Bell Senior High

Bell high school is a high school that did not prepare its students at all for a four year university. Most of its students like myself went through english class without learning much (Mr. Wright). This teacher was so boring and all he did was assign a book and you'd be quizzed on it every week. He did not take his job seriously, but many teachers did such as Mr. Pena. His awesome! I had to go through my GE's over at Cal State and thought bell high was a waste of my time! Students mostly care about fitting in, being popular, and who's the prettiest, etc. The district should hire serious teachers that are willing to teach others something meaningful not just give you a book and tell me in an exam what you learned. I am ashamed of being a bell high student. Mr. Reveles at the college center was mean, i would have questions and he would act like a celebrity and tell me to come back another day as if it was some sort of interview. All in all Bell high is a terrible school, has some terrible teachers , yet nobody speaks up and takes any action to put an end to this situation.

Teachers at Bell High work very hard and long hours and not just because they pay us, but because we care about our community and our students. Scores have been going up because teachers work hard to help the students improve their Math and English skills. The average reading level in my classes is a 3rd -5th grade level. Students come with very little skills and it is hard to be the teacher, counselor, mentor, clown so “we” can keep them “entertained”, be their parents, etc… Administration and parents need to understand that it is our job to teach, not be all of the above. Yes, I chose to be a teacher, not everything else.

It saddens me to read all these comments about Bell High School. I was from the graduating class of 2004 and guess what? I'm now in graduate school graduating next year with my Master’s in Secondary Bilingual Education. I did not realized I had it so good in Bell High until I started working at different high school where you do not get the support from the teachers (who are culturally aware) and counselors specially the career center. Where I currently work at the AP English student don't have a concept of the meaning behind MLK Jr. Day and they are seniors!!! Mr. Paul Barker used to help me with chemistry after school and so did other teachers :) The student center at Bell is the best I have seen in the 5 schools I have worked at, Bell staff helps you for financial aid, scholarships, application forms, and they are willing to revise it numerous times! There is always someone there, I was the shy kid who was unsure of what to do, and my counselor asked me what do you want to do after high school? Where I work they only ask very few students there are 3 counselors for about 1,500 students where Bell has to deal with about 3 times as much! All the previous students want to blame Bell High School for their misfortunes newsflash! Research has shown that intervention begins at pre-adolescents middle school! Those of you that blame Bell High first look at your middle school, whether that's Nimitz Jr. high or elsewhere. The staff cares at Bell!!! Also, students if you have such a problem with Bell tell your parents to transfer you to another school? Try HP, Garfield, and South Gate see if its better? You will always have teachers that do not teach that sit in their computers playing games or reading a magazine (I worked at 3 different schools in CA and 2 out-of-state). Parents have the power to complain so tell your parent's you don't approve of a teacher's behavior to the principal that is how teacher get fired by parent complaints! Btw, I graduated high school with a 3.5 GPA went to a CSU graduated with two B.A.'s and now I'm out of state working as a full-time teacher and in graduate school full-time with a 3.8 GPA.... Thanks to Fishburn Elementary, Nimitz Jr. High, Bell High School, and CSU!!! We should stop complaining as students, and blaming others and look within ourselves and try to accomplish our goals (is it hard work? Yes, but is it worth I believe it is and that is all that matters! How much you believe in yourself! I came from a single parent home and made it this far! Most of my friends are either still working to obtain their degree or have obtained it whether that is at a community college or an Ivy League school. I have a friend who graduated with me and she's in law school working her way to become a lawyer! I want to get my PhD. I will be applying this year. The university I'm currently at has guaranteed me that I will get accepted to their program. Although, I will be applying elsewhere as well- top choice Stanford!

Bell high school it a Just like any other high school it has its good's and its bad's but the staff there are the best they try to have one one with there students. If there students don't want help well that's on them. People say that the school has to many gangs if u have nothing with that life style u have nothing to worry about. The deans help out too. They talk to u not just suspended u and see the day after 2marrow.
Thanks alot Casanas keep it up!!

I graduated from Bell HS unprepared for what college expected from me. Although I graduated 3.0 GPA and in the top 5 % of the graduating class, I had to go to summer school at college and placed on conditional acceptance at the 4yr college I attended. It was difficult and eventually I couldn't keep up and had to settle for graduating from a junior college. I have a good career now, I am married and have 2 daughters. But I refuse to have them go through what I did. For the sake of my daughters' future I moved away from the Bell and now live in a city where the schools district have high expectations. Even at a early age, the district made sure basics were learned not just memorized. That early age expectation paid off in the end. My older daughter graduated with honors and is now a freshman at Cal State. My younger one is in high school and doing well. I hope every student at Bell realizes - not going to college is not acceptable. It is within everyone reach, but taking advantage of this opportunity only comes to those are prepared to accept it. Cool or not, popular or not - It does not matter, each student needs to find for him or herself what will make them do more than the minimum requirement and work with the great teachers at Bell to push students to a higher level. It is my hope that students at Bell HS exercise a little pride (maybe Eagle Pride) and expect more of themselves and for themselves. Good luck to all the future graduates of Bell HS

As far as I can tell little has changed at Bell since 1998. I agree with both sides of the comments made so far: 1. Teachers need to be held more accountable. I sat through many a class (Mr. Weismann) where the teacher literally sat there and read magazines. 2. Students have to take responsibility for their actions. Bell students suffer from the all-too-common disease that permeates inner-city schools--"too cool for school" (literally). Students are still the same as in my day, caring more about what they are driving, wearing, and popularity than school work. Then when high school is over (whether dropping out or graduating), they realize they have really done nothing and have a long, tough, road ahead if they do want to accomplish something.
Fortunately, I was able to look past all of that and succeed. Went to college, got my degree, and now have a successful career. Can't say I miss Bell or its ways. As a matter of fact, had I not read this article I wouldn't have thought of it. (sigh). Some things never change.

Marty Galindo, Local Superintendent, has not even congratulated Bell HS teachers and staff for its recent success in test scores as noted by the LA Times. Why is that?

People, don't put the blame on others. Education starts at home!!!... if anybody wants do to succeed they will.. people that commented above, do not know what they are talking about.

they wouldnt let me wear my fish nets. after 2 years attending bell high school i realized it would not challenge me academically, per se. so i up and left to downey per se.

Over the course of my senior year, I have found out what kind of school Bell really is. Bell is pretty much the high school that almost could. I see so much effort and pride in students and teachers but it is all in vain. The standards and expectations in Bell High School are so low, we can almost smell the poverty line. Bell High School has not prepare me or any of the hopeless students to compete anywhere outside of ELAC. I suppose a lot can be said about my mentaity, but thats where it ends, Bell has failed me and I will always carry a grudge against an establishment that screwed me so bad.

Our math scores have consistently been higher than
others with the same type of student population. This year they even went up higher on both the just announced CST exams and on our California High School Exit Exam! Maybe local district 6 will now leave us alone and allow us to continue the job we have been doing.
Hopefully our big district now understands why we gave our last periodic assessment outside their ridiculous time frame.
A special thanks to our principal Dr. Di Stefano who supported the math department and allowed it to do its job!

Local District 6 "mandates" are just the right work done the right way. This is like the kid that says his parents suck because they make him eat all his vegetables. Grow up. Look at this year's improvement (CST and CAHSEE for 2008-09) and tell us that these "mandates" were wrong and change is needed "at the top". Don't embarass our profession any further with unsubstantiated rhetoric.

Strengths-AP English Language on A track, AP Calculus on B track, the college center, college preparation programs such as Educational Talent Search and College Match, its extracurricular activities such as sports, student government, and clubs.

Weaknesses-over population, majority of courses are a joke, the long lunch lines, gang violence, teen pregnancies, and poor quality education

As everything in life, it is possible to make the most of it. I did, and I was able to get into prestigious universities such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, Miami, Chicago, USC, Colombia, but now that I'm here I see how attending Bell High put me at a disadvantage. Now I'm playing catch-up with the rest of the students here.

bell high school is an awesome school i graduated 2008 and played soccer there went to CIF finalls and were runner up yeah people say bell is wack but at least at bell teachers care about there students i am now playing soccer for MT San Antonio till this day i still have purple pride i will be attending all the soccer games and wish luck to all the sports

Bell High School is an excellent school, despite the fact that we have so many gangs. I graduated from Bell HS and so did my kids. I feel this school emphasis on character and excels in teacher involvement, they really care.

Bell High School is doing well. There are many exciting programs where students are excelling. Unfortunately Local District 6, with all of its mandates, is stifling many of these opportunities for students. We need a change ... at the top.

dis skool is wack they are the worst in sports like baseball and football. The only thing good about Bell is the soccer team.