Ralston Intermediate School

2675 Ralston Avenue

School District

Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary 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 September 14, 2024

I have had 4 children go through Ralston. Past two years has been the worst I have seen this school. Discipline does not exist and all the really good teachers have left. Isn't that a red flag for the district office? Why have so many teachers left? It is a like a mass exodus. The current principal is a total disaster and truly out of touch with her teachers and the students. I don't attend PTA and no longer give the school a nickel. So happy my child last child will be done there this year. Spanish and math program are terrible and I have had to hire a tutor. Science is not better, so sad Mrs. Ohara left, she was amazing.
Submitted by student on November 03, 2023

Bullying and harassment is a constant issue. Instead of the teachers stopping bullying, or people yelling racial slurs, or graffiti, (which is all very common) they have unjust punishments on people who don't deserve it. The teachers don't try to help our mental health (which gets worse every day we're here), in fact, they actively lower it and make us miserable. Just don't go here.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2022

This is a big school that makes a huge effort to feel to the students like a small school. The administrators and counselors really care about the students and there is something for everyone. High achieving students are challenged; students who need more help are given support. Loads of clubs and sports and arts and music, along with electives ranging from drama to game theory to cooking to student government allow everyone to explore and be engaged. Homework is rigorous and teachers are available to help and work through trouble spots. Homework club provides a place for extra help. Ralston is a solid school during a difficult time in teenage development.
Submitted by other on December 25, 2020

I graduated from this school last year. Personally, I feel like the school's problems stem from the administration and staff. They put no effort into reinforcing the rules and supporting the students other than putting up a bunch of posters. All the mental health related things they do look compassionate, but they really don't do anything for the student body. The school campus looks pretty from maybe 15 feet away. You can't walk five steps without coming across some sort of litter, which the staff tell everyone to pick up but provide no real consequence or reward for doing so. The locker rooms reek of sweat and chlorine, and the field is really unsafe to run on. The student body is kind, but that's not because of the school. There's a lot of diversity in terms of race, academic rankings, and personalities. I can assure you your kid will make some good friends here. But the school is particularly unkind to the special needs students here. My brother, who attended Ralston with me, has autism and was treated awfully here. My parents had to spend most of the school year fighting with the school administration just so he could have a good teacher (who, by the way, is lovely). I don't think any parent should have to suffer so much just to secure a good school experience for their child.On that note, classes here are stressful. Most of the teachers here are either mediocre or downright awful, excluding the occasional good ones. Getting a good teacher isn't rare, but it's certainly to a point where you're considered very lucky for getting even a decent teacher. Though the teachers don't really contribute to the overall issue with the school, it does directly affect your child, which is something I'd take into consideration. Your child is likely going to get a bad teacher at least twice, and that will have quite a big impact on your kid. Classes here in general are very stressful, even if you have a good teacher and/or you're a hardworking student. If you end up with a poor teacher (which, like I said, is likely), then it's even worse. This school will bring you down. I know so many academically talented people here who never got that opportunity to flesh out their potential because such opportunities are discouraged. Nearly everyone I know in my grade had lost academic motivation during their time at Ralston. Overall, I wouldn't recommend send your child here. I'd give them 3 stars, but they don't deserve it.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2020

Really mixed. A few bad apples (eight grade teachers) made it really bad. These teachers who do not know how to manage their own time, blame the kids that the teacher has to work over weekend or till 10 pm. Algebra and Science in specific for eight grade made it really bad.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2019

Very bad. School is not standing up against bullying. It's a very unsafe school!
Submitted by student on August 09, 2018

5/10. I've grown sadder as the months went by.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2018

Other than strong athletics,nothing there if you’re not in advanced you’re not challenged enough
Submitted by other on November 12, 2015

I just graduated from Ralston last year with a mostly terrible 3 years. In 6th grade we had one principal who was actually very nice. He communicated with the student body and was actually likable. He was fired and when we cam back for 7th grade we had a new principal who I personally am not a fan of. He seems to not care very much about student opinions and I had some really bad experiences with him. I was not a bad kid though. I was a straight a student who was in AS english all 3 years. The administration is a problem in general with people coming and going constantly and issues often times being left unresolved among students. The teachers aren't that bad for the most part. I had my fair share of horrible teachers there, but there are still a few amazing teachers, but not enough for me to ever send my child there. I feel as if I learned virtually nothing with most of my time there and if your child needs an academically strong and supportive community I would not recommend Ralston as your first choice.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2014

It is a great school with excellent teachers and parents involvement. Excellent and well rounded academic and sports programs.
Submitted by other on March 31, 2014

Ralston isn't as bad as the other reviews say it is. I go there now as an 8th grader. About the staff, the principle, dean, vice principle, etc., were wiped out. I started sixth grade with one group of staff in which I hated them all. My second year we got a new group, and it was a huge improvement. Sadly, the principle is not there anymore so again we brought in a new one. Along with him we have two more deans (a grand total of 3 now, one for each grade). There isn't much wrong with this except for one thing. When I graduate this year and our principle gives his speech about how much we have developed as an individual, how will he know? He would only have known us since the beginning of the year. Besides this flaw, Ralston deserves more credit than it is given. We have the best PE program in CA. Also, we are involved with the community. I am in student government and we have done tons of things for our community, and even things for places halfway across the world. In fact, we were invited to We Day, the best experience of my life. No matter how much I know I want to get out of this school, I also know how much I will remember and miss of my time here.
Submitted by other on September 14, 2013

Ralston has a terrible AS qualification program. I have to agree with a few other posts that talk about this matter. My best friends didn't get in and they both scored higher than me on a few things. I asked the teacher if I had qualified and he/she told me that I had some of the highest scores in the school. Teachers are not supposed to tell students that. I graduated 3 years ago but my little brother tells me that these things are still going on. He knows a few people there that got in but were not in in the two years before and some people who didn't get in that were in it with high A's the two years before. The As teachers are absolutely great (with the exception of one) but the placement is bad. I understand that the school has a lot of students and they sometimes mess up with schedules but I have to say the administration does not look good. There as been four principles in the last four years and a lot of teacher changes. The school has been undergoing construction which likely dug a hole in the school's budget but they can at least put aside some money to put in some quality administrators. I'm sure there are a few gems there but at least read the students files carefully.