Deer Valley High School

My son has a 4.0 GPA from Deer Valley, but his weighted GPA is 3.22 (!) This is unfair to the students that genuinely achieve academically. Our weighted scores are due to grade inflation and substandard test scores. What impact can I make as a concerned parent against the apathy of the staff and the ignorance of the student body? What can I do?
--Submitted by a parent

I have attended this school for all four years of my high school career and am a senior (Class of 2012) , so I may be bias in my review. However, Deer Valley High School is an excellent school offering a large variety of classes, clubs, and programs preparing students for their next step in their road to a career.

DVHS is a good looking school with way too many students. The school has done a great job of turning this monster into smaller schools, but good administration does not mean good students. My kid, in all honors or CP classes, 9th grade, has had only homework in Spanish, nothing else and still above 4.0 GPA (4.3 with CP)...how is that possible. I speak to friends in other districts that seem to actually have homework almost daily. The core classes need to be enforced and everything else dropped until they get money for it. A school this big requires a very strong core first.
--Submitted by a parent

This school looks good, I hear good things about the staff, students etc., why can't we meet academic standards? One student in all of DVHS history has gone to Stanford, on a swimming scholarship. This is unacceptable to me. My son wants to go to Stanford very much, he is an honors student, has a score over 700 on the math section in the SAT in 9th grade (!) and has no real chance of attending Stanford or any other prestigious school because he came from DVHS. If the faculty, staff and students are so good, why can't we meet the state minimum requirements that 60% of similar schools do? Why don't we have an AP physics class? Why can't students take Calculus until they are seniors? Why can't we get our exceptional students into Stanford or similar private schools?
--Submitted by a parent

Upon reading the most recent reviews, I have to wonder exactly how involved the complaining parents are. My child had a very difficult start to his academic year. The reason....pure laziness. Teachers cannot teach a child that is not interested in doing his/her part. After the first report card, my husband and I stepped in, cracked down on ALL freedoms, and basically treated him like the first grader he was acting like. Strict expectations were set, and his grades improved. I am a teacher and I am so tired of parents that do nothing but complain and feel that the only person responsible for their childs' success in school is the teacher. Wake up parents, YOU are the parent and the MOST IMPORTANT teacher your child will EVER have! When your child knows you are disparaging a teacher it is a free ticket for your child to blame everything on that teacher and not look to the real source of the problem, which is like their own behavior or lack of motivation.
--Submitted by a parent

I have to say, this is my fourth year with students at Deer Valley. I have a soph and a senior. And while yes, there are some problems with some of the student body, the teachers are the best. In all these yeasr there was only one very poor teacher, Ms. Sharpe. The adminisration does what it can to deal with the problem kids. When the parenst won't cooperate, unfortuanelty, their hands are tied.
--Submitted by a parent

This school's foolish deregulation of student transfers has made it become one of the most desolate overcrowded schools in the Bay area that has similar student body and liberal agenda as Oakland schools. A bulk of the teachers are assumed positions they are less specialize for i.e( Chem teacher Morgan Olk). And its not hard to infer that they disregard student' s success; leaning toward the notion, " Just passing them and moving whether its the grade they deserve or not." The irony is appalling considering that the teacher would be less motivated to instruct diligently than the students motivation towards school. Overall, the school is very public and generously admits anyone offering free lunches and . Astonishingly enough, this approach can admits unsuitable students that belong in other areas out of range , from alternative schools to penitentiaries. Either case, decide cautiously in Antioch schools. Chow
--Submitted by a parent

The one problem I have with this school is the fact that I, along with the other student body and staff, are not prepared for emergencies. The two lockdowns we've had were not done correctly and we NEVER have earthquake drills, shelter in place drills and intruder drills. The only time we have a fire drill is when the system malfunctions. The administration needs to realize that We need to practice this and as a student there, I know there would be much panic when the big one hits.
--Submitted by a parent

The principals and vice principals are exceptionally accommodating and always accessible. Most of the teachers are excellent and ready to help. All my children have had great experiences and they have got admitted into their preferred university.
--Submitted by a parent

As a recent graduate, I have to say that I am surprisingly proud to have graduated from DV. During my first two years, the school was much more crowded than it was during my upperclassmen years. There are a wide variety of AP classes, most of the teachers are great, and the reputation of our sports teams are one of a kind. Although it's true that there are many 'gangbangers' and such at the school, I never felt unsafe and never had a major problem with anyone. If your child has a tendency to start problems or not do so well in school, please don't blame the teachers or the school. If your student tries hard enough and uses all the opportunities available to them, then they'll get into a great college, just like how I will be going to Cal in the fall with three of my friends!! :)
--Submitted by a student