Aliso Niguel High School

I moved to the area because of the school's reputation. I should have done more research. Stay very, very far away unless you can afford private school. It might have once been a good school but not now. I promised my children we would not move again until they graduated from high school, but I should have broken that promise for their own good. They have each made life-long, good friends, but they had to work very hard in college to make up for everything they did not learn. And, yes, the bullying is a problem. My son recently told me about an incident where someone bloodied his nose simply because he didn't like him. Nothing was done. Glad we are out of there now. Stay away.
--Submitted by a parent

Both my sons went through Aliso Niguel High School. While some teachers were good, many were not. If your kid is already academically motivated, she or he mighut lazyt do very, very well. If not, though, they wil probably just be processed through, like mine. One was a special ed student, and the school failed him miserably. The school failed to stop bullying, and it was sometimes extreme. My other son was gifted but lazy, and no teacher tried to connect with him and help him. He, too,was bullied (and sometiems because of his brother), and no one even tried to help him. Not my idea of excellence. On standardized testing, parents of special ed kids are encouraged to refuse to have their kids tested to avoid the impact on school scores.
--Submitted by a parent

A great school with a whole body of dedicated quality teachers!! My son is doing well in this school. He has very good friendship with his classmates, he doesn't want to go to any other school except attending this school. But as a parent, i have a feeling, since it is a big school, for any sports, your kids have to be very competitive to get into the school team. This is my only regret for my son.
--Submitted by a parent

Aliso Niguel is one of the most competitive schools in the district, in terms of academics. The staff is extremely dedicated while the students are challenged for the most part with the rigorous coursework and curriculum ANHS has to offer. My daughter is currently a junior at Aliso and I can certainly say she has been challenged with the accelerated and AP curriculum. In addition, the school has the highest AP pass rate in the district, an impressive 85% while also maintaining a 90th percentile pass rate on the California Exit Exam, making Aliso Niguel a great school with excellent staff, facilities, and academics! The principal, Mr. Salter, seems to be very dedicated, constantly sending emails and phone calls home to update parents on school events.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is a junior at Aliso Niguel and has been with the Capo district since 6th grade. We love it! Principal Salter cares about the school & students, he emails & calls parents regularly. And has a coffee house chat for parents on Saturdays. The school is demanding and staff has high expectations of students. If you want your child to attend a safe, challenging school with caring teachers & a principal you will adore, then ANHS is the school for you.
--Submitted by a parent

Aliso is definately a great school. I am now in my senior year and have had a good experience all the way through. We have a principal who cares deeply about students succeeding and receiving the proper education for college. When it comes to academics, no other high school near Aliso even comes close. However, sports are another story. We definately have one of the weakest sports programs in OC, although it is starting to get better. If academics is your main focus, definately come to Aliso. If sports is, then I would recommend another school.
--Submitted by a student

Great teachers, facilities, and extra curricular activities/electives. Aliso offers plenty of opportunities, arts, and sports for students to participate in. With the highest AP test pass rate in the district, the Advanced Placement courses at Aliso are extremely demanding. Students will be adequately prepared for college and beyond spending 4 years at this outstanding school!
--Submitted by a student

Currently I'm a sophomore at Aliso, and while many honors or ap classes have some of the most dedicated teachers around, the normal classes get the short end of the stick. The teachers of regular classes for the most part see no problem in letting students fall asleep, talk in class, and generally just goof off instead of paying attention to the insanely easy curriculum. Another problem is massive overcrowding, with the hallways being nearly impossible to navigate during passing periods. However, if a student does try, I firmly believe ANHS can offer a very high quality education that will prepare them for college or a career (ROP)
--Submitted by a student

My child is doing excellent there, and I am very happy to live in Aliso Viejo.
--Submitted by a parent

I have two kids that attend(ed) ANHS - one is now at a top ranked UC and the other is a junior. They both have received an excellent education. Those that have posted that were unhappy appear to be those involved in sports and other outside activities. From what I have seen, the school encourages and recognizes sports and extra curricular but places the most emphasis on academic and learning to be be contributing members of the society. The principal is passionate about supporting the students and helping them be successful. The PTA offers opportunities for involvement and also provides excellent programs on teen issues. This is an excellent school.
--Submitted by a parent