Fairview High School

1515 Greenbriar Boulevard

School District

Boulder Valley Re 2
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Boulder Valley Re 2 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 student on January 29, 2020

Ah Fairview. I've experienced both a lot of ups and downs during my time here. While some of the students may not be the most accepting of different political beliefs, they're at least mostly friendly if you don't bring up politics. On the downside, Fairview was the very place where I got my first taste of racism. Even when I spoke up, I don't think the issue was really dealt with. Additionally, the teachers here really care about their students. There are so many clubs one can be involved in (and it's easy to start a club too!) and there's really something for everyone. For me, I joined the debate team and it was definitely the best decision of my life. Not only did it help me improve my confidence and my argumentation skills, I made really good friends with my teammates. There were times that I wished I hadn't gone to Fairview, but overall, if I could go back in time to 8th grade when I was choosing a high school, I'd probably still choose Fairview. Yes, I surely had some ups and downs and rough times, but overall, still a good experience and I can't imagine going to a different high school
Submitted by student on August 22, 2019

I would say that Fairview provides lots of care, attention, and opportunity for every different student to thrive. The teachers and staff really care about how to prepare the students for the future.
Submitted by student on May 19, 2017

They only treat dark-skinned individuals nicely because the whole town is politically correct, not because they actually want to be nice. Some faculty members are in there just to make cash from donations from the rich kids. The disciplinary system is way out of wack and very unfair. This school glorifies itself for having great test scores and showers the building with money, even though the students use decade-old textbooks and sit in patchy, worn down desks. The fines pop of months after they're given, and always catch the student and parent by surprise. This isn't a school, it's a monopoly. For a "team" that shows off how great the high school is and how respectable the students are, they act just as bad (if not, worse) than the "lower-class" students a few miles away. I never plan on returning again.
Submitted by parent on October 22, 2014

My child has been at this school for 2 years, has a very high GPA, takes IB/AP classes, has many friends, is in sports, all kinds of clubs and is very involved and motivated in general. student likes FHS mainly because friends go there and excels in spite of many obstacles, culture and challenges at this school. experience has been that the school climate in general is not so great. Very competitive, lack of transparency- e.g., for some club/activity selection seems to be arbitrarily exclusive, without transparency, and no due process. Teachers and counselors are overloaded, don't respond to emails or messages, and students and parents have to be very persistent to get an answer which leads to perception that lack of accountability, time or not caring or some combo. staff don't admit mistakes or like to be challenged, blame stuents .Students don't have much time to be persistent due to heavy load so concerns are dropped. Have second guessed selecting FHS, others say diff h.s. in the area get to know their students. school prepares for life because it's ruthless, not fair. good news is, if survive, can handle most anything. mostly school highly rated bc of high potential students
Submitted by other on February 11, 2014

Great School, but I feel as though their are schools with better environments and programs in this district.
Submitted by other on September 19, 2013

I am so glad that I went to this school. It was an amazing experience and prepared me very well for college. I am currently an elementary school teacher in a different district and wish that lived in Boulder so my kids could attend this school. Fairview's teachers were always encouraging me to follow my dreams and worked tirelessly to make sure I understood the curriculum. The choir program was outstanding and extremely fun to be a part of. I would not change my high school experience for anything. If you are looking for a great, high performing school with many different activities, clubs and classes then Fairview is a great choice.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2013

Fairview is interested in their sports programs and only students who fit their mold. The administration want kids who don't rock the boat and toe the line. Their counselors with a few exceptions are under motivated and not creative. Fairview has some really incredible teachers who are working against an administration that only seems to care about performance and not students. So if your student has no issues, loves homework and is just another face in the crowd they will do fine. If your student questions things, is an alternative learner and wants to have any social interaction with people not into their clique, then another school might be a better fit.
Submitted by other on November 14, 2012

I remember this school. The things that I experienced were quite surprising. As I recall they would take note of the students that had the lowest performance rates on a list... then slowly they would go through the list and encourage the student to drop out or to transfer to different schools. I assume this was to keep the ranking of the school up? I don't really know, and that practice might have changed by now. The teachers that attempted to help these students to succeed were many times overwrought with difficulty and resistance. There also seemed to be a major lack of communication across the system and intense focus in only specific areas. The building is also badly constructed for mental health as there is little natural sunlight and the shape is hive like. Many of the teachers also seemed to be overloaded with work and so students were not properly attended to. The lack of diversity is also a bit disconcerting. So, from the perspective of an alternative learner I would really suggest going somewhere else.
Submitted by student on June 21, 2012

I went to Fairview for a year and transferred to nearby Centaurus High in May of that year, and I was floored at how incredible the difference was. At Fairview I felt like I was always working and like I was always being judged from every direction. The theatre and music departments especially were almost cruel in their ruthlessness. When I transferred I realized that the work I'd been doing at FHS was essentially busywork, and that I could learn just as well without the sadistic workload administered by FHS staff. Now in the CHS IB Programme, I can assure you that if you are eager to learn, you should come to Centaurus rather than to Fairview. The teachers there actually care and are willing to help students learn without assigning them hours upon hours of busywork, and CHS IB kids get more 1-on-1 attention because while FHS is simply too big for such rigor, Centaurus IB classes hover around 20 students. The IB test results and a 95% success rate at CHS demonstrate this perfectly. Please, if you want to do IB, don't let the test scores fool you. As a former student, I know that this school is not for kids who enjoy learning and achieving. It is a school for kids who enjoy working.
Submitted by student on February 21, 2011

As a sophomore who attends FHS, I have a very different perspective from many of the parents whose kids attend Fairview. What you should know right off the bat is that Fairview is a VERY competitive school. The work is difficult if you are in Pre-IB/AP/IB classes. The IB Diploma is an insane amount of work, basically you don't have a life outside of school. Although the IB Diploma is good, it doesn't do much for you unless you are going to college out of the country or are planning to be in the very top of your class and attend an Ivy League School. I do not take part in any sports but I know for a fact that many of them are good. The teacher at Fairview from very good to good to very bad.The Social Studies department has some phenomenal teachers, especially Pre-IB teachers. The music department is also very very good. In my opinion the best in the district, if not the state. The bottom line is if you are willing to work your butt off and are willing to learn then Fairview is the perfect school for you.