Providence High School

511 South Buena Vista Street

Burbank, CA 91505

13 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 15, 2024

This is our second year at Providence, and our sophomore is thriving. They've built a strong group of friends and often call upon each other for social and academic support. My child enjoys her teachers and feels sufficiently challenged by the curriculum. We think they are safe & heard at Providence. The teachers, coaches, and counselors have all been responsive, kind and thoughtful whenever we've needed to talk about anything. The school year is barely starting but the only negative thing I've heard is that my child preferred last year's caterer. . .
Submitted by other on February 26, 2024

This school is becoming corporate. What made Providence unique was its close community even among admin and students. Providence was an amazing environment because students were listened to and felt comfortable with every faculty member. Thanks to the new head of school this is all gone. The identity of Providence is being marketed to death, with changes being made that minimize or remove traditions. The community is cold and isolated. Most students don't know anyone in admin anymore, and it is impossible to voice your concerns or ideas. Students are not motivated. Part of this is because the student body is composed of wealthy students now that tuition is so high to support marketing efforts. Part of this is because providence is becoming rigid and corporate. To combat low morale, classes were shortened and the schedule changed. All this did was make teachers have to speed up the rate of which they taught because they had less time. I have never been in an AP class where the teacher had time to finish teaching everything. It feels like the admin don't care about the current students at all, and are instead focused on the students they will have in 10 years. All of our money is being poured into facilities we will never get to use, and marketing for students we will never meet. A lot of the truly remarkable faculty members are leaving because they are no longer being listened to or respected by faculty or students. I appreciate that the school is being more welcoming of other religions, races and sexualities. Being in a catholic school can be scary if you are not "conventional". Providence combats racism and homophobia amazingly. People are complaining that students were allowed to wear pajama pants the year after the pandemic, but students were mentally exhausted after the pandemic, and I think the way they dealt with is was great. Providence does good things sometimes. The teachers that have stayed are fantastic and continue the spirit of community despite the changes the head of school is making. If you want to go to the school now, I think you will have a fine experience. But the longer the head of school stays, the more you will be a number on a page, and not a student. So be careful!
Submitted by parent on March 29, 2023

As a new parent, I like the environment and the teaching styles, methods, and strategies of the teachers, and the school's administration. Providence size is not a big school, which is why we like it for my daughter who is a shy person who develops her good self-esteem because of the support of the students she meets. Parent service hours are required. My husband and I volunteer to be part of and to know the school's goal. Fundraising is not mandatory, we participate if we can. So far, we don't have any problems with the teachers, the administrators, and the students. We also feel safe for our daughter because they have security personnel on campus.
Submitted by parent on March 06, 2023

Our school has lost key staff, some of the teachers are not good leaders and mentors to the students and create needless difficulty but the administration is too busy raising money to build more buildings for the school so have no time for the hard work (quality teaching), the communication from the administration and teachers is very poor, and good luck ever meeting a teacher or the staff in person after you're "wined and dined" to get you to sign up as a new student. After the doors close the first day your freshman arrives you won't ever see teacher or staff again (except at fundraisers) because from there on out the only people you see are the security guards. You are not allowed on campus, and can't get anybody on the phone so you'll be emailing... and waiting. It's been a very disappointing experience.
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2023

Pls parents if you truly care for the welfare of your children, do not send them to this school. This is a very expensive school that claims to be a Catholic School but is no longer one. It should just be called a private school and should stop hiding behind the "Catholic School" name because it is a LIE. Yes, they celebrate Catholic Masses sometimes and they advertise on their website the "Mission of Sisters of Providence" but it's all a FRONT to attract a lot of hard working Catholic/Christian parents that might consider this as a good school for their children (to continue to learn/get exposed to their Catholic/Christian faith coupled with gaining academic excellence). The school is not courageously teaching nor modeling our Catholic/Christian faith. They had the whole school (students, teachers, staff, and parents) read "The 57 Bus" and "Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock" as students' graded Summer Book Reports. (Read those if you are not familiar with those 2 books so you know what I mean). Imagine having your young teens, esp. those fresh from 8th grade, forced to read and annotate such uncomfortable horrific details?! (I believe that was a form of harassment especially if it was making the students feel so uncomfortable). Believe me that your children would just come out confused and exposed to liberal and ungodly views if you send them to this school under this new Head of School. A lot of great teachers, counselors, staff, and administrators had left. I wouldn't be surprised if more would leave at the end of this school year and the next. I really don't know how students can remain academically competitive when great teachers keep leaving. I also don't know how students can be truly guided to progress academically, emotionally and mentally when counselors also keep leaving (one stayed for only about 6 months). It is very obvious that this current Head of School only cares about quantity (increasing the number of students enrolled in Providence) even to the point of compromising our Catholic/Christian faith/beliefs/traditions. He also allows students to come to school as they please, even in pajamas, instead of having them come to school with that dignified and disciplined look that Providence students were known for in the past. The Director of Dev't on the other hand started a head shaving (bald) fundraising event w/o sending out communication nor Parental Consent form prior to the event. Students' hair were shaved! What happened to parental consent?!
Submitted by parent on June 26, 2022

Providence has a great curriculum! But unfortunately it's one of the only things that I love about Providence. Ever since new Head of School started, this school has changed in many ways. I tries to be a "woke," school not a Christian School with true Christian believes. First day of school LGBT flags were distributed to all, even kids who didn't care for it and felt pressured. There are trans students in their sport of choice (this could be dangerous), I'm. concerned for the safety of other students. The uniform is a joke as in they make you buy expensive uniform but then jeans and pajamas are allowed daily. Tuition is expensive which would be fine if the school didn't have these issues. Oh and principal never answers his emails address concerns. If you're considering this school think again. For this much freedom just. enroll your child in Burbank High instead.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2018

PHS is outstanding in curriculum, administration, and faculty. My kid is in the medical program, and she is challenged and happy. I've received several emails from her teachers just to let me know they enjoy my kid in their classrooms. I appreciate that so much. The science teacher, Mr. Bird, has captured my kid's attention with his energy, and I enjoy hearing all about what she's learning. Dr. Harjani, the medical focus director, is fantastic. I could list each of her teachers and go on; they are all knowledgeable, dedicated, enthusiastic, and respectful of my kid.
Submitted by parent on May 17, 2013

As a public school teacher I chose Providence for my child because of the attention teachers pay to their students, community atmosphere, safety and academic rigor. My son has friends in the local public high school that have As in their AP classes, but cannot pass the AP exams vs. students at Providence that have over an 80% rate of passing. His English classes were also superior. I love the choice of friends he has made too. The athletic programs cannot compare the high schools with over 3,000 students, but the pros by far out weigh the cons. He only had one bad teacher in all his four years here. We love it at Providence!
Submitted by parent on February 05, 2013

We are about to have both our kids attend PHS. Rate of satsifaction for my wife and I are very high. The only thing I wish they would change is how they award scholarships to students. It should be open to all the students every year and not just the incoming 9th graders. Our eldest is an A student, but when she took the placement test, she did not score high enough to qualify for a scholarship, but for two years in a row now, she has been averaging A on her grades, but is not able to qualify for a scholarship because it is only available to the incoming 9th graders and renewable only to those who have gotten it in the first place.
Submitted by teacher on May 09, 2012

Providence is an amazing High School. Their Media, Medical, and Technology Focus programs are first rate. A student can truly be involved in all aspects of the school. The visual and performing arts department is professional grade. It is the best value for the tuition I have seen.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2011

As parents and professionals we looked at more than 10 High Schools for our daughter and after we attended the first parent meeting at Providence High School we knew our daughter would succeed here. The teachers are both positive and exceptional. Every homework assignment, test and quiz is posted on the internet along with the teachers e-mail if you have a question. The students have access to their own assignments and progress. Our daughter is being taught by a handful of master's prepared teachers as well as an M.D. . When I talked to the director of admissions she told me that 18 of her students last year were accepted to UCLA. The school also has a code of ethics and the students lockers for the most part do not have locks on them. If you are looking for a private school that will assure your child's success, don't look any further than Providence. It is definitely the right choice.
Submitted by student on August 13, 2011

I used to attend Providence in 9th grade. I attended public elementary and middle school and my parents wanted to send me to a private school because it is supposedly "better". 3 months here and I didn't see a single reason to why the school was better than the public schools I went to and let my tell you they weren't the best public schools. The teachers were okay, but when it came to the overall atmosphere, I absolutely hated it. I met some awesome students there and in fact I still to this day keep in touch with them but most of the school population just seemed like it was filled with rich spoiled snobs. I transferred to an LAUSD public school after 9th grade and my friends who still went there always told me "God you're so lucky you left." I'm sure my opinion is a bit bias since I've been here for a year and I'm sure they have some really good programs but most of my friends that went here really didn't seem to like it there. If you are a parent and willing to shell out a bunch of money because it is higher quality compared to a public school, then I would reconsider. As someone who's been to both, the quality of education of a private school is no more better than a public.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2011

Do not send your child to Providence. The May 2011 review is not accurate. The principal was removed last year and there has been an interim this year. They have another new principal for next year. The English department favors female students, in our opinion. The counselors don't seem to know what they are doing. Our experience was very negative. Do not voice your concerns because it appeared to us that there was blatant retaliation. There are plenty of really good schools in the area that will truly care about your child and practice the values of a Catholic community.