The first week of school, my daughter told me that what she likes about Presentation is that the girls walk down the hallway, smile, and acknowledge each other. I was so grateful to know that she felt seen - by her peers, educators, and administrators. Well, time flies, and I see now that I actually started writing this review more than a year ago. I just received an email from the school that inspired me to come back here and finally finish it! In light of the upcoming election, Presentation communicated to parents their efforts to empower our daughters to be thoughtful and empathetic young leaders. They encourage us to lift up our girls to disagree with confidence and civility. Next week, they will hold space for students to come together to respectfully dialogue and reflect on the election. Presentation does an excellent job communicating with parents and I am very thankful for that. What is most impressive to me is the way that they live out their school motto, "Not Words, but Deeds". When you read their emails, their weekly newsletters, their Mission, Vision, and Commitment, their words honestly reflect what they practice. I am hopeful, knowing that these girls are being given the tools to take out into the world to make it a better, kinder, more empathetic place. read more

I have two daughters at Presentation High--one just graduated in 2023, and the other is a senior. Both are incredibly involved in school, excelling in sports, receiving a top-tier education, and genuinely appreciating their teachers. But there's one issue that I cannot ignore anymore--THE DRESS CODE, and it's completely out of control. We know the rules. We follow the rules. My daughters have been called out on a few occasions for having a logo the size of their fist on a hoodie. I'm talking about something so minimal, it's not even worth a second thought. And yet, my senior daughter has been consistently badgered over the same minor infraction. Enough is enough! But here's the real problem that's driving me absolutely insane: the blatant hypocrisy and favoritism that's happening with the enforcement of this dress code. It's infuriating to watch. I've seen countless LGBTQ+ students walking around wearing hats, beanies, ripped pants (not on Pres Wear Wednesday), hoodies with messages that violate the dress code, and even sunglasses in class. And NOTHING happens! Why are they allowed to get away with blatant disregard for the dress code, while my child gets punished for something so petty? Now, I get it, the school might be hesitant to confront LGBTQ+ students, but that doesn't mean the rest of us should be punished for their lack of consistency. I don't care if they're scared of being accused of homophobia or transphobia--this is a school, not a social experiment. The rules are there for EVERYONE, and they need to be enforced EQUALLY. It's an utter joke to watch my daughter get an hour of detention for a small logo while others can walk around in clothes that are clearly against the dress code, and nothing happens to them. This is not just unfair--it's outrageous! It's beyond frustrating that my child is being punished for something that doesn't even affect her education, her safety, or her ability to learn. Meanwhile, students wearing entirely inappropriate clothes--pants that aren't even part of the dress code, atheist hoodies, hats, and sunglasses indoors--get to do whatever they want without consequence. This isn't just a small oversight; this is a blatant, unacceptable double standard that I am absolutely DONE with. What kind of message is Presentation sending? That the rules only apply to some students but not others? That favoritism is okay as long as it's "politically correct"? My child deserves respect. She deserves to be treated fairly, and she deserves to not be punished for something that is completely arbitrary and unfair. The rules should be applied consistently, and I will NOT stand by while this double standard continues to undermine the school's integrity. read more

Our daughter has had a wonderful first-year experience at Presentation High School. There has not been a day when she's come home without saying "this was a great day". She feels included, has learned so much, and has had a lot of fun. I've also noticed that she has matured tremendously in her first year. An all-girls school has so many benefits. There are no boys, so the students are better focused and more confident, which is exactly what an all-boys school would highlight. There are so many clubs and opportunities for community service to help students explore what they might want to pursue. The administration is so easy to work with. They are responsive, helpful, empathetic, and so involved with activities that they know every student individually. Presentation will sharpen your student's confidence, knowledge, and emotional intelligence, motivating them to be ready for their college experience and beyond! read more

My daughter had a wonderful freshman year and is off to a good start for sophomore year. I would highly recommend Presentation. Yes, they have had their share of multiple issues in the past that they have dealt with. There is new administration that has come in in the past 5 years, two excellent women (President 5 years, Principal 2nd year). Coming out of Covid, they have implemented new policies and changes. They have advisory classes twice a week, which includes Student wellness topics and a Wellness Center, if they need a break or help. Presentation is an academically excellent school, preparing them for college. They have counselors helping them thru college determination and application process. My daughter does study a lot, but I would rather have her work hard now and learn the basics, than struggle in college. They also offer tons of extracurricular activities (clubs, robotics, dance, theater, sports, etc.) My daughter tried 2 new sports last year and loved them. In addition, they have the sports staff to help them with their health and performance. The community and environment is very welcoming. As this is an all-girls Catholic school, the girls are not competing for boys attention or against them. The community is ethnically diverse and I'm guessing only 60% are Catholic, but I don't really know. Since it is more of an academic school, the girls are more welcoming to each other. My daughter has made friends within the sports and theater groups. With all the issues they have had in the past, I do feel as the safety and support is exceptional and making sure they do not repeat the errors of the past. I would highly recommend Presentation, if you want an all-girls, Catholic, academically enriching school with lots of learning opportunities to help them grow into being confident young women. read more

Presentation High School has been exceptional in our experience. This is my daughter's second year at Pres. We find the course offerings prepare both the liberal arts and STEM focused students adequately, while challenging their intellect. Most of the teachers are passionate at educating the students. Outside of the classroom, students have opportunities to participate at various activities (clubs, community service, sports, robotics, not to mention a wonderful performing arts department!) In addition, I find the (newer) administration very pleasant and easy to work with. (Case in point is the proactive responses here by our new Principal!) They pay attention to concerns raised by the families and remedy the situations quickly and professionally. The negative comments posted here earlier are no longer issues at the school. My child feels very safe at the school and she is thriving in math as well as in all her subjects! She is also enjoying the extracurricular activities that Pres has to offer! Overall, Pres does a great job preparing the students to be well-rounded, intellectual, and confident young adults. read more

My daughter attended this school almost 4 years ago and we have only great things to say about our experience. The teachers are amazing, the curriculum is second to none and our daughter graduated with the confidence and passion to succeed in whatever she chooses. She has beautiful memories of her time at Presentation and so do we as an Alumni Family. Go Panthers! read more

My daughter has been here since freshmen year. She graduates 2023. PRESENTATION has been amazing. Most of the reviews stem from the sexual abuse that happen. Please be aware that they removed that as isnt ration and things are no longer the same. We have had nothing but great teachers a stronger administration, even during Covid the teachers where supportive. This was all brand new for everyone. PRES did a great job the community in PRES is more inclusive. They did a better job the Notredame! read more

10/10! Fantastic School! Our daughter had a fantastic experience at Presentation High School across all dimensions. Pres has a unique combination of a small, supportive environment with top-level, highly rigorous academics (on par or exceeding that offered by much larger schools), a broad range of engaging co-curricular activities (e.g., Robotics, PAC, interest and achievement-based clubs, sports, theater, multiple levels of student government, campus ministry, etc.), caring faculty, individualized support, and a student body that feels like a sisterhood. Presentation's motto is "Not Words, but Deeds", and you can see that motto in action every day at the school as the girls are encouraged to dive in and make a difference, both in terms of doing their best in their own lives but also via their faith and service to the community. Turning to outcomes, Pres consistently develops its students into informed, confident, and compassionate leaders. When the girls graduate, they are extremely well-prepared for college and beyond. We could not have asked for a better school for our daughter, who has grown tremendously during her time at Pres and was accepted into multiple UCs and other top colleges. Moreover, she feels the same way and is an enthusiastic supporter of the school and is already sad to be graduating (although of course excited for the exciting journey ahead). Highly recommend. read more

I would stay away from Presentation HS if your daughter are interested in the STEM program.. Brenda Welles is the worst math teacher we ever met. Never responses to emails, no feedback on Hw or tests. Tests results are not in until 1-2 months later, requests for the review of the tests are usually ignored until escalated ( 2 months after the tests are taken) Her Pre Calculus tests, have 30-35 questions and majority of the kids doesn't even come close to finishing them. Hate to call anyone out but she needs to retire as she wasn't prepared or supportive of students during Covid times. Bottomline , when math becomes subjective, you know Brenda Welles is clueless and/or ready for retirement!!! Withdrawing my kids from Prez and transferring them to Valley Christian:( read more

My daughter graduated from Pres in 2021 and had an awesome experience there. The faculty is solid and students are well prepared for college both socially and academically. The size of the school is ideal because it's large enough so kids will find friends who share similar interests and they will have plenty of opportunities to participate in various activities (service, sports, leadership, STEM, campus ministry, performing arts... you name it and Pres has it!) read more

Mrs. Welles, math teacher ruined my daughters chance at Ivy League. I found out 2 weeks before X-mas break that my daughter had a D-. I was frantic and upset that I was not contacted prior to the end of the semester. Doesn't it say somewhere in the Pres-Way that they communicate with the parents?! I saw my daughter every night till 4 am teaching herself on U-tube advanced Calculus. Ms. Welles doesnt teach. She leaves it up to the student to teach themselves, and she sure doesn't reach out to the student or parent when their grade is plummeting. Then when I met with Ms. Welles, she said my daughter didn't reach out to her. My daughter said she was actually afraid of her and she thought she could teach herself. Ms. Wells said my daughter could make up the grade if she does x, y & z over x-break. But, when my daughter was going to do the tasks, again, it was unclear and total confusion for both of us as to what she "didn't do". So, again, it was total chaos and confusion, and I was in the meeting! So, Ms. Welles, said, well, your daughter didn't do what I asked, and she gave my daughter the D. My daughter has straight A's, very high SAT, and this one D ruined her chances for Ivy. She's now at an average university, hoping to switch to Ivy in 2 years. I would like to also say I contacted the Principal, VP, counselors numerous times, but, I was ignored, and oh boy, talk about a good ol boys club. These teachers stick together. What a disappointment for all that money spent. Now, after having said that, I give all other teachers a 5 star, and as far as the over all experience with the other girls at the school, honestly, I wish I would had sent her somewhere else. read more

I graduated from Presentation High School in 2010. In 2006, I was 14 years old, and sexually abused by my Presentation math teacher. I contacted my school counselor who told me they already had complaints about him and that I shouldn't worry because he wouldn't be back next year. This teacher continued to abuse me the rest of the year and walked away with a clean record. Instead of removing this man immediately and reporting the complaints to CPS and SJPD, he was allowed to stay and continue to abuse. The abuse strongly impacted my life going into college and even to this day. read more

For over a year, we took our daughter to AVAC to learn how to swim. In that year, she learned how to stand up in 2 feet of water and move her feet and arms around and give us the impression of swimming. I think Criss Angel was her instructor. After that debacle, we were hesitant to put her in another swim school right away. But, after a year off, we were referred to Presentation High by a good friend. PH is leaps and bounds better than AVAC. Even though, that's not that hard, given our experience, they really stand out on how much effort they put in teaching the kids. First off, registration is easy (Summer classes only). Basically, you can just do it online. Second. when you get there, you just look to see who your kid is with and they will call them when it's time. Third, the instructors are fantastic! I don't know if they are all high school students, but they all seem to be fairly young. Nonetheless, they are awesome! We've had Mimi, Lindsay, Megan, Luke, and Jessica to name a few. Can't say enough good things! When class is over, they will give you a brief summary of their progress. Classes usually run about a week (4 days) and each class is 1-on-1 for 25 minutes. Saturdays are available, as well. The pool itself is used for competitions and is kept in great condition. For the parents waiting, they put up canopies, so they can sit down in seats or benches and watch their kids during class. read more

As of recently, Pres has completely changed the bell schedule so that there are no longer frequent early dismissal days. Previously, they would survey the students on how they would like their basic block schedule to run, but it seems that with COVID-19 they completely forgot to check in with the people that are keeping them in business. read more

If you are looking for a Catholic school, Presentation High School is not it. Send your girls elsewhere if you want them to learn about the faith. The administration is uncommunicative, indecisive and unwilling to listen to concerns from parents and students alike. And if your daughter is an athlete, Presentation is a true disappointment. It was once a powerhouse, but no longer. It will be a VERY pricey STEM only school in no time, which is fine for some, not all. My daughter and her friends have had an unfortunate 4 years, starting with the sexual abuse situation which only went downhill from there. read more

This is a great all girls private school. The teachers are very well rounded and helpful. The staff is pretty patient for all those things they have to deal with. They promote higher education. Even though you're no longer paying tuition, they will support you and write any recommendations you need, no matter how long it's been since you've visted/kept in touch with them. Although tuition is pretty steep, it's worth it. A great investment to any young girl's future! read more

Bless my parents' hearts for spending a total of 52k to send me and my sister here. Gosh, I wish we could get that money back. Not because it wasn't worth it but because that's a lot of money to pay for high school education! Actually tuition for the '10-'11 year is $14,045. That's steep as is all Catholic school tuition with inflation about 7%. The good: -very safe campus: zero tolerance for boys, alcohol, drugs, or smoking on campus -uniforms made it convenient and I liked not having to worry about what to wear to school -strong English department -small class size -Spanish dept rocked (love ya señor Fernandez!) -very committed to giving back to community: toy drive, food drive, penny drive, community involvement club -lots of half days: no school is cool The bad: -I don't think the education was that great -ethnically and religiously not very diverse- more than 70% white and even higher % catholic -preferential treatment for admission to girls who have family members who are alums, people with lots of money, and those who come from the feeder catholic schools -religion class was mandatory for 7/8 semesters even for non-Catholics -money talks big time -math and science depts were weak for the most part: they had no AP chemistry or AP physics (mr pistacchi and mrs mcbride were good and dedicated teachers though) -Did private school actually increase the chance of getting into a good college? I'd say no because my friends who went to public schools got into just as good (if not better) colleges than my classmates at Pres. If I had a son, I would absolutely send him to Bellarmine. It's about the same price, but has a much stronger academic and athletic presence. It's also more established and an all boys school though, so girls wouldn't be able to go there. I think Bellarmine is worth the cost, but Pres, I don't know. To conclude this very long review, if you have two children, one daughter and one son, and only have money to send one to private HS, then send your son to Bellarmine. Disclaimer: this is in NO way endorsing Notre Dame HS as a better alternative to Pres. If I had to choose between the two, I'd still choose Pres. read more

I was fortunate enough that my parents were able to send me to Presentation High School during the 90s. The level of education that I received was superior to anything I could have obtained at a public school. Teachers were engaging, the curriculum was strong, and the school spirit was palpable. I participated in numerous clubs, mixers, sports - the works. It held its fair share of cliques, but that's to be expected. After I graduated, I organized my class 5-year and 10-year reunion. I started the Young Alumnae Board in 2010 with the desire to give back to the community that helped foster who I am today. I wanted to connect alumnae in a way that had not previously been done, providing them with opportunities to stay involved, and directly pay for a student's tuition through social fundraising efforts. This was welcomed by the Alumnae Director and is still in place today. I helped raise funds by participating in the annual Swim to Remember event which benefited breast cancer and was in honor of a beloved teacher to me, Mrs. Buchser. I participated in every day of the school's 50th-anniversary-weekend celebration, the golf tournament, and days of service geared toward the community. I stayed involved. After all, the school's motto "Not Words, But Deeds" resonated with me as a student and continues today as an adult. It is a mission statement that I believe in strongly. I used to be proud to publicize that I am a Presentation alumnae. Those in the community recognized what this meant, and it was respected. It opened doors that may have otherwise been shut. Over the last 10 months, the school has suffered numerous allegations of child abuse and violated reporting laws by multiple named-faculty members dating back to the 1970's. (Search makepressafe) Despite the number of victims amassing at an alarming rate, administration stands firmly opposed, unequivocally stating, "I am proud of the measures we have in place to protect our students both in the past and the present. And, I want to assure every member of this community that the actions taken by PHS in the past not only followed the law but were sound decisions." For an organization that believes their school must be an active institution for peace and justice in the greater community, it is a shame that the emails I have received as alumnae have been so immediately & staunchly dismissive with unwavering support for the administration. In a time of #metoo, and as the young say, I can't even. Saying that, I am happy that they have, as of May 2018, revised their policies for the protection of students and that staff completed an online course on Mandatory reporting with two more interactive sessions on mandatory reporting practices and procedures. I am embarrassed that it took this long (and at so many expenses) to rectify. read more

Great for an academic education. Excellent college prep. Money talks. 1 star: Safe campus 1 star: Great sense of community spirit 1 star: Excellent college preparedness 1 star: Four years they'll fondly remember 0 stars: Softball/Athletic program like a train wreck you can't stop looking at. read more

My time as PHS was mixed. Lots of John Hughes type angst, but the structure was good. I had an undiagnosed learning disability and was pretty much just labeled lazy. I had hard time integrating coming from public schools, very cliquey and intimidating as a newcomer. My Spanish teacher, Mr. Fernandez was very inappropriate, used to offer higher grades if we got him a date. I stayed away from him, but wish I had listen to my instinct as he sexually assaulted my sister. The administration's response is beyond baffling. The school administration's leadership has not changed in 30 years and would benefit from fresh perspective and new thinking. read more

I attended PHS 95-99. I was also a donor and huge supporter for decades. What I have personally experienced since the allegations of sexual assault have come out is the negative bullying tactics by the administration to belittle anyone who actually supports the victims. I've received many emails directly from the principal that call people names, second guess sources, and shame victims and their supporters. This is not professional, nor is having the communication come from the very person who allegedly broke the laws to begin with. It has really shown me how the administration and board works. I gave 1 star for the academics, it was more challenging than college, the 2nd star is for the empowerment they preached. I'll gladly give them a 3rd star when they practice that empowerment and remove Mary Miller OR agree to an independent investigation. The students and the majority of teachers are amazing and phenomenal people, however, it is every mandated reporters' responsibility to protect children and to properly address any and all allegations and to treat everyone, including alleged victims, with respect and decency and I have not seen that whatsoever. read more

My daughter graduated from this school this year and we are glad to be out of there. It has gone downhill overnight. The new admin are all young and have no experience and aren't even Catholic. The new President spends money like crazy yet no fundraising has happened and this year we hear they are cutting programs left and right in addition to laying several staff off. They are running the school into the ground financially. We also hear they just spent over 2 million on the purchase of a house in the neighborhood. What is going on over there? Where is our tuition going if they are cutting staff yet buying property? Over 20 staff members were laid off or left this year. And they aren't replacing them so departments will be smaller with a larger load on the people left. Some of our daughter's most beloved teachers were laid off or left. In fact the 3 teachers that all won teacher of the year awards this year (chosen by students) are now gone. So do they value the students and what is best for them or the bottom line? Right...bottom line. We have had several staff members confide in us that they are uncomfortable working there because of the poor management and bad reputation and they are looking to leave within the year. This is a high pressure stressful environment that focuses more on appearance than the wellbeing of the children. The homework load is outrageous. I would not recommend it based on what this school has become. Not to mention all the accounts of sexual abuse over the years there. And several staff are still there that are mentioned in the reports, including the principal, counselors, and teachers. Unbelievable. No wonder enrollment is going downhill there. Look elsewhere. Your daughter deserves better. This place won't be open much longer. read more

Pres. Is a great school that really cares about their students. My two daughters have attended and they loved it. It's pricey but I think worth the money. They have a great curriculum and their sports program is competitive. Definitely a great school read more

I was also a victim of sexual abuse at presentation. I was initially very afraid to tell anyone what the teacher was doing to me because this was suppose to be a great school where everyone wanted their daughter to go. My counselor at the time, Rose Marie Healy, did not believe me and had the audacity to blame my parents for my troubles because we 'have a big family and they didn't give me enough attention' !!! Luckily my parents believed in me and pulled me out immediately. I owe my life to my parents who loved and cared for me during this horrible time. Both my parents tried to get appointments to communicated to the principal about the situation and absolutely nothing was done. She kept cancelling the appointments with my parents. I just wish my counselor, Rose Marie Healy, would have listened to me and helped me. I was young, scared and being sexually abused by my teacher!!! I still to this day struggle with what happened to me and how/why this was allowed to be ignored!! I hope and pray that Rose Marie Healy will realize she was the one who could have helped me right from the beginning, but she chose not to. Shame on her for ignoring me and shame on the principal for ignoring my parents. read more

I graduated from this school. I felt it was an unhealthy environment for women because there weren't very many GOOD male role models. One male teacher constantly screamed at the students when I attended. Another was very flirty. One math teacher was professional and a good role model but he is no longer there. Now it has come to light that as many as 20 women reported abuse and inappropriate behavior to the administration over 30 years but these reports were swept under the rug. I would not trust this school because at this point they will not agree to an independent investigation. If they have nothing to hide, they should allow an investigation. read more