Aptos High School

100 Mariner Way

School District

Pajaro Valley Unified
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Pajaro Valley Unified School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on May 11, 2023

i was sceptical at first, but overall the school has had a positive effect on my daughters self esteem and grades.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2022

Academics is mediocre. The girl’s volleyball program would be better if they had a coach with more experience, a personality and compassion for his players. Hunter Zeng lacks interpersonal and intrapersonal skills to run a successful program. He wants the attention to be on him and not his players. Hunter lacks the ability to improve the program and players. He is more focused on getting reps to develop his own beach volleyball skills.
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2021

My son has had a positive experience here. Although I hear reports of bullying, this has luckily not happened to him. He is a serious student who is in mostly honors/AP classes and no sports. When he was identified with learning challenges, the staff and his teachers were generally very responsive to our concerns and established supportive measures for him. I like that there are many creative arts options, including clubs.
Submitted by student on January 28, 2020

Horrible. The school compared to many others is a catastrophe. The only thing that keeps me coming back is football and sometimes that's not enough.
Submitted by parent on December 19, 2019

We should have NEVER sent our daughter here.
Submitted by student on April 13, 2018

I haven't had that many problems directly with the people at this school but I don't feel like I am getting a good education here as well with what my previous reviews mentioned. This school is a place I can't wait to graduate from and then never come back to. The teachers and administration will get no thank yous from me when I graduate.
Submitted by parent on August 16, 2017

My son likes it here, since he grew up in the Aptos school zone.The campus is really big, so lots of walking for everyone here.They are serious about the school's sports teams also.The school needs help on landscaping, needs beautification.
Submitted by student on May 10, 2017

This school is completely sports-based, to the point where it's ridiculous. If they spent a fraction of the amount that they spend on sports, on academics, the school clubs and classes would drastically improve. Every morning they announce which teams won, and the football players run around the school shirtless. It's honestly so off-putting. They also suspended someone for posting a video that made the school look bad. As if it might tarnish their perfect reputation. The language, especially Spanish, department is terrible. My brother went through most or all of the teachers here and there is only one who is respectable. All the others don't seem to care about their jobs or students and teach the bare minimums only. I would reccomend this school if you play sports, are white, or interested in joining ASB. If you are anything else, Aptos is probably not the school for you.
Submitted by student on January 29, 2017

Basically restating what I said: The homework load is way to much and so much is expected for every class. I can not put into words how bad the teachers are but I will surely try. Throughout the first semester of my freshman year the teachers already seemed over it. Ever teacher has a bad attitude and terrible approach to the subject they are teaching. ALL the teachers are BEYOND LAZY!!! Lazy is such an under statement when it comes to the teachers at aptos. In a nutshell they care more about sport scores than an average students mental health. ZERO LEADERSHIP. You're on your own. This school develops strong character in its students, like rudeness, no manners, lazy. DO NOT ENROLL IF YOU OR A STUDENT HAS LEARNING DIFFERENCES!! Aptos has a terrible program. Bullying is real issue and it sad to see the staff really flip the scrip. I have been in a situation where I was being bullied and then they brought up how I was "rude to a teacher" and then I got a detention, WHEN I CAME TO THEM BECAUSE I WAS BEING BULLIED!
Submitted by student on December 05, 2016

Freshman year was one of the worst experiences of my entire life, but it laid the groundwork for what I am today. My sophomore year was pretty good (thanks mostly to the school's drama department, which is top notch). My Junior year is going incredibly, and I'm excited for what's to come. Although there are a lot of bad teachers at this school, there are also a lot of great ones, so I urge anyone planning on attending to do their research before hand. Overall, 7/10 would be an upperclassman again, but not a sophomore or freshman.
Submitted by parent on July 05, 2016

I have two kids attending this school and I could not be happier. Their teachers have rigorous courses, are communicative, creative and professional. In looking at data on CDE website about graduation rates, the percentage of kids who qualify and end up in high level universities (as compared to other local schools including privates) I am super impressed. I read in the papers about innovative programs such as AP Capstone - that my student enrolled in (and nobody else on Central Coast offers) and have attended amazingly informative Parent Education Series events with world renowned researchers/writers such as Dr, Madeline Lavine and Dr. Adriana Galvan. The school has lots of philanthropic clubs like Red Cross, kids Rotary and the athletic programs are constantly in the papers for winning at levels all the way up to the state - don't they even have a state champion mountain bike team? My kids are very happy, love their teachers, and are on their way to great things - thank you to Aptos High.
Submitted by other on April 01, 2014

This school, for a lesser word, is repulsive. Most of the teachers are not helpful in anyway toward the students. The science department, except for a few, are old haggard men who think they are the definition of science; for example they are only thoughtful and helpful to students who show a scientific mind and anyone who has even the slightest bit of trouble they write off. I don't think half of them even have a PhD but yet they act as if they're god; just very, very narrow minded. More than the ludicrous science dept., most other faculty members are as closed off and unwelcoming too. I am beyond done with this school and I hope they're bad ethics are revealed and things start to change.. Mariner Moms are a bunch of petty woman who like to interfere in the lives of students who see more than what high school offers. They act like they're still in high school and act in a place of which they know nothing and shouldn't be involved. Please, go live your own pathetic life and stop interfering in mine. Aptos high school is a place where the teachers and parents are so unaccomplished they in turn hold back every other student to the same pathetic life they're subjected too.
Submitted by teacher on January 30, 2014

Absolutely horrific school in every way imaginable. With the vast majority of the teachers it is obvious they do not care for the student's education and are more worried about their next paycheck with very few exceptions. The academics are also put as second fiddle to the complete over indulgence in sports. The students are also extremely bad-mannered with no respect for peers or faculty whatsoever. Racism, homophobia, and bullying is rampant. Please, do not by any means let your child attend Aptos High School. - A staff member of 6 years.
Submitted by student on October 14, 2013

The school cares far too much about sports than the actual academics of the students.
Submitted by parent on October 14, 2013

If you have a child with special needs or hispanic student, there's not a lot of inclusion. If you have an athlete, scholar or one that would like to be in ASB or leadership, it's a great school for involement. Too much emphasis is placed on those who don't need help rather than those who can benefit. Great teachers except for a few and staff is great. Communication to get basic information can be difficult at times, but the organized teachers keep parents in the loop.
Submitted by parent on February 17, 2012

We are the second generation to go through Aptos High. The teachers are creative and thoughtful and the natural setting is inspiring. The new performing art center is awesome, and I hope the school uses it often for and grows its music and theatre programs. Sports have always been great here. It's also a somewhat diverse campus, with the majority of students being white, hispanic, and hispanic English language language learners. Native English speakers excel here, with a lot of support in a large variety of AP classes.