Cherry Creek High School in Denver, Colorado

“Academics great, but can be a challenge to those who families are not as well off as many who attend.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a current student at CCHS, I think I can provide a truer account of the school than the sugar coated parents have done so. Yes, the academic aspect is great! The teachers are intelligent and if a student is motivated, they surely will come out with a wonderful education; however, parents really need to start thinking beyond the brains of their kid. Conformity is law, and the individual is worthless. True friends are hard to find. Sports are worshiped like the God himself. And parent involvement? Forget about it! I've yet to see a parent at school. So chose wisely.”
This review was posted by a student.

“One of the top 5 schools in the nation thanks to dr. Smith's leadership!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“To the student who posted that 'for minority student's it's not diverse', I agree, but think that it actually is a good social environment. I am a Chinese student at Cherry Creek and from what I've seen, we really don't have that much diversity in terms of race. But if you want it badly enough, you can always find your place in the right group of people. If you close yourself off because of the fact that there isn't much diversity, you won't find that place. And I definitely agree on the academic side. Especially because of the pressure to compete with other students, most kids will be busier than at an average high school. I also disagree with whoever posted the comment that 'you shouldn't send your kids there' even though its a '10 out of 10 school'. Don't judge on stereotypes, unless it's personally an issue.”
This review was posted by a student.

“This school isn't the best school. Although it is 10 out of 10, it doesn't mean you need to send your children there.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a Creek grad ('07) and I loved my time there. The faculty and staff are so nice. Teachers are more than happy to help students with class work and some are even willing to help them with personal problems. Also the friends that I made in my four years of high school are still some of my very best friends!! Futhermore, it really does do a great job preparing you for college. Once a bruin, always a bruin! Go Creek!!”
This review was posted by a other.

“I am a student at creek and I love it. Creek can be hard for students who don't really care, but if you are willing to take the initiative and try hard you will do well and have fun! Creek is great because it offers such a wide range of classes, activities, and sports. There is everything from recycling club, to varsity cross country, to western philosophy and ethics as a class. Creek has something for everyone and provides enough levels to encompass any students needs!”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a new student attending Creek for the 2008-2009 school and its challenging academically but for minority students it's not diverse at all.The good thing about Creek is the academics but the social aspect is not great at all.”
This review was posted by a student.

“As a current student, I have loved my time at Creek. I'm actively involved in sports and extracurricular activities, and I have met friends through both activities. I was never really challenged academically when I was in middle school, but Creek really challenged me to 'live up to my potential'. I really learned how to work hard and achieve. Not only that, but I believe that Creek has a great sense of school pride and camaraderie among the students. At all our sporting events there are tons of fans, and I feel like if you get involved then you will love every minute of your high school experience. As for the complaints against diversity about the school, I don't think that teachers show bias to less fortunate students. I think the teachers at Creek are willing to help any student who asks. I absolutely love Creek. Go Bruins!”
This review was posted by a student.

“I wanted to add, if you want your kid to be prepared for college Creek does it. It needs a ski team!!!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a student at Cherry Creek, I can attest to the excellent qualities of this school. The academics are excellent, although students are certainly not coddled. This does not mean that students cannot find support from their teachers; rather, many teachers at Creek are very accessible as long as the student takes the initiative. One word of warning: Creek is ranked top academically because courses are rigorous. (NBC even came to school to do a specialy about sleep deprived students) As far as extracurriculars go, Creek is excellent, with choices ranging from physics club to video game club. Debate, DECA and senate are especially prominent forces on campus- all excellent programs. Athletics are extremely competitive, though they are an excellent way to network, especially as freshmen (who are rarely cut). We're ranked in the top ten for sports programs by ESPN. Great place to find what your passions are.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I think brilliant kids who are not motivated are slipping through the cracks. The counselors are not role models. They try to be friends and do not have the students welfare in mind.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Good school and opportunity for the kids. However, the buildings are really old and it is so difficult to find your way around. Terrible for new students or freshman.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a parent of two children that attend CCHS I have had a broad range of experiences regarding the teachers, administration, security, and deans. If you are a child that excels in school and thrives on academic excellence, then this may be the place for you. I have one of those children. If you are not a child that excels academically, and requires a smaller school environment, then please consider another school. I have one of those children also. The principal has stated that she is proud that 'CCHS does big well'. However, they absolutely do not do 'individual needs' well. They are poor at providing for a large group of kids that may require an alternative program. With the wealth of the school district, it is a shame that schools like CCHS cannot use their resources to provide stellar alternative programs for students that don't do big well.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This is an outstanding school in every category. Teachers reach out to students to make sure everyone is included. Wonderful support services for those who need it.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Creek is a wonderful school if one is academically and/or athletically gifted and those students are recognized by the administration. There is parent participation, maybe not at the school directly, but at the extracurricular level. Tough school if your child isn't the 'best'!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Creek not only prepares students for college academically, it does socially as well. True, there is not a lot of discipline but there is a fair amount. By not enforcing very strict rules and discipline, Creek puts its foot-in-the-door to help students adapt to college life. With some freedom during high school, they are less likely to go crazy once they get to college. As for the classes, they are centered on encouraging students to motivate themselves to achieve academically. Teachers do not have a hold-your-hand approach. They expect the students to learn some things on their own which is a great introduction for college. True, there are many different social groups at Creek, but they're not all rich and white. And less privileged students by no means fall through the cracks. It's a school that encourages a wide varity of extra-curricular activities/social groups. It's an great experience for anyone.”
This review was posted by a student.

“CCHS is an overall good school but it has numerous problems. Many of the kids that go to the school have been with each other for most of their high school careers so the social groups have been already created and for new students to the school it is hard for them to fit in. The school is extremely competitive almost to the point where if your not then best then your nothing. The sports at CCHS are top ranked but the focus for the school is on having a good standing in the nation, not knowledge.”
This review was posted by a student.

“Possibly the best school in the country. It has prepared me for college just as well, if not better, than my peers that went to nationally renowned prep schools. However there is one catch, your student has to be motivated. If your child does not adapt to the high expectations to preform, then they may get lost. However, by senior year almost all the students on campus have found their niche. As far as extracurriculars, Creek provides some of the best programs in the country. Creek is among the best high schools in the country to prepare your student for college because it is a college.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“The classes are too large and there are way too many students for this school. All the students that do not fall into the category of the wealthy,seem to just simply fall through the cracks. The teacher's and staff really show no concern for the less fortunate.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“As a student at this school, I think its true that the academics are great, if you are in honors classes. Regular classes consist mostly of busy work. There is no dicipline or rule enforcement.”
This review was posted by a student.

“To start, I'm a former graduate from Creek. I'm now a sophomore in college. I was amazed by how much more academically prepared I was for college than many of my classmates. I had no trouble my freshman year, I am not saying I didn't have to work, I am saying it was easier for me than most. I have talked to friends from Creek and it seems as if everyone had a similar experience. In other words if you are looking for a great college preparatory school you, do not have to go any farther than creek. Of course, there are a few cons; the major one from a student s point of view was the security. They seemed to always have nothing better to do than write kids up for cell phones. From my experience, I would say that Creek is one of the best schools around, but the choice is yours.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“There are a number of great programs and wonderful opportunities for students who take advantage of the school. But if you have a child who is going through the teen years with difficulty then you will not find the kind of support he or she may need. You may be feeling like the administration and teachers don't care and since your child isn't getting those all important high grades then perhaps you should go so as not to spoil the state report card. I know of several parents who have removed their child from CCHS because there was no support. Cherry Creek is very good at self promotion and the kids feel great about going to the school. But it isn't as great as it appears.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Huge school with huge opportunities for motivated kids. Lots of kids get lost in the middle, but the school is big enough that most can find their niche. Academics are outstanding.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Excellent Resources for all students. Encourage your son or daughter to find their niche. Excellent accommodations for gifted students.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The school is the best. Excellent choices for academic programs, advanced placement programs, clubs, groups ect. Ect. Ect. Truly something available for everyone.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Creek is like a college campus. It's large size and affluent population makes everything you could ever hope for available. Top notch sports, extracurricular activities, language classes, you name it, Cherry Creek has it. My overall experience there was that I received an excellent education but I never really found a small community of friends or formed friendships that lasted beyond graduation. Every class was a different group of kids. Too many people for everyone to know each other. My graduating class was 830+. I guess it's all in what you prefer, amenities vs. close knit community.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“As a student at Cherry Creek High, I think I can say more about the school's programs than a parent can. The classes are very strenuous and will teach the material. Sports appears to take greater priority over music and the arts, however, there are a lot of extracurricular activities that students can partake in. I do not see a lot of parents around the school, and have never seen any parent involvement. Most of the students are rich and white, and I'm not comfortable with the snobbish behavior. A lot of the teachers are kind and forgiving, but I do know of staff members and teachers who are extremely harsh and very unkind.”
This review was posted by a student.

“One of the best college prepatory high schools in the State of Colorado, both academically and socially. Probley not the best high school if you child needs close supervision with lots of structure. Some students get lost, while other thrive. Cherry Creek treats the students as they will be treated in a college setting. The school allows the students to be independent and assumes that each one wants to be there and learn. The students are required to take responsibility for their education. My daughter is thriving in those circumstances. Many of her older friends who have gone to college have said that their college is easier than Creek. We have been very pleased with Cherry Creek High School.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The best aspect of this school was the ability to choose your own schedule which really prepard me for college. The academics were all you would expect, and there were lots of activities and sports.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“CCHS is a great school, if your child is motivated and involved. A less motivated child will have difficulty because of the freedom offered and the large size of the school. Two of my children have/are attending, one it worked great for, the other not so great.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Cherry Creek High School is outstanding in all departments. It has excellent academics, outstanding sports teams, many many activities. It's one problem is that it has so many students that sports are extremely competetive and many outstanding athletes end up getting cut.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“the quality of academic programs is increadible, you can really are given oportunities to take your education to a high level. there are countless clubs and extracurricular activities to get involved in that meet multiple interest. the parent involvement is very high because of their high expections.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Consider yourself fortunate if your child attends this school. It is one of the nation's premiere learning environments, replete with every amenity to afford simply the best chance for young minds to grow and expand. While closer to a private school than public institution, it is Creek's prodigious, multi-talented faculty which overshadows the physical facility, resulting in unparalleled national recognition for academic achievement, athletics, and national awards in virtually every competitive endeavor. Name the activity. Creek students excell. It is quite simply Colorado education's crown jewel. The proof? The sterling record of accomplishment by Creek's kids. University admissions officers uniformly tout them as well prepared for higher education, routinely admitted to our country's most competitive universities, not to mention continuing on to the world's best medical, law, business and graduate schools. How do I know? My children graduated from several, and I teach at the University of Denver College of Law.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I love Creek! There is something for everyone whether its a varsity sport, ping pong club, or community service projects such as habitat for humanity. Its a great school and I recommend it to everyone!”
This review was posted by a student.

“At Cherry Creek High School, the 'challenging academics' that we had heard about came to mean to our family not the comprehensive and rigorous curriculum that we had expected, but a 'challenging environment' instead. Both of my children are outgoing, involved, and gifted. They were challenged by the lack of balance and holistic personal well being of a number of the students, some faculty and some administration. Competition needs to be balanced by a working and comprehensive code of ethics. I would like to see an emphasis by the administration and her team on learning and modeling interpersonal skills that engage and connect them to all of their students, without regard for how large a school they see themselves in. Genuinely supportive and positive social behavior with the students and each other could turn things around.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son & daughter have or are attending CCHS. My opinion of the school is this - if you are a child 'at risk' or 'advanced placement' this school is for you - lots of attention. But if you fall within the average range, watch out: you're on your own. The rules are enforced by some teachers/deans and not by others - completely arbitrary. The school is so large that they cannot and do not seek your child out - you or your child must be the ones requesting attention. A letter of concern mailed to the principal, counselor, deans and teachers went unanswered except for one teacher. Not a good statistic. In terms of the school's reputation - it is excellent, but my experience shows much lacking.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Cherry Creek High School is one of the best schools in the nation (with awards to prove it). Teachers communicate extremely well with students. The school offers terrific education, athletic, and extracurricular programs, and has one of the highest numbers of offered courses in the country. As long as students do their best, they will do well. Because of the work students put in, state testing gives the school very good funding. In 2003, the Media Center was honored with the 'Best Library in the Country' award, due to its outstanding volume of books and accessible computers, all of which are very new. There are so many people to get along with. Students are given a lot of freedom, including two off periods per day (three for juniors and seniors), and off-campus priveleges. The campus is situated nearby many popular lunch places. Most importantly, students are given the opportunity to succeed.”
This review was posted by a student.

“As a former student at Cherry Creek I have to say that the academics are awesome. Learning is emphasized and the classes are extremely challenging which results in exceptional learning. However, the atsmoshpere is terrible. It's the steriotypical teenagermovie type of highschool, where the 'popular' students are extremly happy, and everyone else comes out of high school with a great education but also with some serious self worth issues. My advice, come in at the beginning of the year and join a few clubs or organizations, that way you have a chance at making some friends.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I am a parent of 2 CCHS students. Both have had wonderful experiences. Academics are outstanding-- the teachers are incredible. Many of them have PhD's. The variety of AP and advanced courses is unequalled by any other high school in the area. There are a large number of diverse clubs and extracurricular activities. The school is quite large, and it's easy to get lost if you don't find a smaller peer group. Being involved in sports or a club are important ways to connect. My kids were better prepared for college than the majority of their classmates.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I'm a former student at Cherry Creek and the academics are wonderful. I went to college ahead of my game. I was very well educated and advanced in most subjects when I got to college. Cherry Creek really challanges you to reach your peak of education. The atmosphere however, is horrible. All the students are the same. Uniformity is encouraged and unique individuals are punished.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“A great school- simply the best! Outstanding academics, course offerings, teachers, facilities, and extra-curriclar activities. High schoolers are treated like young adults; there is a lot of freedom at this school (for example, an 'open campus') and, accordingly, students are expected to demonstrate a high level of responsibilty. Students learn how to advocate for themselves, ask for help when needed, and make choices affecting their daily lives. For example, students above the freshman level 'self-schedule' their classes each year on the computer, selecting teachers, class schedules, off-periods, etc. This is a very competitve school, both academically (it is 'cool' to be smart and get good grades) and athletically. As a result, everyone doesn't always 'make the team', but students are encouraged to try new things and get involved in some extra-curricular activity, including community service. In sports, there is at least one 'no-cut' sport every season. This is a big school, but individual classes generally do not exceed 25-30 students (my son's advanced freshman Geometry class had 18 students!). As a result, students get to know teachers very well. Classes are very discussion-oriented, and there is an emphasis on critical thinking, writing, and college prep. We have had wonderful experiences at Cherry Creek; parents are involved and supportive. There are outstanding resources at this school to meet the needs of most students (from gifted students to those with special learning needs), including an amazing post-graduate center and counseling department. I highly recommend this school to parents who are ready for their students to experience high school and prepare for college in a competitive environment which provides increasing amounts of independence and responsibility in a supportive atmosphere.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am and hoping to be a former student still at CCHS (Cherry Creek High School) and I personaly think that is there is any school that you want our kid to go to this would be the perfect school for them.......it not only challenges the mind but it helps out you child get involved....there are so many after school things for them to do that everyone is apart of the school in some way or another......the teachers are all great and will always help your student if he/she is having there grade slip or is not making any inprovment....the students there are so nice and so much fuc to hang out with and the best thin about this school is that it does not treat you like your in a prison or that you a forced to be there it makes you want to come to school......i know hard to believe but its true...there are a lot of amazing things about this school and i think u should check it out!”
This review was posted by a former student.