Paraclete High School

42145 30th Street West

Lancaster, CA 93536

15 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by student on January 30, 2023

The school is a pretty terrible school parents think they are getting the best education here but the truth is that the teachers are just assigning tons of work and kids mainly have to figure out how to solve things on there own because the teachers can’t explain how they got there answer. The whole environment of the school and the classrooms are toxic kids here are mainly two faced and with be nice but say stuff behind your back like. Really like stereotypical rich kids. The teachers are a whole other subject half of them don’t want to exist on the campus anymore. Most of them just don’t care enough to actually teach kids anymore. It’s kind of sad. The teachers that do care the students don’t ever listen to them.They really are just a front of a school bringing in parents with the fact that they are Private Catholic but don’t be deceived most kids in the school aren’t religious and do not care about learning.
Submitted by student on February 14, 2022

Favoritism is big part in that school, they don’t really help with students who are struggling (TEACHER wise) counselors do an okay job, but as soon as your grade drops to a C they immediately contact you about it, it can be annoying because they are constantly on you about Cs. Administration, they don’t seem to know what to do. An example of that would be: When I had a spider bite, my arm immediately felt numb. I went to the office because they don’t have a nurse, and when they asked to see it they said “you’ll be fine.” And continued to put neosporin… and I had to leave early because neosporin wasn’t doing anything. Students, LOTS of cliques and LOTS of unwelcoming kids. Lastly, work and homework: I’d suggest that you DO NOT procrastinate, especially in English class. For English they WILL NOT accept LATE work UNLESS you have a reason. I would also suggest to get ahead of homework/ classwork. Some teachers post agendas early and you can see what you do in class. All in all the school is challenging mentally and physically, if you have social anxiety/ anxiety. This school IS NOT the perfect match. 95% of the time they don’t care about your child’s help TRUST me, junior year was so difficult for me I left because when I talked to counselors about my anxiety and how I feel trapped and triggered in class they told me “everyone goes through it, just think differently.” it’s hard and challenging. Please Be Safe - Junior Student
Submitted by student on August 24, 2021

It is an environment where everybody cares about you as a person not as a name on a sheet of paper
Submitted by parent on November 25, 2018

Very good school. It is a good investment for your child education in High School.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2018

This is only the beginning of year two for us. Our experience has been what I expected. I feel like my student can be themself here and they are happy, comfortable, and feel as though they are part of a bigger community. My biggest gripe would be the lack of consistent expectations for the parents, specifically at Bingo. I do not like how I earn the same hours as people who literally disappear for chunks of time or stand along the wall and not participate. Otherwise, I feel my child is held accountable, given opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. I am pleased with our experience thus far.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2014

I have 3 Paraclete Alumni children 2006,2010,2012 and believe that a safe, faith based, college prep-curriculum produces excellent community and societal members. I have another to attend in the future, he is in third grade now and is already preparing for his future. As for the dress code et cetera...mine were involved therefore held to the standards of the handbook first at home and at school. Yes there are special circumstances everywhere which we have witnessed, some parents need to work lots of hours to keep their students properly involved, others just donate, some are legacys themselves, and some instill in their children their moral code early therefore have less worries. Students whom posses a diploma and are allowed to "walk" at graduation ceremonies are prepared for life and their future is whatever they choose it to be.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2014

My daughter attended all four years at paraclete and has since graduated (in 2013). One of the reasons we sent her to a private high school was becasue we thought she would de better in an enviromnent with more strict dress code and behavior standards, a school where students would be held accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, we found that she "got away with" a lot there. We grew tired of trying to nag at her every morning about the dress code, and left it up to the school to enforce - which unfortunately they do not. You'll see boy there with sagging pants and girls with tight skinny jeans and yoga pants -- my daughter wore pretty much whatver she wanted. As for the "college prep. level education" -- well, she was allowed to turn in things late and do make up work instead of being held accountable for not doing homework or not having things ready to turn-in on time. She would make friends with some of the teachers and be allowed to get away with murder. We do not feel it prepared her for "real life" or college, where meeting deadlines will definitely be mandatory.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2014

Paraclete High School is a great school that prepares and encourages its students. I am a Paraclete graduate as is my son. I have a daughter who will be a sophomore attending now. I came from a Westside Union School as did my kids. I do not believe that students coming from Sacred Heart and Saint Mary's are receiving an advantage. My son took advanced classes and my daughter, as a freshman, took two honor classes. She is scheduled to take 3 honors/ pre-AP classes this coming school year. If you feel that your child is not being challenged, I would suggest speaking to a counselor. They will work with you and your child. I know that Paraclete teachers and staff want to see their students succeed and become prepared for their future.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2014

Of course that kids from Catholic schools are taken- this is after all a Catholic school. If the kids from the local public middle schools feel that they write better and have stronger math skills then they would score better on the test. An entrance exam measures a student's ability. And while I do think that all parent need to take the exam seriously I would think that public school kids are the ones with the advantage. It is a good school and a fair system in my experience.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2014

There are problems at this school. As for entrance test: some kids have a major advantage. Paraclete is very closely tied to the Catholic grade school. In fact, the principal's wife is a teacher there. Most of the children of the grade school staff attend Paraclete. Kids coming from the Catholic grade school are held in a higher regard--even if they don't deserve it. The 8th grade teacher tells the parents at back to school night about the entrance test & suggests they buy the practice book to study. About a month prior to the test, she copies the practice book, which is copyrighted. Instead of their normal classes and studies, students take practice test after practice test. This is why so many of the kids coming from that school do so well on the test and get into honors classes. That, & they are being heavily supported & pushed by their parents. Who are really the best prepared students? Kids from Westside schools--Joe Walker & Hillview. They have been taught how to write, writing as much as 11-paragraph essays in 8th grade. STEM is a very important part of the curriculum. They've been taught how to take Cornell notes. These kids are the top ranked students in the high schools.
Submitted by parent on May 13, 2014

I send my child to Paraclete only because it is the best of the terrible options in the Antelope Valley. Be forewarned: take their entrance exam VERY seriously. The school determines the track your child will be on based SOLELY on that test. If your child tests in the top 5%, they can take more advanced classes. If not, they are held back. What are these advanced classes? One of the "advanced" classes they cannot take is Biology in 9th grade (Biology?? All other schools allow freshmen to take Biology, but Paraclete makes the 95% take Health/Computers for the year). This means that your 95% child is limited to how many science classes they can take over the four years. With 4, year-long classes dedicated to Catholicism, a child here is very limited to class choice (1/6 of all mandatory classes taken here are religion courses). Which is why the rankings of that initial test restrict your child significantly going forward. Even though my child has done very well (straight As) in the first two years of Paraclete, my child still isn't able to catch up with those students who were first higher tracked based on that one test taken in their 8th grade year. Good luck.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2014

Leadership at the high school is only interested in athletics! Barely a step up from a public school, with rising private school tuition. Think long and hard about this school, do your homework and talk with current families.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2013

Epic fail! They decided to implement a technology program that requires all students to rent a tablet from the school each year--with a hefty fee, esp. if it is damaged, etc. The students can not use their own because the school won't have any control. So the kids are finding ways around the firewalls. They are sitting in class playing games and messaging each other. The admin. blocked one messaging app. so the kids found another. The teachers are doing little to nothing in the way of policing this. Even honors students are admitting to abusing the tablet program. So glad we are paying all this money for this nonsense! Not really! :(
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2013

Not worth it. Don't think private school=quality. This isn't a quality, east coast/L.A. college prep h.s. It did used to have a good reputation but no more. Sports became the focus, meaning kids--who would not otherwise be at this school--are recruited. Strict admission standards gave way to greed; they even downplay being a Catholic school to get more kids. It should be no surprise that the school is degenerating. Many of the old time teachers remember what it used to be like & can't deal with modern kids. These staff members are rude & disrespectful to the students, like telling the kids they are dumb & worthless. The English dept. is good, very hit & miss with the rest of the staff. The AV isn't what it used to be--many have left the community. The demographics have definitely changed, so has the caliber of the students. Many are hard to teach; they are rude & disrespectful. Parents often are to blame for these mean, spoiled, entitled kids who don't want to work hard. Cheating is rampant, as are drugs. There have been many scandals here, and there's lots of politics. I would think long & hard before investing over $30,000 for a h.s. education.
Submitted by parent on November 16, 2012

Nothing that an average public high school can't provide academically. Lack of administration's leadership regarding the following issues is disappointing. Catholic ideology is rather weak. A few teachers should have been replaced by now, as several have spent more time on their ipads than doing any actual teaching. Kids swear, tease others, copy homework as if there was nothing wrong with it, even during class, & with no consequence. Very social school. Nicknamed "half-day high" for good reason- 9 half days in one month. Limited accommodations into classes. We've experienced several classes with very little student accountability. Lots of scan tron and open book tests. If any of these parents knew one teacher twice has indirectly referred to students as being a dumb_ _ _ , I think people would start seeing it for what it is. While parent involvement is high, many need to wake up and take a stand against mediocrity and demand standards proportionate to the price. Boasts being best school in the AV but those who have experienced excellent schools elsewhere will be disappointed. Students do seem friendly & welcoming. Could be a wonderful school...