Rancho Pico Junior High School

26250 Valencia Boulevard

School District

William S. Hart Union High
Grade

7-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for William S. Hart 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 student on November 25, 2024

My experinece is okay at this school
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2024

The academics leave a lot to be desired, and if your child is planning on taking honors/AP in HS, then this school does not prepare the students. Also, the worst thing is the administration. They don't care about the students. And they don't listen to parents, and definitely do not partner with the parents.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2024

The administration is awful, they don't care about the students at all. The school does not partner with the parents. They do not listen to the students or parents. Bullying is tolerated. The education is lackluster and the kids aren't prepared for high school. The students left behind are the smart ones. Not a good experience.
Submitted by other on November 08, 2023

The teachers are great and encourage the students to learn, but the administration does NOTHING about sexual harassment and racism. When I reported how my friends and I were discriminated against and the hate crimes that were committed against us, they told me that since the people who did it were boys, they should be excused since they were immature and that, as a girl, I should be mature and ignore it. The assistant principal told me this, and I didn't understand the situation at that time to say anything back, so I left. The other time I had to report something was when my friends and I were being sexually harassed by disgusting comments by a big group of boys; they told one boy not to talk to us for the rest of the year. They did nothing about the others, and now, years later, they still torment me through high school. The way the admin neglected our issues still makes me sick.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2023

This school has a significant problem with bullying and administration that does not address student and parent concerns in a timely manner. Only after numerous phone calls, emails and meetings do administrators attempt to take action which is typically too late, not sufficient and is limited in scope in order to address the problem at hand. The school's principal typically does not get herself involved in addressing these concerns at all and it falls to one of the assistant principals to follow up on parental and student concerns. It also falls on to parents to advocate for their student and to ensure that teachers are aware of the problems taking place in their classrooms so that they also can address instances of bullying before these significant problems escalate. Very disappointing experience over the course of two years that we have been there.
Submitted by parent on October 18, 2022

I attended this school in 2015 for 8th grade. It was my first day of school, at a new school where i knew no one except my brother and sister. I wore shorts and a crop top. Mind you my bum was not exposed, nor were my shoulders and neither was my stomach. I wore a long cardigan over my outfit as well. This outfit would have been acceptable at the school i attended in 7th grade, in the same district. As soon as I walked through the gates of the school, I was targeted & they dress coded my entire outfit. I don’t remember who did this to me as i was completely traumatized and stunned. I was bawling profusely but not one peer or adult cared. I’m not a confrontational person and i was nervous about finding all my classes & the information i needed for the first day of school, so I attended the rest of the day in gym clothes. It was the most embarrassing thing in my teenage years. Throughout the year, my sister was my best friend. I made maybe 3 other friends at that school. I had people from the school telling me to k*11 myself online. People called me a loner. It was the most miserable year of my school years. A few of the 8th grade teachers were decent. But even still, I wouldn’t recommend this school to anyone. My brother was special needs and in the 7th grade and he also had a horrible time at that school. My sister would also agree it was the worst year of her school life.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2022

Wonderful experience at this school with teachers that have been there a long time and come across as passionate about student learning and care about them. Good bridge from elementary to preparing for high school. Music band program also terrific and made it fun for the students.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2022

My experience at this school was not so good. I don't want to name any names, but some of the teachers their were horribly rude. Speaking of this, one of the Special Education teachers was caught drinking an alcohol beverage and went to jail, so I believe that this school is non-aware of what the teachers are bringing into the school. I strongly believe that this school should not be recommended at all and I will never enroll in it ever again.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2022

This school is terrible. It is completely filled with racist and homophobic people. The amount of slurs said on campus is horrible. The school does nothing about this issue unless specific students are named however the majority of this school is racist and homophobic and it is not talked about. There hasn't even been an assembly addressing this issue. The school's way of handling issues is just yelling at the student and calling their parent (which is usually ineffective since the parents tend to backup their kids) If you do not want your child to have several mental illness do not send them here.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2021

If parents are interested in having their child/children become proficient at reading, writing, and mathematics, then Rancho Pico is the school for you. With so many public schools churning out students who can't read and write at grade level, students at this school are given ample opportunity to develop proficiency across the curriculum. If you want woke ideology shoved down your child/children's throat, perhaps RP is not the school for you. If you want your child to be able to compete in the world, then Rancho Pico is the school for you. Parents should decide what it is they want from their school and then enroll their child/children accordingly. People move to this area because the schools have a history of preparing students with rigorous academic learning environments that are complemented with music, art, and athletics programs. Crappy schools are just a short drive away if parents would rather have their child/children become illiterate activists. We came to this district with low expectations and have been pleasantly surprised by how well our mixed race children have thrived at this particular school. Rancho Pico has a responsive administrative team and a professional, compassionate teaching staff who challenge students to become critical thinkers.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2020

My son began attending this school in the second part of last year's school year, and I must say with so little diversity in literature and culture it seems to me at some point they have become so blinded by there oppressive systemic ways that don't even see the problems or flaws in even the basic subjects as in P.E. You become aware of their racists subliminal curriculum they are teaching kids or at least my 8th grader was aware and expressed his need not to participate in line dancing in his P.E. class to a tune by the name of "Cotton eyed Joe" and no I'm not kidding. Although the principal felt the need to reach out and express her gratitude to his mother for standing up for what he believed and to no longer use that song even though the song had been played and danced to for many years at the school and all throughout the district I might add. I want to end this by saying that my son is of african decent and if he would not have been brave enough to express his reason for not participating to such a racists subliminal systemic oppressive behavior that the school was teaching then kids would still be learning such behaviors with little to no change ever being done. I am proud of my son but also at the same time ashamed of our public school system. Shame on you Ranch Pico, do better this has to stop.
Submitted by parent on June 04, 2019

Overall it was fine but there is a mixture of teachers and teaching abilities. A great history teacher and some great English teachers. One good Science teacher and a much lesser science teacher who somewho won Teacher of the Year. This very fact makes me question the school.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2014

My son transferred here from Marina del Rey in the middle of 7th grade. The student body was friendly and welcoming. Parents were very involved and the teachers provided a strong educational environment. The real applause went to the principal, Mrs. Krantz... she helped create a learning environment that enabled our kids to have fun and get involved in their own educations, providing them with tools for their future.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2014

I have had two very different children go throughout this school and I am very satisfied with their time there. The school does an exceptional job dealing with students that are going through such huge developmental and emotional changes in the two years they are there. My kids always felt save, were always challenged academically and were very prepared for West Ranch High School right across the street. The facility is nice and clean, the community is supportive and the student body is diverse and academically strong. The team structure works very well to give the kids a sense of belonging. All junior high schools will have issues with the social dynamics of pre-teens that they need to address and this school does that promptly.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

Rancho Pico Junior High is a great school with fantastic teachers. The teachers do prepare the students for high school. The parent and teacher have a great partnership. I am not saying everything is perfect at this school but the staff and parents work towards solving problems when they come up.