I have read several reviews while I'm here waiting for an elementary school spring sing event to start and I must agree with a lot of what I've read about this school Yes this is a very hot campus There is no wind today and No shade to be found... anywhere I traveled all over the campus on a quest to quench my thirst Only to find they have no soda or water machines. I couldn't believe it so I had to ask. I asked a teacher who works here and was told they took them all out. Curious why the school, a government actor, would elect to chose for every student and employee of the school that they are no longer aloud to drink soda or water. Could this be a constitutional law issue? If students at other schools are aloud to drink water and soda wouldn't their decision to remove the soda and water machines be a violation of equal protection? Happily I went to Soquel high. A school with great teachers, an awesome athletics program, plenty of shade and places to relax, and we were even aloud to drink water and soda. If I were a middle school parent looking for a place to send my kids to high school I would chose the best school in the country, Soquel high. BE A KNIGHT!!! Not a silly bird in search of water read more

Scotts Valley High School - Middle Schools & High Schools Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

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Currently a senior here and enjoying it! Spent most of my 4 years here, minus one month of transferring. 4.3 GPA up to my senior year. Attending UC Santa Barbara in the fall! Academics: 4.5 Stars Excellent. We have the IB program which is a great college prep program similar to AP. IB is just different in the sense that it's known all around the world whereas AP is just known in the US. We have the second highest STAR test score in our county, right behind PCS which is almost a private school and are crazy smart! We have the highest passing rate of the CAHSEE (high school exit exam) in our county as well. In 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, & 2010 Scotts Valley High School was rated nationally among the top 5% of public high schools by Newsweek magazine and earned an honorable mention in the California Distinguished High School Recognition Program. Many of our students are very committed to higher education. Around 98% of our graduates go on to college, not just community colleges either! Some of our 2011 graduates currently attend UCLA, Princeton, Berkley, Cal Poly SLO, UCSB, UCSD, and many more. Not bad eh? :) Teachers: 4.5 Stars Fantastic teachers! I'm taking harder classes but overall the staff here is very nice, professional and intelligent. I actually felt like I was learning something here! With every school there are teachers who aren't so great, but in general we have an excellent group of teachers! Hanson, Wahl, Freeman, Brooke, Brandt, Schafer, Crawford, Carey, McQuestion... Seriously the list goes on. Student Life: 3.5 Stars The students are pretty nice here. It's a small community that's been growing together for many years. I've gone to school with a good portion of my class for almost 10+ years now. Very modern, contemporary culture. Good student government that throws many rallies and assemblies. Downside is that there isn't much diversity. Almost all students are Caucasian and a handful not. No fights, rare bullying. Some students have thought there was a bullying issue here. If there is, which i cannot tell, it's definitely underground and an emotional attack. Since there is not much diversity here, if one seems to be slightly different or an 'outcast', they may have a hard time finding friends. Some students here can be very judgmental. Overall, good students! Athletics: 4 Stars We have an awesome Athletic Director names Louie Walters who takes care of literally everything. We're known for our football (with one girl on the team), which never fails to to make SCCAL finals. Our track and cross country teams are insanely good with excellent runners that get many scholarships to colleges. In tennis, both girls and boys teams finished top in our county. Basketball, baseball, swimming, and waterpolo are competitive but not what we're known for. Volleyball is extremely lacking. Reputation: We get this reputation for being conservative, religious, rich, white and snobby. Eh... well we are very white! Most, well 90% of our students are Caucasian. We are more slightly on the conservative side than other schools in the county. Our student's families range in the middle to upper middle class families. I don't see much stuck-up attitudes here fortunately. Community: Scotts Valley is a pretty small town that's very different than the neighboring Santa Cruz. SV is much more conservative and well off than people in SC. It's not a terrible thing. The students know each other well and have been attending schools together for many, many years. If you go to Safeway or any popular store here, chances are, you'll see someone you know! I've been here for 15 years and I gotta say this town really does grow on you. I've lived in other areas and gone to a very diverse school in Fremont and find Scotts Valley is a great place to be! read more

Let me start off by saying that I am well aware SVHS is considered by many a great school. I'm not going to attempt to refute their claims, only add in my own opinion. Academically, it is very advanced, with many good teachers and of course the well known and respected IB program. However, for someone who is not your average student and/or has learning differences or difficulties, it may not be a great choice. After struggling through 1 1/2 years at SVHS, and barely passing any of my classes, my mother and I went to speak to the counselor. We were referred to the special needs department, where I was tested, essentially to see if I could function at a basic cognitive level. After determining that my IQ is NOT below 85, they told us that there was nothing more they could do for us aside from putting me into the special needs program. Clearly, this would not be a good fit for me. This was the main reason that I made the decision to stop going to SVHS, and to pursue my education in an independent studies setting. In doing so, I went from an F to a straight A student almost immediately. What I'm trying to say with all this is that my personal academic experience there was very sub-par, and even when I sought help, none was given. Scotts Valley is, however, in general, a very good academic choice for students who don't have learning differences or difficulties. As for the social aspect, I have even fewer positive things to say. If anyone has told you that Scotts Valley is largely a white, upper-middle-class, soccer mom filled bubble, they are largely correct. I transferred to SVMS in 8th grade after having gone to a private school in Santa Cruz all my life, and the culture shock was immense. 8th grade was certainly not the best year of my life, but I expected things to change when I got to high school. After all, people do mature, right? Not at Scotts Valley, they don't. The bullying, ostracizing, and hazing I experienced went on until I left the Scotts Valley school system. Most of it was weight/appearance related, which just goes to show that the people here can be very shallow and even downright cruel. When I wasn't busy being harassed, it was as if I was so far below everyone that I didn't even exist. That's not to say that I didn't encounter some incredibly nice, reasonable students at Scotts Valley, because I did. There are some truly nice people, and it is possible to have a good social experience at SVHS. Nevertheless, from what I have experienced, and also heard, that is generally only if you are popular, rich, and involved in sports. Otherwise, you will almost certainly be treated like a dog by half the school. In summary, Scotts Valley is not a terrible school. However, my experience there WAS terrible, and after leaving halfway through my Sophomore year, I have experienced an incredible change in my life for the better. read more

My son goes to Scotts Vally High School, so this is a parent view point. It has excellent academics. The most kids graduating in the county. The only International Baccalaureate program in the county. All the sports coaches are super loving and provide amazing to the kids. Boys and girls on the football team! I personally hate football, but my son said he just wanted to practice with the team and stay in shape (good sell). He stayed busy all summer and all winter. Practices were 4 days a week for 3 hours a day. As a mom who was pulling her hair out about how to keep my young man on the straight and narrow in a county plagued by addiction and complacency about young drug use. It was a lifeline. They created a family and took him in. My son is one of very few African Americans in the school, and that is the only downside. Let me just name some of the most helpful and loving people there: Ms. Danner, the Registrar, the Attendance Secretary, the Vice Principal and especially Coach La Hood and the football moms and coaches. Thank you Thank you! read more

This school is absolutely awful. Not only is everything in the school run down and under funded, but on top of that, most of the teachers hate their jobs, are nasty to students and give lots of busy work. The worst part about the entire school is the ridiculous closed campus policy. Students are not aloud to leave the school for any reason during lunch, break, or even if they have a free period which is outrageous. The school has almost no shade too, so on hot days you are forced to sit out in the hot sun with nothing to do. On top of that they have rude and nasty staff watching, and making sure you don't go out to your car during lunch. Sitting in your car for any reason is also not aloud, which is completely outrageous. The food is also terrible and overpriced. Now, as for the students, they are pretty awful as well. Being a new student there has been one of the most terrible school experiences of my life. Not only does everyone already have friends, but no one is willing to become your friend or even talk to you due to long already made friendships since these kids have been friends from a young age. Talking to them is hard, and there are also a lot of bullies on campus that go unnoticed. Overall a terrible run down, awful school with terrible rules, regulations, and teachers, and an even more awful curriculum. I strongly recommend doing home school over this school if you can't get into another one. It has saved me so much pain, and I have been 1000x happier ever since. read more

This school is absolutely awful. Not only is everything in the school run down and under funded, but on top of that, most of the teachers hate their jobs, are nasty to students and give lots of busy work. The worst part about the entire school is the ridiculous closed campus policy. Students are not aloud to leave the school for any reason during lunch, break, or even if they have a free period which is outrageous. The school has almost no shade too, so on hot days you are forced to sit out in the hot sun with nothing to do. On top of that they have rude and nasty staff watching, and making sure you don't go out to your car during lunch. Sitting in your car for any reason is also not aloud, which is completely outrageous. The food is also terrible and overpriced. Now, as for the students, they are pretty awful as well. Being a new student there has been one of the most terrible school experiences of my life. Not only does everyone already have friends, but no one is willing to become your friend or even talk to you due to long already made friendships since these kids have been friends from a young age. Talking to them is hard, and there are also a lot of bullies on campus that go unnoticed. Overall a terrible run down, awful school with terrible rules, regulations, and teachers, and an even more awful curriculum. I strongly recommend doing home school over this school if you can't get into another one. It has saved me so much pain, and I have been 1000x happier ever since. read more