I'm a parent of two current RBV students. Both kids, a junior & a freshman, are achieving goals…read moreboth academically and athletically. My kids seem to be getting a great education. So far, all teachers have been excellent or mostly very good. One teacher of Beginning Spanish had teaching methods that did not work for my shyer son. I attend school events and make a point to speak with each teacher. Some teachers are clearly outstanding!! Their dedication to teaching is admirable. They are creative, and find ways to stay motivated. As you know, it's not easy being a high school student, and it's also not easy teaching them. The new principal, Dr. Clevenger, is so friendly. My kids love him because he walks around at lunch, says hi and is fun. I respect and admire the talented Field hockey coaches that have interacted so positively with my kids during this 2019 field hockey season. All the office staff seem to be amazing. During my attendance office visits & phone calls, they are always organized and kind. The front office is staffed with experienced people who know the answers and are also friendly. My kids' & my interactions with outdoor staff have been positive too. There are men & women who maintain school operations and facilities. They seem to do a fine job keeping students safe, drop-off/pick-up organization, etc. A staff member kindly helped my kid get her "lost" hockey bag from a locked classroom. My family is happy with RBV!

Now that my kids have graduated…read more.. Background: We switched from the charter system at the high school level. We were running out of classes to take/electives, we were having to volunteer to the point where between extra curriculars and homework, we were down to 2-3 hours of sleep per night. Running around sleep deprived with lack of support from the school. Add on top of that there was a whole lot of politics/parent drama being dragged onto campus and I could see that kids were turning inward in survival mode instead of growing/thriving. You can probably read in my other review (of a charter) that we went to a public school and they helped us come up with a plan in under 10 minutes for two students. That was RBV. And yes, their counseling department was/is fantastic. They answered our questions even without an appointment. Any time we needed support, they were always there and went the extra mile. When we did a school tour, we watched the senior class president speak with poise and confidence. That was a HUGE difference between the charter kids and the public school kids. I pointed at him and told my kids that they needed to go from mousey to that guy by graduation. So was it worth it? It depends. Were there more electives? YES!! Even shop class. The kids made a lot of great memories finding out who they are, while contributing to the community through their classes. Were the science classes as good? Depends. Chemistry, no. They didn't do a lot of hands on which was majorly disappointing (they really need to shore up this part of the curriculum), but they had these awesome elective science classes that made learning interesting and fun. The environment was far more competitive then collaborative (with the exception of track and cross country, those were great experiences). Did my kids gain confidence that we were looking for and learn to stand up for themselves? Yes. Getting the parents out of the way and getting them involved in clubs made a huge difference. There were also great teachers along the way that were awesome mentors for both of my kids. And what didn't work for them taught them to either advocate for a solution or change what you are doing to go try something else. That lesson will carry them for life. RBV is a public school and you have to set your expectations. You are going to have everything from the driven kids to the knuckleheads who just want to goof off. Are kids probably going to make fun of yours by saying stupid stuff like any other public school? Yes. Are kids doing sketchy things in the bathroom? Yes, it's public school. We got that in charter school too. That's high school for you. Is it safe? Average. The first day of school, the other kids were cool and told mine where the escape points were on campus should there be an active shooter (see other Yelp reviews, that all happened before we made the change). It stinks that it's the world we live in but it is good to know that the kids were nice enough to share how to stay safe with students that they just met. The only thing we missed with the charter is that they had a partnership with the junior college. Before we left the charter, we had signed up for a summer class (due to lack of electives). It turns out to do that at public school and put it on your transcript is a BIG DEAL with Vista Unified. You have to ask permission, go through a long process, etc. "We should have asked permission," blah, blah, blah. Long story short, it was on their transcript by graduation but if you want to dual enroll, it's not easy at RBV. Not impossible (and even discouraged) but not easy. If your kid wants to do primarily dual enrollment, go the charter route. Also the awareness of what it takes to get into college was better at the charter level. Since the school owned more of the every day educational responsibilities, it allowed me (parent) to go find the information for the kids, reach out to colleges, ask them for advice, schedule tours, etc. RBV had all sorts of colleges come to campus (and the military) and allow students to ask questions. So that's good. But if your kids don't know what to ask, well that's where are a parent, you help connect the dots. The lesson I learned that I want to share with every other parent is kids grow at their own rate. It is our job to give them options, opportunity to try things and figure out what they are about while this stuff is free. You don't have to burn yourself out or them out while doing it. You know your kid. You know what they need. If they need a lot of options, RBV is a good fit. If they need more parents involvement, independent study/flexibility in learning/curriculum, or dual enrollment, then by all means go the route of the charter school. High school and college have one thing in common. The name alone means nothing, it's about finding your best fit. There is more than one option, more than one teaching style. Do what is right for your situation.

VIDA changed locations in the summer of 2025 and is now located on Foothill Dr in Vista. Our family…read moreloves this school. So many options for the design labs. The music program is really a marvel. Choir, violin and drumming lessons are all offered including a school band! Academic awards are given out twice a year on a nice ceremony. The only negatives are the too small parking lot and the kids think the student lunches are not good. I wish Spanish was offered but the good far outweighs the bad! 5 stars for VIDA!

VIDA drop-off & pick-up FU traffic interruptions to normal traffic patterns has got to get revamped…read morebefore someone gets killed...witnessed two vey dangerous incidents of cars trying to pass via on coming traffic due to the stopped pick-up line on Foothill...personal delayed 10-15 mins depend on time of the afternoon window. I have two reports of property value impact in the San Clemente Ave neighborhood too! Can you say law suit! This needs to be addressed.

Amazing school with a principal and staff who truly care! Principal Emyr Rich knows the students by…read morename and warmly welcomes them each morning. The school provides a safe, fun, and engaging environment with great teachers and challenging classes. The staff and counselors are always willing to listen and help. We are so grateful to be part of this wonderful school!

Such a wonderful school from at least 1938 (for what I saw at a plate in the main courtyard). I…read morewent there this week for an interpreting job and spent a great time walking around the facilities that remind me of the Spanish revival style. I was able to imagine the various generations of Vista kids attending this pristine white (even if with some maintenance needed) school. I loved so many details, from the 1930s water fountains to the skates 'parking lot'. They have a memorial fragrant rose garden and the trees are just gorgeous. So much greenery and open spaces. I like the architecture of this school a lot and the memories the past I imagine were made here. Another cute touch are the tiles also Spanish style.

The staff looks through your kids pictures without consent and are very rude about giving back your…read morechildren's stuff. My daughter had to wait a while before getting her things back and this isn't the first kid they've done it to.

I hate this school fuck y'all staff but more to ms Beth and and thank you for those who ruined my…read moreschool year

My son had Tami Camara as a 1st grade teacher and I was unaware of the terrible way he was treated…read more She yelled at him, punished him by making him skipped recess and picked on him all the time. I ended up switching schools when at the time principal on staff didn't do anything about it. My son had the worse experience and by far the worse teacher he's ever had. Shame on you Ms Camara!

Such an incredible environment with so much to offer! From great labs, to fantastic teachers and an…read moreincredible principal, Casita literally has it all.

Caring and Loving and Praying…read more VCS walks the talk and encourages the students to be their best. Our son has attended VCS for 3 years now and he has grown and matured incredible. We thank God for VCS and pray God's Spirit continues to guide the teachers here. The education is very high caliber. We have seen that students are allowed to learn at their own pace but are encouraged by the teachers to grow. There is individual one on one care and instruction by the teachers which helps a student's progress tremendously.

We had the privilege of sending our daughter to VCS for fourth grade. The entire staff was warm and…read morewelcoming from the front office to the educators. Chapel on Fridays is a huge perk for the kids and parents alike. Also, kids have the opportunity twice a year to partake in school musicals which aren't offered at most elementary / middle schools. If it wasn't for financial / commuting reasons, we'd have all 3 kids there. VCS is a great school if you're looking for a good education and good community grounded in Christian values.

I have been going in numerous occasions to this big high school for interpreting assignments since…read morelast years and has been an excellent experience every time. The school staff is so welcoming, the high school has a 1970s allure that I find always fascinating. I like the V that I see as victory. Classrooms are big and there is a lot of space everywhere, including the newer building. Always great to go to Vista High School and get the know parents and students too

I feel the teachers here really do care about students and they try to provide the students with a…read moregood education and a safe place away from other stressful things outside of school, but sadly there is WAY TOO MUCH GANG ACTIVITY here. Violence off and on campus...it is beyond sad. I would never allow my kids to go here even if I lived next door.

I can't imagine how lame I am for writing a review about my middle/high school. But I also can't…read moreimagine my life without it. Regardless of the drudgery of the day-to-day, which I often despised about GPA, this place truly provided the best education. Period. When I evaluate my ability to present, communicate, articulate, think, and maneuver technology in my life, I can't help but reference first receiving tutorial at the pond. Albeit, my experience was enhanced by student-employment and a close relationship with faculty, I'm still amazed at how the academics and philosophies of Guajome have provided a much greater edge for the higher education and occupational employment I'm experiencing in my life!

**One star: Why our family left Guajome**…read more This review is several years overdue. Our daughters attended Guajome for a couple of years, and my wife worked there for several years. The experiences described here principally concern 2019-2020. I'm writing now because parents considering this school deserve to hear why a family that started with high hopes ultimately left. There were some positives. Barely. We appreciated some caring teachers, particularly at the elementary level, and thought the independent study program had worthwhile aspects. Our criticism is primarily about administrative judgment, the learning environment, and how serious concerns were handled. We chose a charter school hoping for meaningful parent involvement and a stronger educational experience. What we increasingly encountered felt like an institution defending its existing decisions rather than working with parents. **An assembly we reviewed firsthand** When our older daughter was in sixth grade, the school hosted Kaiser's "Someone Like Me" presentation. We felt the advance information did not adequately explain its content, so we opted her out. I attended personally to see what was being presented. Although the production addressed worthwhile subjects such as bullying and seeking help, it included sexual propositions and sexual rumors that were totally inappropriate for sixth graders. My objection was to the specific content and the inadequate information parents received beforehand. In February 2019, I wrote to multiple administrators, including the superintendent and curriculum administrator, describing what I had witnessed and why I objected. This was a detailed parental complaint based on attending the presentation myself. **Sex education and the response to our concerns** The following year, we attended the parent preview for the seventh-grade sexual health program and reviewed its curriculum. We considered portions unnecessarily explicit and inappropriate for our daughter's maturity level, and opted her out. That did not prevent classmates from relaying material to her afterward. She was upset by information she was not prepared to process. For our family, "you can opt out" did not resolve the broader concern about the environment she was spending her days in. We sought answers and requested a meeting. The curriculum administrator referred us to the PE department, and we were directed toward the outside provider for curriculum questions. A subsequent response, preserved in our correspondence from that time, stated that the school believed the program "best meets the needs of our students" and would consider parent feedback. We found that response canned and dismissive. It did not meaningfully explain why the specific material we objected to was appropriate. **The everyday environment** Our concerns extended beyond sex education. Our daughter reported persistent foul language and pressure to vape, including being insulted when she refused. We also felt she was not being sufficiently challenged academically. As she moved into the later grades, she reported increasingly being singled out over her race and perceived family income. Not knowing a particular Hispanic tradition would prompt comments about her being "so white." She also reported being called "racist" and a "rich girl," with the latter apparently based on our family living in a house rather than an apartment. We found those comments obviously demeaning. We wanted her in a school environment where students could learn about different backgrounds without being mocked or labeled because of their own. In May 2020, my wife explained to a teacher why we were withdrawing our children, while also expressing how much we valued that teacher. We could appreciate individual teachers and still conclude that the school environment was not right for our daughters. **A separate concern about staff safety** My wife also described a serious incident involving a student who accidentally shot himself off campus as he was planning to bring a gun to school. In March 2020, she objected in writing to discussion of that student possibly returning to her classroom, specifically citing concerns about his access to and use of guns. The administrator who replied said she would advocate against his return to that class but could not promise it. The possibility being discussed was deeply troubling to my wife for obvious reasons. My wife also told me that, in a closed staff meeting following the incident, the administration instructed staff not to speak to the press. Hearing her account left me concerned that managing the school's public image was receiving attention that should have been focused on reassuring staff about safety. **Why we left** Did Guajome offer some advantages over a conventional district school? In our view, yes, but nowhere near enough to outweigh these problems.

Everything from the security to the professors are kind, helpful, and on top of it. Good people…read more I haven't attended the school as a student... but I have a few friends here and they like it and say almost all positive. Excellent school! Tim B., Spanish professor is cool, too. I recommend to the right student... one committed to education, physical and mental health, and overall personal growth and development.

Great school, I highly recommend PRS. My daughter loves it and the teachers are great.read more

My son attended SMHS last year (freshman year). The school has drug problems (students offer joints…read moreto kids using bathroom), vaping problems (students smoke in the staircase) and of course there are gangs. The school has so many students, that it is impossible to keep an eye on them. Looks great from the outside, but this is not a good place for students who need more guidance, counseling and care.

I had a terrible experience with that one counselor named Laura Perez, that lady was so…read moreunprofessional and told me to shut up after I dealt something traumatic after class. She's a 2 faced bitch.