Troy High School

2200 Dorothy Lane

School District

Fullerton Joint Union High
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for Fullerton Joint Union High 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 February 07, 2025

I'm one of those people who try to see goodness in everything and everyone but this school showed me I was a fool and naive. Kids pour in from many districts, including private schools, with army of tutors and college advisors. The school's favorite ones know exactly how to butter up the certain teachers to get their feet in their target colleges with scholarships(free money) that some clearly don't deserve to get them. I didn't realize kids are suppose to put up with absolute unethical words coming out of their instructors. Almost all of Troy's top students take outside courses before they take classes at Troy to get good grades and they aren't naturally smart or through their individual effort. One special set of rule for school's favorite kid that none of them can't do anything wrong even when they bully, cheat, lie and more. unethical and shocking behaviors of instructors and favorite kinds of schools are condoned and school will go out of the way to punish the victims of bullying. Teachers enjoy rating the kids and most are treated like fillers when it will do so much for the favorite ones but will sabotage the ones who try to stand against cheaters and bullies.If you are having ANY issue there, DO NOT talk to the school, unless you want them to sabotage your kids through college app, scholarships, and after leaving there. Just take your students and leave without saying the true reason. All the horrible things you heard about Troy are true.
Submitted by parent on August 14, 2024

I’ve had two children graduate from Troy and get accepted to good colleges and now my third child attends Troy. Most of the students at Troy are not from the area so traffics is horrible before and after school. So having a zero period can help avoid some of the morning traffic and perhaps having a physical activity after school to avoid the 3:30 traffic.There is a TON of homework so you have to make sure your child has time to complete it. If your child is in any club sport and attends Troy, they may get behind. All of the teachers my children had were great with the exception of one Spanish teacher, who I’m amazed has retained employment. Troy offers extra help at Troy central in the library after school which I felt was greatIts is a very competitive environment which can have pros and cons, just talk to your child often and keep them happily motivated. As others have stated it’s not a very diverse group of students, however my children not being the majority culture made many life long friends and enjoyed the experience.
Submitted by other on August 08, 2024

The school is overrated and the education level is emblematic of any typical public school. This is a poor man’s version of a private school and doesn’t compare in its quality. Most parents obsess over the excuses as to why their kid didn’t get into college half the time and it’s comical.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2024

If you are trying to get your child into a UC or high-ranking college this may not be as easy at Troy. The school is ranked highly. However, this is also the reason that many colleges when it comes to the application process do not accept as many Troy students as other schools in the district. Colleges are aware that many of the students are high performers because parents can afford tutors and prep classes. They know that many essays are guided or written by someone else. I like most parents thought that I wanted my kids to have the best education and I thought the rankings were proof. However, as I come to see each year students not being accepted to schools as their counterparts down the street. It is quite obvious the frustration and disappointment. Troy should publish the number of students who applied to certain schools and the acceptance rate. In the end, if you don't get into the college you apply to because the school handicaps you then maybe you would attend another school. I feel for the kids who take buses, the early rides in the morning to get to school, not to mention the sleep deprivation, and overwhelming amount of homework. All of this and the rewards are limited. Only a handful of students get into the prestigious schools and the majority go to Cal States. These students could attend their home school for the same results.There are some good teachers at Troy, however there are just as many bad ones. Many of the students have private tutors to compensate for the lack of teaching in the classroom. This would be another statistic that I would be interested in. Students test into the Troy Tech program. Those who get accepted are on a higher curve of learning, however, there are some students that are truly brilliant. In a class of 34 students, a third will be truly gifted and excel on their own. However, the other two-thirds need help and the teachers are just not there for them. Many teachers and the school believe as long as the statistics show success then helping kids that are struggling is not a priority. This is where the suggestion is to get a tutor.There is a mental health issue at the school. Students can't cope and it often leads to harm. It's not a surprise when a student has killed themselves at Troy. More kids transfer out of Troy than into Troy after the freshman year.There's limited family engagement at Troy because the majority of the students do not live near Troy.
Submitted by student on September 25, 2023

It's as simple as this, Troy is a highly competitive and academic school. You have access to much more challenging resources in Troy, where most other high schools doesn't have. However, if you are not aiming for a really high scholarship, this is not a school you want go.
Submitted by student on February 16, 2023

Despite what people may say, this is not a diverse school by any means. If you are not part of the Asian or White population, you are part of the "other" 1% of students who leave here. Even then, the Indian students are somewhat part of that too. The students at this school are very competitive and don't have a good understanding of cultures outside their own. Because the school is so dominated by AAPI culture, all other cultures are practically discarded. This school and the students don't care about Black, Native American, Hispanic, etc. culture. For example, there is a lot of rhetoric about how Black people only get into college because of Affirmative Action. You aren't taken seriously if you aren't Asian or white. No attempts to achieve true diversity in any way. As a Black person I honestly can't recommend this school. I've never felt like my peers have taken me seriously. I know they don't trust my abilities. You have no choice but to embrace AAPI culture to survive at Troy, but no one will make an effort to learn about outside cultures. It is such an isolating school for me as a Black person and I feel like I can't trust anyone. I'm honestly just trying to get out of here and go to a truly diverse college. Even outside of race, the students are very competitive and toxic here. You will be judged for your grades and college application without anyone making an attempt to understand your background, the resources available to you, or how your life is different from there. These kids are groomed for college since they were born, leaving many students excluded and having to work very hard to keep up. This creates an unfair standard for these students, like me, who are working very hard but were not so advantaged as to grow up in educational environments or any knowledge of the college admissions process. Students here are also very egotistical and will say such ridiculous things such as "I'm such an idiot" or "I failed this test" when they are excelling in everything. I am aware this happens at every school, but trust me: It happens so often at Troy that it will drive you insane. It is such a toxic environment and I wish I had gone to another school.Obviously I'm trying to use different language to not reveal who I am, but overall I wouldn't recommend this school. Although I've met some teachers I really love and I do have friends whose relationships I cherish, that doesn't change the harsh judging of the students and the isolation I've felt.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2022

In my opinion Troy high school need to replace the football coaches, in a sense they feel like they discriminate on some of their players. Or is it that they have favoritism. Never the less as a former player all athletes need game time, and practice on real games not just during practices. I have watched the coaches send the same players onto the field over and over. That to me feels like discrimination or racism. When a coach is good and knows that he’s coaching is being done well, then he should be afraid of sending certain player or players onto the field.
Submitted by other on March 14, 2021

I graduated from Troy with High Honors and participated in the Troy Tech magnet program a few years ago and to be completely honest, I wish I attended another high school such as Fullerton Union or Sunny Hills. While I did have some amazing teachers and counselors at Troy, there were also a lot who were not so great. Many of the teachers there only seemed to care about their status as a teacher at the "great" Troy High School. They don't even care about the well-being of the students as long as they are passing the class. For example, some teachers would just play videos in the second semester and expect the students to pass not only that class but as well as the AP tests. Let me tell you, many of these students would either cheat, have private tutors, or maybe even both.Now many of the students themselves were probably some of the most narcissistic people I have had the pleasure to meet and to be honest, it's mostly the students who create such a toxic environment in the school. Their whole lives revolve around admissions to top universities and would do anything to achieve that whether it would be talking down on their peers for failing a class or taking an easier level of said class, kissing up to teachers for higher grades, and sometimes a board position for an extracurricular activity (mostly for clout), having fake personalities, and so on. Some kids might even get excluded from their peers for petty reasons such as being deemed as "dumb." The superiority complex this school generates is just abhorrent. Whether you're in the district or not, I suggest sending your kids elsewhere where it actually feels like a community.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2020

Wonderful, with full support and great teachers/guidance counselors who truly care and support the students
Submitted by parent on February 04, 2020

Unfortunately the school only cares about scores and the kids that bring high scores. Majority of student are not even from the local school district which is a shame for a public school. If you want a stressed out kid, send them there.
Submitted by student on July 03, 2019

Very toxic and unhealthy environment. Nonexistent school-life balance.
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2019

If your home school is bad as mine, look for other ways. Why do you think American public shools are in gutter. So much money spent on ineffective teachers and useless administrators and we have to fund their retirement. So few good teacher to be found these days. They are in for benefit of themselves, not for your kids or mine. That is the truth. This school cares for small percentage of kids. Rest are treated as not worth their time.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2019

In general public schools are failing. This is one of them. The schools in some areas are good but not because school is doing great, the school must be located in the area where parents have white color job and they are serious about their kids. In public schools, there is no accountability for teachers. No one fires them for bad job neither they get bonuses for good work. Absolutely no motivation. Principal's main job is to protect teachers and then kids. He doesn't find teachers accountable for bad jobs but he will be first to blame parents. Kids are in school studying for 8 hours and then at home may be 2-3 hours max with or without parents but schools are ready to blame everything on parents immediately as it is easy.
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2018

I regret sending my child there. Think very carefully about this school if you really care about your children. Not enough good teachers there and keeping their jobs mean more than helping the students. Your children deserve more than unfair evaluations from these "not-so-honest themselves" teachers there.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2017

They are the bullies themselves. They have an archaic approach to Building children up and are unapologetic about their elitist attitude.
Submitted by student on August 23, 2017

TL;DR: Great school, great kids, great statistical score. However, this school is not for everyone. It may suit kids who are diligent, adaptable, and keen. However, the "Troy" branding is not going to help everyone succeed. It may even harm them instead.
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2017

Troy has an established Tech/magnate program, and currently has more out-of-district students than in district. The reason they maintain the high performance has nothing to do with the staff and certainly not the administration. It has everything to do with the high caliber students, who will excel no matter the environment. So the scores and ratings are deceptive. The staff/teachers are no different than anywhere else some are good some are bad. The administration feel they are untouchable b/c of the performance scores and forget that they are not the ones who are responsible. This school is definitely not what the reputation has you believe. Buyer BEWARE. Long nights of ridiculous amount of homework and stressed out kids...
Submitted by other on August 18, 2016

I can't say it was bad. I got into Syracuse University. I am a Tax Director at PricewaterhouseCoopers. I can't say that I wouldn't be where I am without going to Troy - but I hated it. I never felt like I could live up to the top 10% and just learned that slightly less than them was good enough for me. Personally I might have been better off as valedictorian of Katella HS, but it's hard to tell.
Submitted by other on September 26, 2014

I am an alumnae of both Troy IB/TT and HYPS (Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford). Parents, please don t send your kids here if you want them to go to HYPS. Troy places too much emphasis on academics. Many of the top full IB students did not go to HYPS. They had great grades, but no solid extracurricular activities. I wonder if the reason is because they devoted all their time to studying. HYPS want well-rounded students. None of my HYPS peers took as many AP s as I did (and most came from "regular" schools), but they were all high school sports stars, music aficionados, artists, etc. I wasn t the top academically at Troy, but had a professional art portfolio and played piano. It would be better to enroll your kid in a normal high school and bolster their extracurriculars. It would also save them from the extreme stress and cut-throat environment. 3 stars for the great teachers. Some changed my life.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2014

I have two children, Senior and Junior, attending Troy. Troy is focused on helping students get into the best college possible. The program is rigorous, but my kids do not spend 4 or 5 hours a night doing homework. Most evening it is 2 maybe 3 hours. If they spend more than that it's due to procrastination. They both play sports and are involved in other after school activities. Parents need to truly assess their child's ability. If they are not GATE or have shown a high level of intellect, they may fall behind. The courses move fairly quickly and taking AP/IB course is the norm. Hard work is also a pathway to success, but spending 5 hours a night studying comes at the expense of a well balance high school experience. You can take regular courses, but if that is the plan best to go elsewhere. My oldest has a 3.5 GPA and she is in the top 60%, at most Schools she would be in the top 30% or 20%. However, EVERY year students get accepted to Ivy schools, CAL, UCLA, MIT, Caltech, Stanford, USC, etc.. in 2013, 10 kids from OC were accepted to Harvard, 3 came from Troy. Teachers will go out of their way to help, just need to ask. Great school, but may not be for everyone