Diamond Bar High School

21400 Pathfinder Road

School District

Walnut Valley Unified
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:26
Type

public

School Map for Walnut 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 April 20, 2023

Filled with academic dishonesty and GLC's are doing nothing about it.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2022

DBHS is a very good school, my daughter real learns a lot from this school, and make a lot of friends, the teacher here all very helpful and nice ,
Submitted by other on December 26, 2021

To describe how my experience was going to diamond bar as succinctly as possible I would say that I simply felt like a statistic. The overall impression I got from administration was that I did not matter and my wellness and success as a student was not being put first. There are definitely great teachers and also some where I’m sure they would not be employed anymore if tenure wasn’t a thing. Administration has definitely employed some dubious practices such as actively dissuading students from learning about the high school exit exams and the of benefits taking it (obviously not for everyone but I know a lot of people , myself included who would have really benefitted from knowing about this option) these may or may not have to do with how enrollment/attendance numbers are tied with funding for the school, can’t say anything for certain but stuff like this really makes you question the intentions of admin. Also this HS is very known for a very toxic academically rigorous environment of students constantly comparing themselves to each other. Going to high school here feels like a rat race.
Submitted by other on January 25, 2021

I attended DBHS for two years. Worst two years of my life. I worked very hard to maintain a 4.0 GPA and still be in clubs and play high school sports and sports out of school. If teachers don't like you they will make class hard for you. Social ranking is a very big thing at this school. If you don't have money, you are looked down on. If you don't have the same things as someone else you will get bullied. Many affluent children thinking it is okay to put down someone else for things they do not have. It is a very toxic environment. Constant problems between the students and when it is taken to the staff, it is not handled properly. Even if you are defending yourself, the instigator always gets it easier. Being at DBHS caused a lot of depression, anxiety, and stress. Once I transferred schools I was a lot happier. Do your child a favor and enroll them in a school that has more diversity, no affluent kids, and a better student to teacher ratio.
Submitted by other on December 21, 2020

I went to DBHS for my freshman year and half of my sophomore year, after that I refused to go back. I didn't have a plan but I knew I had to get out of the toxic environment. This school is regarded as top tier because it feeds all of their time, resources, and energy to the top students who fit a certain mold (wealthy, stable family, etc). If you do not fit their standards, be ready to be completely ignored, and if you try to speak up, get ready to get bullied by teachers and administration. The teachers are horrible, especially if you fall under the "basic" track of classes. I was literally told that I would be making a minimum wage job for the rest of my life by a teacher. After I switched high schools, my GPA was perfect, I had the opportunity to take AP classes (when I was there, AP classes were not open to people in the "basic" classes), and I ended up going to a UC. It was hard to recognize the awful things that were going on at the time, and why I felt terrible about myself, but now that I am out of that mess of a school I understand it was due to the horrible environment. Save your child the stress and depression, take them to a healthier and happier campus!
Submitted by parent on December 12, 2020

My son was suspended during his second week of the freshman year. He was abused and pushed by three bullies and ignored them. As he walked away, the bullies punched him from the back in his head forcing him to defend himself. They suspended him along with the three bullies with the principal stating that even though the facts were accurate as verified by several witnesses including school staff, they have 4000 students and don’t have time to allocate fault and everyone involved in a fight gets suspended. I told the principal that the school in essence is teaching the kids that the storekeeper who gets robbed should also be imprisoned along with the robbers. The school also has some teachers with tenure whose English is so bad that I could not understand 70% of what they were saying during parent teacher conference. Needless to state, I pulled my son out of this school immediately after the incident and enrolled him in a private school with a much better student teacher ratio and much better educational experience. I do not understand how this school has a 10 rating in the real estate listings.
Submitted by parent on April 13, 2019

Deeply regret sending my child here. Elementary and middle school was GREAT, wonderful, caring staff who respond to those who need help. High School was entirely opposite.
Submitted by other on January 18, 2018

This school is very competitive and teachers encourage students to tap their potential. The class room openers (quizzes) are a great example for preparedness, thinking outside the box and be learned. My son loves it here.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2016

Its a wonderful school. My child felt very welcomed going in as a new freshman. My child has had nothing but great things to say about her peers and teachers. Although, they could invest in experienced coaches. Most coaches have played a sport but do not possess the experience with successful coaching methods. My child starts off strong, due to club coaching, and regresses after a season with their school coaches.
Submitted by student on April 29, 2015

No diversity at all in this school. Diamond Bar High School does not make new students feel welcome at all. The office staff and many teachers are also incredibly rude to not only the students but parents as well.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2014

My school has more diversity and flexible areas than other school. I am so happy for my children to be with faculty and students.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2014

My son is the 11th grade Summary: * Teachers:"F". They are horrible. Very lazy and absolutely no motivation to give the minimal effort. The only reason school's scores are competitive is because students work hard in spite of the poor teachers. The system is set up so that if students get high AP scores, then it must be because of the great teachers, right? Well, not quite. My son had a teacher tell the kids to leave the classroom so he could make a personal call for the whole class period. Another would scream and yell at students all the time. While yet another didn't know how to do the math problems so would work out the easiest one in the chapter and assign all the rest without teaching the content. Administration: "D". Principal doesn't want to document infractions against teachers, etc. As a result, they tolerate poor teachers. Many schools sponsor lots of academic competitions to promote high achievement. This school has AP, IB, and that is pretty much it. We asked them to promote the different olympiads and they weren't interested. We asked them to administer other AP tests (not offered at the school). The teacher did not want to come in to administer a test.
Submitted by student on February 15, 2014

There is good and there is bad. However, there's actually more bad than good. GOOD: DBHS is highly regarded, has high test scores, relatively clean campus, and open doors for lots and lots of opportunities. Students are hard-working, dedicated, but it can be a little extreme. With a award-winning music program, world-class calculus classes, CIF wins in many sports, and a ridiculously high API score of 895 (2013), DBHS is regal. BAD: There are bad teachers for more difficult subjects, and social status and wealth dictates your social standing, which in the end dooms your high school life. Music program "requires" donations, and shuns peers that are less talented and active. The presumptuous majority of students are snobbish, judgmental, and die-hard-study-or-become-worthless thinkers. This is sad, because far too many students think that good grades mean college. Classrooms can be overcrowded, and lack of racial diversity interaction makes a social hierarchy, with the majority race standing on top. The popularity and success of a student in DBHS is dictated by their social standing, or wealth. Kids with money tend to be more "privileged", such as United Student Body (Leadership).
Submitted by student on October 18, 2013

Terrible. How did this school get a 4 stars this place sucked. Only a few of the teachers were really good like the math ones. That's about it.
Submitted by student on September 16, 2013

This is hilarious, reading all of these comments bashing this school, Im sorry, but those who did likely did not work hard or worked at all. This is a great school with great teachers and amazing opportunities, its competitive as heck and thats the brilliance of it. Its as real world as you get, so many people complain that its so hard but thats only because they dont understand how hard life is. As a student who has taken nothing but the most rigorous schedule (we're talking all AP/IB) every year, I have to say that you wont find a better school. The people you meet here are great and will move you forward, a good rule of thumb is to be friends with those smarter than or as smart as you from day one. I will admit, around 100 of the people in my class are likely stoners but that was their choice. In summary, make good choices and actually care about school, do both and you will be great. Also, at the comment that all the smart kids go to tutors or something- thats completely false, not to sound snooty, but if you understood the material you wouldn't need to be tutored, and all the people here who care about and work at their classes deserve their hard earned grades.
Submitted by student on March 17, 2013

Diamond Bar High School is, in my opinion, such a great school that offers so many opportunities to succeed to its students. Many down here on the comments have written that the school's success is based on solely students' hard work, but I strongly disagree. While currently attending a top-15 university, I see my high school teachers' (Buccola, Alcosser, Hwang, etc.) effort and work ethic reverberate onto my own work today. This school, overall, prepares students very well. As long as students form a positive group of friends, stay active in school-activities (such as band, sports, community service clubs, usb, etc.), and stay focused in studies. DBHS is of course a very competitive school, but it's that competition which drives students to excel and be prepared for their future.
Submitted by student on November 02, 2012

There are some great teachers, and a little more bad ones. The band room is extremely messy . The workload is huge and many teachers don't even teach. Staff is also rude sometimes. I do not recommend this school. Everyone gets private tutors, but why? Why should the school take credit for all the good grades we (students) achieved with outside tutoring when the teachers should be teaching. My grades have plummeted going to this school. If you can afford private education, I suggest you enroll your child into a private school. This is not a good school , don't waste your time.
Submitted by student on November 19, 2011

I am a current senior and I don't recommend DBHS. My family and I had always thought that DBHS was a great school. Little did we know that it has really gone downhill since we moved here. Half of the teachers I've had are at best mediocre, and I had to teach myself when my teachers didn't teach the lesson well. The counselors and faculty aren't great either and I find them unapproachable. The extracurriculars are great but I feel that was the only thing DBHS had going for it. I wouldn't recommend this school and I suggest parents reading this search for better options for their child.
Submitted by student on October 05, 2011

Disappointed and unhappy. Transferring here was one of the worst decisions of my life and I truly regret coming here, thinking that DBHS will provide me with what I need. They didn't. They said they were "unable" to match up the classes and just gave me a random TA position knowing how much that will negatively affect me in terms of academic. This school may be prestigious and all, but it has nothing to do with the staff or the teachers. I am angry and disappointed, I'm in my most important year of high school where everything counts and I feel like they're just playing around with my classes as if they don't seem to care how much it will hinder my college transcript and application. The faculty shows no effort in helping a student, especially someone in their most important year of high school. I gave up APs at my old school and when I got to DBHS, they gave me nothing but poor "just to fill in credits" classes. Don't waste your time coming to this school. DISAPPOINTED.
Submitted by student on March 30, 2011

Have been attending this school for the past four years and have finally graduated. My evaluation of Diamond Bar High School is not too positive. Reading the articles and hearing others saying that this school is top tier, having a reputation of having that best calculus program in the world, while this maybe true, the credit should not go to the school, but the individual student, I am sure most of the students who are successful have obtained a private tutor, because the faculty does little to no effort in helping the student to his/her success and this also applies to other subjects as well. Some of the teachers that I've had takes their job as a forced "routine" and not a challenge that they will enjoy for the sake of teaching. As for the student faculty, majority of them are obnoxious, arrogant and rude. I've have seen a lot of my friends from elementary school/middle school change their personality drastically (for the worst) during the four years of attendance because the sheer influence from majority of their "peers". Please reconsider or look for more valuable options before considering this school.