Bear River High School

11130 Magnolia Road

School District

Nevada Joint Union High
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Nevada 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 April 04, 2024

If you are looking for a smaller public high school (+/—700 students) in Nevada County with teachers and administrators who genuinely care and often get to know the kids by name. Students graduate from BRHS with real skills they can use immediately in either the workforce or to go on to college, Bear River High School is the one for you. Their Science, Physics, and English departments are exceptional, and their AP courses are taught by a fantastic team of highly qualified and engaging instructors. One of many examples is Mrs. Weir's 'Species of the Sierra Nevada', which is an example of an exceptional, hands-on science elective course that brings a university-level locally relevant curriculum to the high school while being open to all students (no prerequisites to enroll -- and if you have ever wanted to get your kids off the computer, away from their electronic devices, and outdoors into the fresh air and trees, this is a class that will instill a love of Sierra Nevada ecology like few others! Bear River boasts clean, well-cared-for facilities, dozens of quality sports, student clubs, music, art, and theater programs. New to the county? Looking for an alternative to the enormity of Nevada Union HS or more substantial than a small school like Mount St. Mary's can offer? Give Bear River HS a serious look, you and your kids will be so glad you did!
Submitted by parent on February 18, 2023

Bear River is a smaller school but has so many opportunities for students to get involved and be part of the community. Their course offerings are robust and the staff is helpful and truly cares about the students. The administrators support the school rules and when they know about a situation where students don't feel comfortable, they step in and help, as they should. They also enforce dress code, safety and no bullying policies. The school has clean and newer facilities including an outdoor pool and beautiful theater. The curriculum is rigorous and prepares students for college, if interested, or career. Can't say enough good things about Bear River.
Submitted by student on September 23, 2019

Bear River High School has an excellent music program that has become extremely successful over the years. It changes the lives of its students for the better, and provides a great experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the school. While the athletics program is far over-glorified, it overshadows too much of the school's other important programs that do just as much or more hard work than the athletes each year. The arts here are continually becoming more of a presence over time, which will greatly improve the divided culture at the school. Other than this, most students are very good people, the best usually coming from the music program, both academically and morally. The music program exemplifies everything that the rest of the school strives and fails to be.
Submitted by parent on November 01, 2018

It has been all around pretty good
Submitted by other on March 04, 2018

Negative 20. Bear River is a horrible school. A lot of students are on drugs. School doesn't care about anything but $money$.
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2016

The school has a bullying problem that they don't address. On site Sheriff Deputy failed to file a report when my son was assaulted and had to go to the hospital with broken bones. Now there is a theft problem from lockers that used a employees master pass key. Students lock thier lockers for P.E. and when they return to those lockers valuables are missing even though they are still locked. Denial of problems never fix them.
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2015

This has been a really great school for our family. The teachers have been really top-notch with the exception of one who now retired. We have our third child graduating from Bear River now.The August 20, 2015 review by a student has some errors. There are actually four math teachers, two Spanish teachers, but the student is correct that the kids can learn football here - in addition to water polo and baseball and soccer and volleyball and wrestling. This school also has an awesome Ag program including Ag Mechanics, and the kids build things and take them to the county fair. There is a boatload of clubs for kids to join and be part of. There is a lot to offer at this nice-sized, safe school.
Submitted by student on August 20, 2015

The only thing this school has that is decent, is sports. So for someone more academically oriented, this school is worthless. There are few teachers, and few classes, and there is usually only one teacher who teaches a certain course. So if you don't get the way that teacher is teaching, if you don't understand, tough luck. There's no one else you can switch to. The periods that courses are offered is highly limited and if you have a class you can't stand, you probably won't be able to leave it because there is either no space, or no other classes are offered during that period that you want to switch out of. It's ridiculous. There's one spanish teacher, 2 math teachers (but they teach different things, when one teaches one thing the other teacher won't offer it), and the list goes on (well not really because there aren't that many teachers). The school looks nice but if you want to have the option to learn something that is going to help you in life, from someone other than one person who may or may not be a good educator, then go somewhere else. The education here is terrible. But if you like football, they can teach you that! -_-
Submitted by student on October 22, 2014

Quite honestly, I love this school. It is not perfect, but it is unique, quirky, and I am very proud to be a Bear River Bruin. All of the classes, electives, clubs, etc, are fairly average. Students are average, teachers are average, and you can expect your student to get a fairly well-rounded and wholesome education on their own. However there is a whole second side to the student population - that is the AP classes. The AP classes are outstanding. The teachers are great and interact with their students on a more personal, fun, level. The students who take more than one AP class tend to have solid friendships, grades, and a good relationship with the school and their peers. The history teachers Mr. Carrow and Mr. MacDonald are particularly outstanding, and the same outstandingness can be applied to Mrs. Weir's AP classes and to Mr. Tapia. These, and many many more at the school that I have not had a chance to interact with, are Very excellent, student-engaged teachers who do their job incredibly well. It seems to be, from a students perspective, that these teachers treat it as much more than a job, but as a career that can and will change students lives for the better.
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2014

Bear River is an awesome small town school filled with hundreds of successful kids. The staff is amazing, the extra curricular activities are amazing and the school is a great place to learn.
Submitted by parent on July 13, 2013

Bear River High School has been wonderful for my freshman daughter. She is an academically advanced student and the school has offered lots of opportunity and support. Her teachers this year were all good or excellent. There doesn't seem to be an extensive bullying problem, though there is the usual teenage drama,. I am very pleased with our family's decision to get an inter-county transfer and send her to BRHS. Otherwise, she would have been at Colfax or Placer, both of which seem to be good schools, too.