Valencia High School

27801 N. Dickason Dr.

School District

William S. Hart Union High
Grade

9-12
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 parent on August 31, 2024

We had the worst experience at VHS. There are a few great teachers, but most were awful. Thankfully Pete Getz is no longer the principal there. Maybe now, things will get better. He rewarded bad behavior and was very much part of the cliques. My child is now attending a top UC school and thriving because she is a hard worker, not because she received any guidance from VHS.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2024

The school is great! I wonder why it is not 10/10.
Submitted by parent on January 23, 2024

My daughter recently graduated from VHS. We moved to the area specifically because of the "great" schools. Don't be fooled. The schools are not great--they are slightly above average but far from great, but VHS is considerably below average despite what test scores may indicate. Students who do well are the same students who would do well anywhere, not because of the school. My daughter, who is now at one of the top colleges in the country, was constantly complaining about the lack of teaching--she essentially had to teach herself most of the material especially in the AP classes. The cheating among students is out of control and the principal turns a blind eye to it. Another thing he turns a blind eye to is bullying--the school does not foster a sense of community, decency, or fairness. Let's not talk about the counseling staff. There is no direction or guidance at all. If your child is college bound, you had better not rely on VHS to guide him or her. My daughter's counselor told her several things that were verifiably false and could have derailed her college application process. Luckily, my daughter was able to navigate through four years here without too much damage but I feel sorry for kids who rely solely on VHS for a decent education, guidance, or supportive community because they will find none of it here.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2022

This school is not student-focused or student-centered at all. Student success is not the number one priority here, instead the Principal seems to enable and turn a blind eye to outrageous bad behavior that does not serve students. They could benefit from learning more about the dangers of a fixed mindset.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2022

Lack of academic support for students. I have had 2 students in this school and have found that the career/academic counseling support for students is failing. There is no response or engagement from some of the counselors. Recently, I tried to contact my student's assigned counselor and have received no response. I have been waiting for 10 days. I emailed the counselor and waited 7 days with no response. Called the counselor, left a voicemail, and still waiting after 3 days for a response. I visited in person and was told the counselor is really busy ... doing what you ask?... Apparently she is focusing on working with the sports teams. You have the parent's attention who is trying to get assistance and you ignore the parent. There is no empathy, support, pro-active or re-active engagement for academic counseling assistance.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2022

This school is all about the rich kids and the kids who are high achieving in either athletics or academics. If your child is middle of the road or an underachiever they're treated like they're nothing. No one cares about them.
Submitted by student on October 19, 2020

This school is pretty nice. Sports are very well done at this school and highly recomended. Very safe and beautiful area. The teachers at this school are wonderful and so is the education. Although the students who attend this school are very closed to new people. If you are new and coming to this school friends are very hard to make. Other than that teachers are very caring, grading can be a little tough depending on teachers but this school is pretty nice.
Submitted by parent on November 03, 2017

Valencia High School has so much potential to be a great school. As there's really no perfect school. Some schools have great leadership, amazing students, wonderful teachers, great programs...but unfortunately all 4 elements are never combined..either one or two points missed.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2016

This school has gone down hill over the past year or so as it is now way too crowded with all the Castaic area kids coming over, enrollment is way to high, classroom size is out of control. It is projected to only get worse next year. My kid is just a number, if your kid needs extra help in one of their classes good luck getting it!
Submitted by parent on April 03, 2015

Great school. Some students have gone on to Princeton, Yale, UPenn, Georgetown and many of the UCs.
Submitted by other on October 25, 2014

Every school has their ups and downs. I am a black student who is in their third year at this school. People always like to comment on things they have no clue about. My shool is taking action by the law because what happened was not right, but just because the video went viral does not mean these boys should be punished anymore than other students that have been in this situation before but it did not go viral. I love my school. It use to be very racist now it is diverse and a good place to learn. I recommend people focus on the school as a whole and not by the ONE fight that really never happens at Valencia
Submitted by student on May 03, 2014

valencia high school is quite youngschool (open in 1994) it does not have 2nd level building. it's pretty decent the students are alright and kind. during my freshmen year, there are many kids trying to welcome me. I have treacher collins syndrome ;i have mild face deformities and overall the kids are pretty welcoming. the older kids are nice and if you smile at them they would give you butter melting smile. If you try to talk to the students they won't reject you just act confident even though you're not. don't look depress, they can sense it and they are happy people, they look forward to meet fellow happy people. there are no such thing as cool or not cool as long you talk and get involved they don't care if you're short, black, asian, skinny or ugly, they see your personality.
Submitted by parent on March 30, 2014

My child is having a very disappointing experience at VHS, after a great elementary and jr. high school. There have been a few good teachers, but some are mediocre and a few are downright bullies. Overall, they do not seem to care about the success of individual students. They do, however, care a great deal about the success of their sports teams.
Submitted by student on October 21, 2013

Great school, great envirement, and just great people at Valencia so it's really easy to fit in and meet new people.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

My freshman is enthusiastic about her French teacher and cross country coach. Overall, she has been made to feel welcome by her teachers and encouraged by the rigors of the curriculum. The counselors and teachers were very accomodating in helping to make any class changes.