Burbank High School

902 North 3rd Street

School District

Burbank Unified
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:25
Type

public

School Map for Burbank 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 October 04, 2024

Although not all my daughter’s teachers were terrible, some dropped the ball in a big way. She had bad experiences with her guidance counselor which messed her up when she was trying to get the classes she needed. She had an especially bad experience in her senior year with her parking pass. The counselor did not help and the staff told her to come down, submit paperwork, etc. over and over until we eventually learned there were no passes left. The school has gone through at least 3 principals since we started. Also had a bad experience when my 75 yo mother came there to see a drama show. The staff was extremely rude, did not want her to attend and were difficult about giving her her money back.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2018

BHS admin, like others, is weak when it comes to "good kids" not living up to their potential and who get restless in 11th and 12th grade and start screwing up. They don't refer them (they likely can't) to an options school where the students would do far better because there's not 3k other students to deal with. Kids can miss mega classes and the teachers and admin won't contact the parents. You're on your own as a parent. You go to the school, demand they even follow their own policy when needed, and you, as the parent, are the bad guy. Pathetic. Maybe it's the, what, 50% or 60% demographic group that is the focus of admin. I don't know. Just know your kid ain't nothin' but a number here now matter what goes on the flashing marquee sign facing Office Depot in the coming months.
Submitted by parent on October 04, 2017

The school has a great range of activities, clubs, sports, excellent teachers, strong curriculum's and a great community that supports the students. Its a great high school.
Submitted by parent on July 28, 2017

Burbank High School has very strong leadership in their principal and administration staff. This is an incredible high school and the kids are given every opportunity, both academically and socially, to excel and enjoy their years in high school.
Submitted by parent on July 27, 2017

Burbank High School is an outstanding high school that offers students a great overview for their academic curriculum with a balance of a safe social environment, solid teachers that work with the students and many choices for extra curricular activities for kids to have every opportunity. With the Academy of Finance, medical programs for students interested in those fields, great clubs, sports programs and school pride that resonates in every student that attends this school. I feel like my daughter was exposed to as many options as possible to find a passion that she can really embrace. Not every high school provides an environment that nurtures the individual child and what makes them unique while fostering and nurturing their capabilities of making their dreams come true. Truly this school is amazing, and as hard as high school is difficult to navigate through the academic and social aspects. I feel that this high school has the positive environment to give their students the tools they will need to succeed in the future.
Submitted by other on July 16, 2016

This review is specifically relates to the perennial turnover in coaching. Newest target: Boys & Girls Volleyball. The BHS volleyball teams we're left hanging one week before school got out in 2016. Players were let down. Several team members quit. No news at all about a new full-time coach yet. Sad change for the dedicated students who gave their all to the former undedicated coach who traded it all for mucho denero.The summer volleyball program was not worth the money they were asking, and one of the two part-time coaches wasn't even respected enough by admin to be given keys to open the gym!! Shame on BHS and the District for dropping the ball! Bertram should have handled the one sport that does so well at BHS better! Wear red instead!
Submitted by student on September 04, 2015

BHS overall is similar to any other high school with the exception of their Arts program, which is amazing. The sports teams have hidden costs and admin seems to focus on damage control. With a large percentage of the student population starting school at a later age because they came to the U.S., it's understandable. With a multi-million dollar surplus, students as opposed to the BUSD employees & Board members would benefit from the new superintendent creating educationally competitive opportunities for students with all those funds as opposed to more of the same.
Submitted by other on September 01, 2015

Burbank HS has excellent teachers, caring community, wide range of activities and sports and competitive choir.
Submitted by other on October 18, 2014

This school is truly underestimated. This school provides such amazing programs for students who wish to acheive. I personally did not realize what a phenomenal school BHS was until i was far into college. BHS is amazing in so many ways. we have an AMAZING program for business minded students called Academy of Finance, one of the top VMA programs in tbe country, an amazing key club, and so much more. This school is filled with countless resources, amazing teacher and so much school pride. Truly this school is amazing, i loved my time here and i can swear to the education and skills i recieved. BHS made me the successful and proud person i am today.
Submitted by student on July 23, 2014

Burbank High School is exactly what you would expect from a school in the suburbs. It's not as good as the 5 STAR reviews but it's not as bad as the 1 STAR reviews. The school WILL be a better experience for over-achieving students. I recently graduated and have no substantial criticisms against the education offered at the school. However, the Honors and AP classes tend to give less of a workload to students as opposed to the regular classes, which in a way fosters a subtle form of elitism. Similarly, the harder classes also tend to have better teachers, and many of the regular and college prep classes have tenured teachers who just don't care about, what they perceive to be, the dumber kids. A big problem in my opinion is the open classes. The school's demographic of students is not an issue and does not attribute to some ethnicities with higher graduation rates for in the end, it's all up to the student. However a large portion of the student body is extremely rowdy and will not hesitate to fight with teachers and students alike. Students here HAVE TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO GET ALONG WITH TEACHERS OR COUNSELORS AS THEY WILL DO NOTHING OTHERWISE.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2014

I have read the negative reviews of Burbank High School and was deeply saddened. It is true that some of today's teenagers behave with a complete disconnect to compassionate thinking. The responsibility cannot rest solely on the school to control the actions of these students while on school premises. Parent your children! Teach them values! When my freshman daughter was being bullied so badly by some of these kids, I went through the proper channels. Her counselor, the school Psychologist, Asst. Principal and numerous other faculty members went above and beyond to make Burbank High a safe and welcoming school for her. We are looking forward to 3 more years.
Submitted by student on December 18, 2013

This school is absolutely terrible. The students only care about your social standing, what you wear and other materialistic things. The people are absolutely rude and disrespectful. Some students are even disrespectful to their teachers! Some teachers should not be working there. Its an awful school.
Submitted by student on November 11, 2013

This school is a horrible place for anyone who has ever mad a mistake. People here are so judgmental and they are plain bad. DO NOT ATTEND THIS SCHOOL. Even Burroughs is better than Burbank High School. This school's teachers, administrators, and even students do not interact with you unless something tragic has occurred. Other than that, you are just another kid being annoying. MARK MY WORDS. If you are thinking of sending your child to this school, RECONSIDER
Submitted by other on July 31, 2013

Guitarist Tommy Joe Ratliff attended this school so that's what makes it amazing. Send your child here and let them bask in his beautiful gloriness
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2013

I attended BHS as a student and my son attended here. I told my counselor about my parents abusing me. My younger sister told her counselor about abuse at home for her also. NOTHING was ever done. When my son attended this school a generation later, I was visited relentlessly at 6 am to 7 pm because one of the teachers thought I did not life in the house. We were subjected to teachers going in the house, going through closets, and food. It would have been nice if they showed the same concern for me and my sister when we were in school. Nice to see BHS has its priorities straight.
Submitted by student on June 11, 2013

I attended this school for both my Sophomore and Junior years, and the experience was absolutely amazing. It is a Performing Arts school so the choir, dance program, and theatre program are all top notch and award winning. The classes are challenging, but you earn the grade received. The teachers are wonderful and care for their students. The staff is great. Most amazing counselors I've ever dealt with. Friendly and caring. Burbank High School has been the best school I've ever attended. They work hard to make sure you not only get a high school diploma but also a college diploma. They make each student college ready. Counselors are easily available for any questions and the College and Career Center is a huge help with aiding in pursuing your after high school goals. I absolutely recommend this school to anybody. But to make your high school experience even better joining a sports team or drama, choir, dance etc is recommended; a lot easier to make friends and it's a lot more fun. Thank you BHS for being so wonderful.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2012

Great school if you kid is an over-achiever. If your kid is not, neither is the school. I found the teachers to be very nice but completely unaccommodating to a 504 plan. I found that the Counselors were completely uninterested in their job and unresponsive (and were only motivated to take a minimal action after months and months once I cc'd the principal on communications). Unlike other schools - this school (I was told) has a policy of not accepting a student for a repeat. The only reason my kid needed a repeat was because they refused to let me register on time. There was a 5-week delay due to them on the start of the semester. Because of that delay - the entire semester was discounted and the grades were thrown out by them. We were unable to use summer school for two of the 3 years due to budget cuts - the class we needed had been discontinued. More than once they tried to assign a class that had already been taken and passed. If your kid is a minority - please check the statistics before enrolling here. African-Americans in particular don't graduate well at this school. I wish I had checked first. Any other school would probably have been a better pick for us.
Submitted by student on February 14, 2011

Burbank High School really is a great school. The administration has worked hard to improve the academics, and it has definitely payed off. There are a lot of AP and Honors courses for advanced students, but most teachers still care about average and below average students. It has a good learning environment compared to many other schools nearby, and a ton of extracurricular activities. there are succesful sports teams, tons of clubs, and a great arts program. Whether a student is an athlete, overachiever, or just average, I would recomend this school to anyone