Presentation High School

2281 Plummer Avenue

San Jose, CA 95125

22 Reviews

School District
Grade

9-12
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by other on May 20, 2024

The school has made tremendous strides over the last few years to improve all areas of the school, including facilities, a well rounded classroom experience, and student well-being. They are still setting high expectations for their students while understanding that mental health is a priority among youth (and especially with high school girls). They offer a wide variety of electives, clubs, interest/affinity groups where everyone can find their place (or try something new) and the small school size ensures that everyone can fully participate in whatever they choose. The teachers actually care about their students, want them to do well, and are willing to take the time to work with them to be the best they can be.
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2020

My daughter had an incredible experience at Presentation High School. Yes, it's academically challenging but totally doable! Presentation creates strong, community-minded, thoughtful young ladies that will are well prepared for life after high school.
Submitted by other on June 15, 2019

Even though the school boasts itself of being a Stem school it is far from it. They overwork the students and do not care what the students are going through. The student might be competing nationally but they are still required to submit homework and some intense paper along with other students. There are no extensions and no exceptions. The school mostly cares about humanities subjects and except for a few science and math teachers all of the other science and math teachers do not know how to teach. They hire people because they are alumni not because they are good teachers. These poor teachers are well known to other teachers but still they are retained and sometimes even made the chair. If you want your daughter to have a sound Stem oriented education look elsewhere.
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2018

Mediocre. For what they charge, their curriculum is not up to their so called education. Most importantly, this is a dangerous environment in which their reputation is more important than the safety of their students.
Submitted by student on March 22, 2018

I had an amazing experience at Pres. So much so my sister and cousin also attended after I did. It prepared us for college in so many ways. I went to a top 25 university and felt that it was easier than Pres which is saying something! I plan to send my daughters here later in life!
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2017

This is a very good school. Students are expected to actively engage proactive learning and should be in a position to handle reasonably heavy loads of studies and home works. It is not very easy but Is not impossibly hard. It is good for those who really want to build a solid foundation for college. The preparation makes college life much easier. The school also stress on being a well-rounded person with good hearts and being care about communities. If you look for challenges, you would want this school and perhaps you would want even more academically demanding. There are still many opportunities for social interactions (but note not for crazy parties) You can find friends there in many ways. But most students are really serious about their studies. No rooms for fooling around, which is a good thing for high school and it should be that way to prepare you for college. Of course, there are 1 to 2 private high schools and perhaps slightly more about half dozen top public schools in the bigger Bay Area can top or match this school academically. It is true that this is one of the most challenging high school in the Diocese in the area. You should be happy to see schools in Diocese keep it top level this way. Today’s workplace and technology changes, you need this. And Diocese should understand the reality and glad some school can top it. That is how to change the society by being good but you need to be the leader and academically sound in order to do so. College Counselling can be better using more up-to-date techniques and creative strategy. The school does meet the marks in terms of standard traditional academic/college prep/admission counselling. If you have high expectation, you want to excel. Given the tuition of the schools of this kind not cheap at all. This school makes you think about your future and how to prepare for it. But you should prepare to work on and earn it.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2015

This is one of the toughest schools in the Diocese. Challenges girls to be the best they can be. They've instilled an Amazing sense of confidence in our daughter! She is more than ready for college!
Submitted by student on October 20, 2014

Presentation High School is the best place a young woman can find and become herself. You will be pushed to use your mind and be pushed to do hard things, but it is amazing to see your progress through your time here. And I am here to say you get what you pay for. It was the best education you can get in all of Silicon Valley in my book. If I have girls, I will live on the streets to make sure my daughters have the opportunity to become the most intelligent, God-loving, and independent women they can be. Because teachers don't get payed nearly enough, some are kind of average, but trust me, they are better than any teacher you will find in the local public schools. Sure there is a large homework load, but I know that the extra time and work I put into my education, the more I will get out of my time at Presentation. Because of the smaller amount of students, I know some girls have a hard time finding their niche, but that's high school. The athletic programs at Pres could be improved, but if all you care about is getting a college scholarship and then going pro, then go to Mitty. I became myself while at Pres and I hope more girls can say the same in the future.
Submitted by student on October 19, 2014

led me to transfer. The course load at Pres is NO JOKE! Believe me when I say your homework load is practically INCOMPARABLE to ANY other HS in the Bay. Pres girls are NOT exaggerating when they talk about how stressful it is. Now, I love competition: it drives me to preform at my very best. I would hate to be at a school where children are not passionate to learn and succeed, but Pres is just pushing those healthy feelings of ambition to the extreme. Hours upon hours of studying all to get a low GPA in the end=NOT WORTH IT! Teachers don't really care if you're doing bad, and it super hard to try to see them after class. Frankly, its sink or swim. In 8th grade I received a 3.95 GPA and was at the top of my class: at Pres I received a 3.4, 2.9, 2.9, and 3.3 respectively my two years I attended. Those grades are hardly Ivy/Top 20 material. My dreams of attending a prestigious ug vanished. However, I had the sane idea to transfer. Now I'm at a very small (~200 students) private high school in the South Bay and I have around a 3.9 GPA. Yes, there are fewer AP classes/clubs, but at the end of the day I'm happier & less stressed. My advice to you: get out while you still can!!!!!
Submitted by student on April 27, 2014

I am currently a Freshman at PHS, and honestly if I went back in time to 8th grade I would not have chosen to come here. It is not the academics or the school itself, I'm actually doing great academically and most teachers are pretty cool. The thing is, the people there are not the people I want to surround myself with. I don't like the way the girls here treat each other. Everyone talks behind everyone's back and even to their face and blah blah blah. I think since there is no boys to impress, girls can be as vicious as they want. I am not happy at this school because I can't find a solid group of friends that I actually really like. Also, I really miss boys. Boys make thins fun and interesting. The mixers arent even fun because no guys go. I stopped going. I literally have not talked to a boy in forever. To be honest I am thinking of transferring and probably will. But if you know that you are great at making friends and are fine in that area, Presentation is a good school for you and GREAT prep for college. (If you don't mind hours of homework every night)
Submitted by other on February 12, 2014

I graduated from Presentation in '06 and like many, I hated Presentation while I was there. However, now that I have been through college and experienced life outside of Presentation, I am very grateful for the education that I received there. The classes and work load were challenging, but I could not have been better prepared for college. As an example, while I was at Presentation, we were required to write at least two 10-15 page research papers per semester. These papers alone have given me the ability to write any paper ( whether it be for college or work) with ease and high marks, and I am by no means a good writer. In addition to a great education, the all girls environment really helped me gain the confidence I needed in myself without the added pressure of over performing for male peers. I believe my experience at Presentation was definitely worth all the heart ache and stress the rigorous curriculum requires. Ultimately, if I ever have daughters and am still in the area, I will be sending them to Presentation.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2013

My daughter went to Presentation High School and LOVED it. She was taught at Presentation how to think for herself. It is an environment where the individual girl is challenged to do her best. The girls are encouraged to be a part of the community too. The teachers are SO very dedicated. Although it is a Catholic school there are girls of all faiths.
Submitted by other on September 09, 2013

I think the review mentioning Mitty and Bellarmine is funny. Bellarmine is the brother school to Presentation. So unless your daughter is a boy, she's not going to get into Bellarmine. Mitty and Saint Francis are schools with both genders...like comparing apples and oranges really since this is an all girls school dedicated to helping young women grow. That said, Presentation was and is still a great school. It is smaller. The classes are also smaller and the ladies get a much more personalized education. I've been friends with the girls I graduated with for my entire life and for what it's worth, I know all the guys from Bellarmine still too. I almost worked harder at this school than I did in college. It's tough and I do recall awesome amounts of work that severely cut into my dreams of having a social life. On the other hand, it was only for four years and it was better then than trying to figure out managing that sort of workload freshman year in college. In my adult life, I'm running my own company and successfully sold my first to a Swedish multinational. So, I'd say this prepares young women for adult life and leadership roles quite well. Go Panthers!
Submitted by other on September 06, 2013

Choosing to go to pres may have been the worst decision of my life. For some one who has always done average in school when I got to high school my grades tanked. Due to bad transcripts I might have to go to community college. Almost every night I am up until midnight or later struggling to finish the work assigned to me. My friends at public school (who I am just as smart as, if not smarter) have a 3.9 gpa while I have a 2.8. Save your money send your daughter to public school.
Submitted by student on June 03, 2011

i love pres. high school is a time of growing up and learning who you are. pres is a safe, caring, supportive environment. the girls are kind, smart, and importance is placed in faith, education, athletics and being a good member in one's community. i'm not Catholic, but the environment at Pres teaches me to be more compassionate and giving, not trying to convert me. i would hope all girls think of pres as an option for high school.
Submitted by student on May 21, 2011

I am graduating from Presentation in a week, and I couldn't have asked for a better high school experience. I feel that the music department, although fabulous, is grossly under appreciated, but through no fault of the school itself. The academics are often said to be quite rigourous, and while this is true, one must remember that it is a COLLEGE-PREP school. Those who continue on to four-year university (the vast majority of graduates) find that they are extremely well prepared. Some have even deemed college academics to be easier, and have gone on to successful careers.
Submitted by other on March 15, 2011

IN MY DEALINGS WITH THE SCHOOL AS A NEAR BY NEIGHBOR, I HAVE FOUND THAT THE STUDENTS ARE VERY NICE AND THOUGHTFUL. HOWEVER, SEVERAL NEIGHBORS AS WELL AS MYSELF HAVE FOUND THAT THE PRINCIPAL AND OTHERS AT THIS SCHOOL ARE EXTREMELY DISHONEST. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SUFFERED GREATLY DUE TO THEIR DISHONEST WAYS AND BROKEN PROMISES. I find it sad that a private religiously based high school would have leaders that conduct business with their neighbors in such an unethical fashion.
Submitted by parent on February 24, 2010

Statistics show that children excel and are more successful when they learn in single sex environments. The rigorous acedemics of a college prep and thought out extra curriculars make Presentation truely one of the best school in the area. The dress code encourage the girls to express themselves without being racy and still having rules. A very safe environment as well.
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2008

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Submitted by parent on January 20, 2008

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