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Dobson High School in Phoenix, Arizona

Dobson High School Detail

(480) 472-3000
1501 W Guadalupe
Mesa, AZ 85202
Levels: 10-12
District: Mesa Unified District


Dobson High School Census Data

Census InfoValueYear
Student Teacher Ratio:20.04% (2008)
Percent Free and Reduced Price Lunch:27.42% (2008)
White, non-Hispanic:60.42% (2008)
Black, non-Hispanic:5.33% (2008)
Hispanic:27.15% (2008)
American Indian/Alaskan Native:2.64% (2008)
Asian:4.45% (2008)

Dobson High School Ratings Summary

Average Quality Rating4
Average Principals Rating4
Average Teachers Rating4
Average Activities Rating4
Average Parents Rating4
Average Safety Rating4

Dobson High School Reviews

it has a great band and sports
This review was posted by a other.

Three of my grandchildren have attended Dobson High. I feel the faculty is some of the best in the country.
This review was posted by a other.

I have nothing but great things to ay about this school. The teachers and the administrators are all open to communicating with parents.
This review was posted by a parent.

All of the parents that are ragging on Dobson obviously have little insight. Dobson is an amazing school. Excellent teachers. I currently attend Dobson and couldn't ask for a better place to learn. And for the parents who are complaining about students writing reviews on this website: Don't we as students know better than anyone the way that dobson works and the oppurtunities it offers? Any student who wants to learn has a great oppurtunity at Dobson. It is your job as a parent to light a fire under your child, that is not the job of the teacher. Especially in high school.
This review was posted by a student.

good school.learning deparment perfect 10 out of 10 for dobson! go mustangs!
This review was posted by a student.

It seems that the good ratings are from Students who think that they are better than those who do not get good grades or did not have the best experience. I was under the impression that this was a parent review. Well being a Parent having one child graduate with honors at a different high school and the other have very disinterested teachers and a not so good faculty at Dobson. As well as a not so good learning experience. I would have to say that Dobson failed my second student. It can't be the Theory of the parenting if one was honor role and the other wasn't. fortunately the promise of an education is not just for kids that it comes easy to. Therefore good teachers should be prepared to teach every individual student and realize their individual needs. My student enjoyed the music program.
This review was posted by a parent.

I teach at the college level. I have graduate multiple degrees, most from top 15 programs. Dobson was a great school about 4-5 years ago. Today it is so bad I am pulling my child out. They teach only to tests. The teachers are incompetent and confuse academic rigor and care with demeaning and intellectually abusing the students. This results in poorly prepared student that dislike learning.prepared
This review was posted by a parent.

I love this school! They actually invite parents to be a part of the campus and excel in community relations. Their extracurricular activities are excellent and they have more clubs than any other school in the valley.
This review was posted by a parent.

my son goes to dobson and i would not have him go to any other school the music department is one of the best in the state and they do show they care for the students
This review was posted by a parent.

Dobson did a great job in preparing my son for college. His scores earned him an academic scholarship to one of the top engineering schools in the nation. Not only is he ready for this challenge, he is confident and looking forward to it, thank-you Dobson.
This review was posted by a parent.

I am currently a student at Dobson, and yes, some teachers seems disinterested, but that's only when students aren't driven. I've taught summer schools and know there is nothing worse than seeing a bunch of interested students, and then trying to act interested in them. When the class is involved, the courses are amazing. The teachers are extremely intelligent and encourage free-thinking and enlightenment to reach conclusions. The staff attends to each students needs and strives to allow every student to achieve greatness. Dobson also has unrivaled school pride and the clubs offered at Dobson are top-notch. Environmental clubs, sports clubs, academic clubs all aim to better, not only our community, but also society as a whole. I can honestly say that I am proud to be a Mustang due to the great staff, courses, and clubs.
This review was posted by a student.

I attended Dobson High School and graduated in 2006. In my opinion, this school has everything that a good parent should be looking for. If a student puts effort into their classes and studies, they will succeed. However, students who don't put in there all should attend another school. This school is to prepare you for college, not to goof around. Even so, students who do put in there all, have a good time and are able to goof around when appropriate. Dobson is a great school. It prepares you for the things you'll need to be successful in life.
This review was posted by a student.

All of these parents below who talk about Dobson as being a place where your kid wont learn anything obviously don't have very driven kids. I am a proud senior at Dobson who has worked very very hard to recieve good grades because of the rigorous coursework and challenging classes. I have had some amazing teachers who have done nothing but prepare me for college classes and have had others who teach college classes currently. If your child has an educational disability then I cant speak for them, but if you have a student who is eager to learn much like I am, they should have no problem preparing for college. Don't rag on a school you know little about, please. Dobson is a great school and that is why it gets top marks year after year.
This review was posted by a student.

Horrible adminstration, arrogant disinsterested teachers, illusory rating. Your honor student, an average stuent will be ignored. Sorry, I woul not sen my kids (3) here again.
This review was posted by a parent.

The staff and faculty seem to not want to be bothered with giving the best education. There a a few good teachers but overall the admin and most teachers seem to not want to teach. If your child has any learning disabilities, don't send her here. She will be on her own. Music program seems selective. Faculty very defensive and not supportive.
This review was posted by a parent.

In addition to the excellent AP teaching staff, Dobson also has a wide variety of excellent extracurricular events. Their speech and debate team especially creates an inviting and fulfilling atmosphere for students.
This review was posted by a other.

My son is a sophomore at Dobson High School. I deliberately bought a home in the Dobson area because of the school, upon moving into the area. I have found the staff to be extremely helpful and courteous, and the faculty responsive and dedicated. Perhaps most importantly, my son loves it. And that is critical to success.
This review was posted by a parent.

I think Dobson high has a very excellent extracurricular activities program. There is a variety of music arts programs and have an outstanding sports teams. My son plays football for the Dobson Mustangs and the coaches are great and really seem to care about thier athletes. The teachers are great and take the time out of there day to call or email me my students progress.
This review was posted by a parent.

I am currently a junior who grew up in a very small town with few extracurricular activities, and little academic promise. This being said, this school has been amazing. It offers a plethra of clubs for nearly every intrest a teenager could have, whether it be school related or not. Also, there are numerous chances to look towards the future, as Dobson has ties to several in state colleges as well as military recruiters so students may evaluate their options. The academic teams are a force to be reckoned with as well, placing very high in state, and often times national competitions. It's true that some of the teachers and classes leave something to be desired, but many of them are amazing. They'll help you until you can stand on your own two feet, and try to teach you to be a better person along the way.
This review was posted by a student.

I am currently a Senior at Dobson and I can honestly say that I am really going to miss this school. Every teacher I've had has been phenomenal, they obviously love their job and especially love their students. Arizona has a reputation for having the worst schools in the country, if that is in fact true, rest assured that Dobson is a diamond in the ruff. But where the true quality of this school shines brightest is in the extracurricular activities. The sports programs are thriving, and the music department is the greatest in the state and among the best in the country, I myself play in the band and it's been one of the most amazing experiences of my life. If that is hard to believe, feel free to attend a few concerts. I wouldn't trade my experience and knowledge gained at Dobson for anything.
This review was posted by a student.

I'm currently a senior at Dobson High and can honestly say that Dobson in general is a good school to attend. I'm in two choirs this year, not only because I like performing, but because Dobson has possibly the best high school music program in the state. Just last year, Mr.Evans, was named music educator of the year. Not only that, but the concert choir and full symphonic orchestra took 1st place in a national competition this past year. Dobson is also very accomodating for Honors students, and allows for the accelerated student to really excel. Dobson's teachers, in general, are above average, but there are also many teachers who teach regular classes that are way below par. Socially I've found Dobson to be very relaxed, and that cliques don't exist at all. We're a pretty friendly school. A new Principal came this year, so I can't give an opinion yet.
This review was posted by a student.

Dobson has incredible academic programs. There are many opportunities for students to delve into learning. The teachers instructing students are among the best and their high level of commitment to students' learning is a model that should be followed statewide. This school has it all...academics, athletics, and fine arts. Mesa is fortunate to have the Dobson community within its city limits.
This review was posted by a parent.

The music and extra-curricular programs are phenomenal! Most students can quickly find a place on campus where they feel comfortable. Other academic teams, such as Academic Decathalon, Math Team, Speech and Debate, and We The People, are worthy investments. The music program does well to work together as a department, and none of the three programs (band, orchestra, choir) overshadow eachother, but rather work to supplement eachother. With all that said and done, the quality of teachers is severely lacking.
This review was posted by a student.

Dobson High School is overall an excellent school. Academics are strong, with a wide variety of course offerings. There are also many extracurricular opportunities available to students that are competitive among the best. One major complaint about Dobson High School is lack of teacher quality. There are a few very good teachers but only a few. . However, while there is room for improvement, Dobson High School is a good school to attend.
This review was posted by a parent.

My daughter homeschools, but takes Chemistry at Dobson. We really like the teachers, and she is doing well. Dobson has been very accomadating with regards to her absences due to surgery, etc. Although I would hesitate sending her fulltime, we have been pleased with the classes she has taken there.
This review was posted by a parent.

Dobson is the school to attend if your child is interested in excellence in academics, performing arts, and athletics. The teachers are knowledgable, the staff friendly, and the coaches dedicated. Dobson is the epitome of excellenc, and I am glad my student has the opportunity to attend.
This review was posted by a student.

My whole family went to dobson high school and are very happy with the teachers and the level of education provided.
This review was posted by a former student.

As a former student, I loved Dobson! I am actually from the Gilbert Unified District, but I am extremely happy that I attended Dobson. My experience first at Hendrix and then at Dobson was much more enriching and enjoyable and productive than at Gilbert schools. I learned a large quantity and everything has helped me prepare for college. I thank all of the teachers and staff and highly recommend Dobson High School.
This review was posted by a former student.

Dobson High School is a great school. They have so many things for the kids to do like chorus, band, orchestra, sports, etc.
This review was posted by a parent.

Dobson High is a high quality school with many programs for gifted students as well as ungifted students. The music program is excellent.
This review was posted by a former student.

Dobson has high academic standards and great performing arts classes. The music programs always earn high accolades at competitions.
This review was posted by a former student.

It is a very good school the staff is very friendly and the kids are ver open minded.
This review was posted by a parent.

I find the techers at Dobson to be experienced and highly motivated to continue in their carreer ladder. I have no experience in the sports or arts but the teams and coaches perform with honor. Most parents work and I have not seen a lot of parent physical envolvement, however, never a need to ask twice for donations.
This review was posted by a former student.

I love this school. I have graduated and now my son is gradution. Great job.
This review was posted by a former student.

Dobson is a spacious, open school. There are so many students and so many extra-curricular activities to choose from. Many experienced, awesome teachers. Safety is a big concern, expecially at lunch time with their open campus at lunch. Good teacher/parent communication.
This review was posted by a parent.

Two children have graduated from Dobson and moved on to ASU. Daughter has 3.8 at ASU after first year. Still have two left attending Dobson. The teachers, staff, and programs have been excellent! I am extremely impressed with every aspect of their education.
This review was posted by a parent.

My daughter graduated May of '03' and is at ASU now.The eduacation that Dobson provided to her was outstanding. She is MORE than prepared for college. She is wondering when it will become a 'Challenge for her?'
This review was posted by a parent.

For the parent thinking about sending their 5th grader to Dobson: Testing experts caution parents not to assume that the scores, high or low, truly reflect a child's progress or a school's quality. Parents need to visit the school and examine what's being taught, said Jeanne Miyaska of WestEd, an education research laboratory. 'A parent ought to get beyond a single test score before they make a judgment,' Miyaska said. 'When you look at a score in a newspaper, it's difficult to interpret what's going on at the school.'
This review was posted by a former student.

We are about to graduate our second boy from Dobson. Great school, terrific values, excellent parent involvement, good facilities, wonderful teachers. Can't say enough. Who needs private education?
This review was posted by a .