Northgate High School

425 Castle Rock Road

School District

Mt. Diablo Unified
Grade

9-12
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for Mt. Diablo Unified 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 July 05, 2022

Excellent school! We transferred from a local private high school and the education and opportunities students have at Northgate FAR outweigh what the private school offered.
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2020

This is one of the largest schools in the district and good leadership is in place.
Submitted by parent on February 08, 2020

Terrible! Schools has a HUGE drug problem as well as a vaping problem. They allow bully’s to continually make other students lives miserable and turn a blind eye as the principle is more worried about his reputation. There’s no leadership and school communication is the worst! Especially in dangerous or emergency situations. Again, the principal only give glossed over info and hides or twists the facts of what’s really going on. Only comes clean when the parents finally call him out. I’d avoid this school all together if I were you. Only way to get noticed or anywhere with this school is if you’re a top monetary contributor. Parents aren’t any better. Very cliquey and seem to be still living in high school themselves.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2017

I used to be a parent at this school over 12 years ago. My experience was the teachers want to focus on the "B" and "C" students. They would compliment parents of "A" students, but not do anything in the classroom to keep them motivated. I observed few attempts when they tried to transfer the "D" students to another school in the district, and replace those spots with their better students. Of course all of these transfers were happening during the reign of the previous principal and vice-principal, before the district put a stop to it. I did not like how they assigned teachers to teach advanced classes. Few of them were simultaneously enrolled at the community college to learn the same subject they were supposed to teach in class everyday. I thought that was unfair. That's why my initial comment they didn't care much for their "A" students.
Submitted by other on September 24, 2015

MDUSD's superintendent makes $292k every year, assistant superintendent makes $200k...look it up on Transparent California. California schools aren't lacking funds...they are just wasted on ridiculous salaries instead of going to the students (teacher salaries now average $85k-95k as well). Half of these funds come from property taxes that PARENTS pay. We can demand better for our kids!
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

My son just graduated and all what I can say are excellent school the best high school in MDUSD no question. Principal Vice Principals and Teachers are the best.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2013

Northgate is a great school. There are some awesome teachers, but I think that the difference is that there are so many options for kids that choose to take them. Our son is in Jazz Band and the opportunities he has had with the music program are way beyond what we could imagine. The music program works because of strong parent and student involvement and Greg Brown is such a dedicated teacher. Students can't get these opportunities anywhere else in the district or in any of the private schools. There are a lot of great electives at this school, our son just wishes that there were more periods available so that he could take more of these classes. As with any school, your experience is what you make it. The opportunities are there. We had really bad experiences at another elementary school in the district and moved to the Northgate area so that our son could attend the school. We don't regret that move for a moment.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2013

This is a great school if you are looking for your child to spend a lot of time with Substitiute Teachers and watching videos to fill the time. The school is lax with accountability and keeps communications to parents about issues to a minimum.
Submitted by student on July 21, 2012

I am a former student who attended Northgate High School and graduated in 2010 and am currently a junior in college. Everyone has their own experiences in high school, based on their identity e.g. who their friends are, what groups they associate themselves with, etc. I was not a big fan of Northgate at the time; I was an average student earning not-so-impressive grades, I was not involved in as many groups, clubs as I would have liked (I was only involved with Be the Change Club and Softball)... Looking back, I now have an appreciation for the staff and school in general that I lacked three years ago. The parents are amazing and so supportive, the staff is okay, however, because of budget cuts the school's academic flare is beginning to flicker and dim. Although since I have left, they have added Mandarin to their Language Department. This is a good school. (Also, if you have any seniors preparing for college, DO NOT listen to the college counselor. She made me cry on my first day of my senior year, telling me I should not aim too high as to get my hopes up--because of my poor GPA. I was admitted to a 4-year University later that year and now have a better GPA than I did in HS.)