Pen Argyl Area High School

I'm a student at Pen Argyl Area High School who is transgender. I have found the students there are abysmally intolerant of my sexual orientation, and while the school helps me deal with the bullies, they are only moderately successful. On the other hand, the academics are great if you're not disadvantaged. Otherwise, the teachers treat you like any other student in terms of learning ability from what I can see. The exception is if it's painfully obvious. Overall, however, the school has been improving over the years.

I am becoming more & more disappointed with this school district. I have three children in the district, one in each of the 3 different schools. The elementary school has been great so far, but there is marked decline as you move up to the WGMS and PAHS. The communication is poor when it comes to trying to work with administration in the district. The transportation coordinator and the administration staff member that she reports to, Wally Schlegel, blatantly disregard the safety issues brought to their attention in regards to the dangerous bus stops assigned to our children. Efficiency trumps safety here in Pen Argyl school district, and they choose to "assess safety" of the particular bus stops in question in the middle of summer, when the massive amounts of snow and ice (that build up all winter long) are not present to give an accurate portrayal of the dangerous conditions our children are being subjected to. Going 30 seconds out of their way for your child's safety is too much to ask for, and you will be assured by Mr. Schlegel that Dr. Haberl (superintendent) will not see it any differently if you choose to bring it to his attention. I am disgusted by outright lack of concern this man expressed for my son's safety. This is an Adminstration member who is charged with ensuring the "safe transportation" of students in a district WITHOUT SIDEWALKS mind you. It is up to the parents here to see that the exorbitant amount of school taxes we pay here start getting put to better use. This could be an excellent school district if we start holding the "bad apples" accountable here. I want to urge parents to start writing your county representitives, and above all do not accept having your legitimate concerns disregarded. I am currently in this process myself.There are many really good teachers in this district, and I want to applaud each one of them. Please keep at it, our kids need more like you here in the district!

Have had 4 children go through Pen Argyl. I have no complaints. What I have seen is the all 4 had different but positive experiences. Like anything, you get out what you put into it. Parent involvement must take place in both school and home fronts, The principal is always visible and interactive with kids and parents.

Pen Argyl is a mediocre school system where the focus is indeed on sports. Academics and things like service clubs and music programs definitely take a back seat here. It's a good 'ol boys club for the modern times. A few individual teachers have truly gone above and beyond as far as my student is concerned, but the rest of the teachers and administration simply bide their time and stress how we MUST pass our PSSAs. My student is new to the school system, but I attended here myself. I succeeded in academics because I was self-motivated, certainly not from anything the administration did. In fact, the guidance department when I attended DISCOURAGED students from following their dreams. This aspect does seem to have improved somewhat. If I had the money, my student would be in private school elsewhere.