I'll be honest - this place nearly drove me insane. It's not a happy place. I attended 2014-2018…read moreand I hated most of it. There were a few teachers I loved - but they are actually gone now (moved to different schools) such as Mr. O'Haire (math) and Mr. Seipel (PE - weights class) who moved to schools closer to where they live. The teachers, for the most part, were good and cared about the students to an extent. My issue lies with the other students. This place is infamous for the student community, which, in short, was not enjoyable, for the most part. While I did make some lifelong friendships, I do not miss 80% or more of the people I knew. As well as teachers, most administrators were okay. And DVHS has the best proms/balls in the bay area. Also, DVHS is academically superior. I was an average student at DVHS, with a GPA around 3.7, only a few Honors/AP courses. I had friends with over 4.5s, but also knew people with under 3.0s. I believe this place is a top 10 public high school in California, academically. The struggles I've had in high school made my time in college a breeze. College is so easy to me because DVHS was just so hard. I went from average at DVHS to (well) above average at my current school (which is certainly not prestigious like an Ivy League or UC school, but is a decent school indeed). If you plan on going to a small liberal arts college or a community college after graduating DVHS I think you will have a really easy time. I know many people currently (2020-2021 high schoolers) that transferred to Cal High or other schools because of how notoriously bad DVHS is. I actually switched to Venture Independent Study next to DVHS (public, part of SRVUSD) in the middle of my junior year and only took 2 classes at DVHS for the last 2 years (concurrent enrollment for AP calculus and a science class). My diploma is technically Venture and not Dougherty Valley. Of course I miss high school sometimes, but I am certainly glad to be done with that period of my life. Also, if you are 16-19 and know someone from DVHS, I would try to go to prom with them ;) My prom in May 2018 was memorable, definitely my most prominent (lol, no pun intended) memory of this place.

Former student here, would definetly recommend sending your child to a different school like cal…read morehigh instead. The staff is the biggest issue at this school. Teachers and counselors (apart from a select few) do not teach well and students end up having to basically self study whole courses. Staff also think students are beneath them and don't resolve issues that come up during the school year. The college and career counselor Mrs.Theobald, probably the most important person at that school because she manages internships and volunteering opportunities through the school, was the main reason I left this school. A mistake on her end (not telling me that the due date of an application was actually before the written date) made me lose an important internship opportunity, and when i went to turn in my application, she put the blame on me for not turning it in earlier (i turned it in 2 weeks before the date written). I even sent a long email to her about how i felt about the whole situation to which i got a one sentence response and no follow up or apology. That situation made me realize that i would never succeed academically if i stayed in dvhs. The school's staff has been kept based on seniority, not quality, so most of the teachers are bad, and counselors are very unhelpful and never actually try to solve problems that students have. The school might be rated high on a state level but it's because the students work so hard by themselves, so don't be fooled by the high ranking, this school has many issues.

I didn't not attend California High School, but my Grand Son did. So it was with great pleasure…read moreand appreciation that we attended his graduation last Friday, from the grandstand and later on the field (for pictures) when the ceremony was over. My most touching recollection was watching all 800+ of them walking in at the beginning. I was also impressed that from start to finish (including speeches, passing out diplomas, Tassel movement) was a crisp hour and a half. And so the next step begins.....

this school sucks when they dont feel like helping your child they put them in special ed and have…read morethem fend for themselfs for the rest of high school.

(Date: 2023 - 2025 since this school might change)…read more As someone who came here from 6th all the way to 8th grade and just got promoted.. I can say that this is a great Middle School to take your kids in. Teachers are friendly and nice, Learning American History was fire, and lastly.. the wellness place was the perfect place to be if stuff goes kinda wrong. You'd be able to play with fidgets or draw on the whiteboard. Teachers in PT-12 carried me in 8th Grade and made good friends. Although.. - Pros: Nice Staff and INSANE Artists that draw on the whiteboard. (Most Art are from a Roblox Game called "Forsaken" and hey, it's nice.) - Cons: Students would roast the living hell out of you in the locker room, make false rumors, and gaslight. In conclusion, mind yo damn business unless if it's with your friends.

I'm not here for the school. But we have basketball open gym every Monday 7-10pm and Friday…read more9am-12am. Coming out of COVID this was a GEM of a find. It's literally 80-100 people spread out across three full courts for three hours. It's basketball heaven for almost any level of player (not for super new hoopers and probably not for former professionals). But it's a good mix of skill levels and most of the people are super cool. Made a lot of friends through open gym basketball here just over the past 8 months.

I went here around 2011-2014 and I kinda miss it. I made some good memories. Loved Hancock geometry…read more(despite it being my most difficult class and not an A grade, it was fun), Osborn core, and band with Hoover! Last I checked, Ms Hancock teaches at DVHS, Mr Osborn became an administrator (principal or vice maybe), and Ms Hoover became an admin at DVHS so I guess my experience with them is no longer attainable. Great America and Disneyland with band, and Six Flags for graduation, was great!

I love Windemere Ranch Middle School. I am currently a student at WRMS!! I would say there are…read moreamazing teachers staff and great education. Though we are one of the top schools in California the lunches are a bit disappointing. Considering we are one of the top schools in California I expected the lunches to be better!

After years at The Athenian School, the pattern is hard to miss and it's not a positive one…read more Academically, there are visible coverage gaps. Teachers are reassigned across subjects in ways that feel reactive, not intentional, and it shows in uneven rigor and depth. Oversight appears inconsistent, with little indication of sustained evaluation or development to ensure instructional quality. Staffing stability is also a concern, midstream departures and changes have impacted continuity in the classroom or elective, which matters from a student and parent perspective. The rubric/grading shift, framed as "equity," ends up compressing outcomes. In practice, it reduces differentiation between students and lowers the ceiling rather than raising the floor. Strong students aren't pushed; weaker outcomes are normalized. It can also reward students who closely match what a given teacher is looking for, rather than those demonstrating deeper or more independent mastery, narrowing, rather than expanding, meaningful academic rigor. Communication is another friction point. Parents receive a high volume of emails from multiple sources, with information spread across messages and platforms. Important details can be difficult to track, especially for those already managing full schedules and inboxes. School climate is also worth examining. In our experience, our teen encountered peer interactions that raised concerns around inclusivity and respect for differences. We did not see clear communication or follow-through addressing those situations or, at best, limited transparency or parent dialogue when problems arise. More broadly, the student body and staff do not reflect a high level of diversity, which may matter to families. Programs like AWE are positioned as unique and distinguishing. There are committed people involved, but the program carries additional cost and execution issues (recurring when talking with previous parents). At the institutional level, the school feels adrift. We've learned of the loss of the boarding program this year, ongoing turnover, and shifting priorities all which suggest a lack of clear direction and raise a straightforward question: what, exactly, are you paying for? College counseling reinforced that concern. Guidance leaned heavily toward "safe" schools, with little appetite for thoughtful risk. We chose to override it and our teen was admitted to a school labeled "unlikely." Bottom line: our teen succeeded, but not because of the school's systems. It was largely in spite of, with limited added value from the institution. For families considering this school, go in with eyes open. Ask direct questions about staffing stability, grading philosophy, program execution, and how information is communicated to families. The answers matter, look for clear, concrete answers, not just polished or well-rehearsed responses.

The Athenian school is a special place. My son plays sports and I have travelled to many Bay Area…read moreprivate schools for matches. No schools have campuses as beautiful as Athenian, not College Prep, Bentley, or even Nueva. Athenian's 75-acre campus is at the foothill of Mt. Diablo, it is a bit remote but the beautiful campus rivals some small colleges. Campus aside, I feel the teachers really try to make learning fun, and the kids are all happy going to school there. The academics are pretty rigorous, but the kids don't feel stress out. In a small class of 12-15 students, my son can't hide or cruise. I see improvement in his communication skill and work ethnics in just a few months. Sports are a big deal in Athenian and get a lot of supports from parents. My son made a lot of friends from joining different teams. I have run into many talented Athenian kids in arts, musics and sports. Some get recruited into top universities in their junior years. The school puts out a lot of events for parents to participate, mingle with the kids, and get to know each other. There are parents bookclub, coffee / hikes, Student plays, Jazz night, culture nights, and homecoming night. Some of the performances are opened to the public, I encourage you to come and see for yourself. One review talked about director of admission. Chris has left Athenian a couple years ago. All the staffs I interacted with are nice and receptive to new ideas. Another reviewer highlighted guest speakers and domestic/international trips. I couldn't agree more. There are so many learning opportunities that made me jealous (I went to UC). Every semester, alumni would come back to share their college experience. One common theme is how well Athenian has prepared them and they are thriving in top 20 universities. If Athenian kids can survive 3 weeks camping in the Death Valley and the Sierra, other adversities will seem easy to them. If you want your kid to be well-rounded, resilient and have a diverse group of lifelong friends, Athenian is the perfect school. https://www.athenian.org/athenian-blog-and-news

As I approach my senior year in high school, I think about my time I spent here; I attended from…read morek-5 returned for 7th and 8th grade. When they moved campuses in 2015 that's when it all started going downhill. They had to renovate an office building to be the foundation for the upbringing of kids. We didn't have any real grass; we played kickball on a patch of turf. The hallways and cafeteria felt like that of a hospital's and the classrooms were white walls and brown carpet. When I started struggling with my mental health in middle school, there was no support system, I literally had to tell the Dean all of my problems. Everyone was the same and bland. Also the change in teachers was so frequent and confusing like you'd have a teacher for one year and then they'd leave the school and you'd be taught by another teacher who was just starting their first year. The tuition is expensive for such little resources like the computers we used were from 2005, no yearbooks, discontinued bus services (I had to ride the public bus for 30 minutes everyday), there was no sense of community or understanding for students. Overall if you want your kids to attend school and not an internship, don't send them here.

Went here K-6. Teachers at this school are unnecessarily…read morebrutal on literal children and have obvious favorites. I look back and I'm horrified at how I was treated when I was merely nine years old. Kids are pit against each other at a very young age and are put under extreme stress. If you don't fit the mold - "book-smart", rich, dare I say coddled and self-absorbed - you are going to struggle and come out with a lifetime of self-esteem issues. Don't go to this joke of a school

Expensive? You betcha. What price do you put on an education…read morefor your most precious asset? I have a daughter that was literally drowning in public school, I personally would pay twice the asking tuition based on her dramatic turnaround. By the way, this is day three. The acceptance process is arduous, and there are no underachievers accepted. Finally, a true college prep in the East Bay.

This school should be investigated for water damage and mold exposure, it is making students sick…read more When I reported this to the school they rewarded me by terminating my child's enrollment and didn't refund my money back. Parents and teachers- if you (your child) are sick , it could be the school responsible for it- please investigate and report. This is not ok and they cannot get away like this. Parents- you are not paying this much money for the school to make your child sick. Please do your own research. Management is a joke and need lessons in management. They failed to provide a safe healthy environment for my child to learn and grow. They mocked my doctor and my family and we had to go through unnecessary trauma. New families pay attention and avoid unnecessary trauma that we went through unfortunately. Keep your families safe!

I attended this school around the 2006-2010 time frame (I was born in 2000) for Kindergarten until…read more5th grade (then to Windemere Ranch Middle School and Dougherty Valley High School) as it was my residential public school. It could be worse. I knew some good teachers who cared, and some maybe less so. But it is (or was, at least) better than other elementary schools, honestly. I wonder if any of these teachers are still there. I had Mrs Coquia for Kindergarten, Mrs Petraglia for 1st, Mr Maloney for 2nd, Mrs Valdez for 3rd, Mrs Van Aken for 4th, and Mrs Vela for 5th. I did make some lasting friendships that still exist to this day, and I don't have any terribly bad memories about the school. Field trips were pretty often and very interesting and a lot of fun. I don't know if they still do this but I have memories that will last a lifetime from Camp Arroyo and Camp Walker Creek (I think that was the name?) which were a few nights for 4th and 5th graders, in cabins accompanied with chaperones. Truly a blast! Also they did sometimes have pretty good food, at least to a kid. I remember I loved nachos and tater tots as a kid!

11 years later and the school has deteriorated. the school leadership is not as strong as it used…read moreto be, and the culture of the school is not respectful. no respect for personal boundaries. one of the newly hired teachers is awful - gave my child anxiety. we ended up leaving and transferred our kids to coyote creek, which was so much better for us. it so sad because our oldest flourished here and it was so nice at that tjme. unfortunately the new administration is not as welcoming and didn't do enough to keep the quality of education up, or improve the school culture to make it more inclusive.

As a high school soccer/lacrosse referee, I will be writing reviews for all the fields I officiate…read moreat. Although you give 1 - 5 star ratings for Yelp, I will be making five separate ratings and the overall average will be the final Yelp rating. The following is my rating for San Ramon High: Field / Turf Condition *** Field configuration ** Lights **** Seating **** Scoreboard *** OVERALL RATING 3.2 Note: All the fields in the San Ramon Valley School District are changed at the same time. I'm not sure why San Ramon's is in the best condition. Monte Vista, Dougherty and Cal definitely need to be upgraded. My only pet peeve with San Ramon's field is the concrete strip between the track and the turf field. Quite dangerous for players and referees. Cleats don't do well on concrete. I have seen quite a few spills over the years.

Cool school, kinda gives too much homework.read more

I was introduced to Brightfox by a friend a few months ago, and we have been very happy with our…read moreexperience. One of the things I like most is the flexible class system. Many tutoring centers require you to buy a package of classes before you can start, but BrightFox lets you begin with just one class. That gave us a chance to see if it was a good fit for our child without feeling pressured. It also gave me the impression that they are confident in the quality of their program. Even though the classes are 2:1, my child still receives plenty of individual attention. It really feels like one-on-one learning. One of my children had never attended a tutoring center before high school because he preferred studying on his own. At BrightFox, the teachers always welcome questions and explain concepts step by step in a way that matches each student's level. This has helped my child become much more confident in learning. What impressed me the most is that the teachers don't just give the answers. They make sure students understand why the answer is correct and continue explaining until they know the student truly understands. You can tell they genuinely care about each student's learning. After every class, we receive detailed feedback about what was covered, how our child did, and what to work on next. As a parent, I really appreciate being able to stay involved in my child's learning. Before we enrolled, Mr. Alex took the time to understand our child's learning goals and helped us choose the best path. Ms. Heather has also been wonderful. She carefully follows our child's progress and provides support and guidance whenever it is needed. Her communication and care have given us a great deal of confidence. Our family is very happy that we chose Brightfox.

My daughter liked all the instructions at this center for her algebra2 and pre calculus tutoring…read more. they explain it thoroughly so she can understand better, liking math again:)