to Clements. There is a Global Language Academy that is offered there and she was eligible to attend. So, my husband & I sacrifice by driving to drop her & pick her up until she can drive. I was not thrilled with the "rough crowd" either. Not that all kids that go there are... I do have a problem when you call the school & the pre-recorded message says "Thanks for calling Dulles H.S., a majority minority school." NO OTHER school in Fort Bend says that even though there is a mixed crowd in their schools....there is something to be said about a school that HAS to say that. I've heard nothing but good things about Clements & it was either that or send her to Fort Bend Baptist Academy. It seems as though the teachers are way more pro-active with teaching & offering extra help at her school- probably because it is more challenging. We have been very satisfied with Clements and am VERY glad we made that change.