Menlo-Atherton High School

Menlo-Atherton has diverse students, and a curriculum that is designed to address the diversity, thus allowing all students to learn at their level. The bathrooms, however, need more maintenance.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is unfortunately not at all like the rosy, jolly reviews from parents who don't know what really goes on at this school. The segregation at this school is AWFUL, and the M-A motto "Strength in Diversity" is known as a joke by everyone, students and teachers alike. The only equalizer between the kids from EPA and Menlo Park and Atherton is drugs. Even some of the best students, with the parents who volunteer the most, smoke often and sometimes even right in front of teachers, on the green, using those pen - smoke machines hidden in their sleeves!! Yes, there are many security guards who ride around in golf carts but it has not seemed to help. Teachers are completely out of touch, they are in their own world and often are too into "the doughnuts in the staff room!" and their problems at home to genuinely help students and maintain a positive attitude. One highlight is the choir and music teacher, who seems to actually be in touch with the problems with M-A, but is positive and brings up student morale.
—Submitted by a parent

Menlo-Atherton has an amazing staff that will provide you will all the help your teenager needs to go through high school. All you have to do is ask for the help you need. The counselors will help guide your teen to the right direction on their way to college. Besides the fact that M-A has such a great academic course, they also provide a large variety of electives & clubs to choose from. M-A, I believe takes great care of their students. Although, the school may seem a little segregated between the minorities and the non-minorities, but that can be worked out with the school. What else does M-A have to offer? PRIDE. M-A has a system called PRIDE which will help your student overcome their fear of bullying because M-A tries their overall best to be an anti-bullying school. What does PRIDE mean? P-patience, R-respect, I-integrity, D-determination, E- empathy. These four words helped me get through my first year at M-A and I hope it will be the same for your teen as well. M-A! U KNOW! GOOOOO BEARS!

This is a good school for students that do not need any extra help. My son has ADHD and unless you completly micro manage the support your child will not get the extra help they need. The teachers and staff seem too overwhelmed with work to give the needed assistance. We ended up having to change schools.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a freshman student in this school. Must admit, this school have both amazing academic and athletic progress. The only bad thing? If you are from EPA or EMP, you'll get secretly discriminated by some of the students who came from rich district. Almost no student from East Palo Alto dare to say they are from "the bad neighborhood", even they are on the AS/AP track of this school. Why? They are afraid no one want to be their friends. Because some of the rich students from better community are so arrogant and values themself better than the ones who are from EPA and EMP. But still, I know some classmate from rich communities want to be friend with you and doesn't care about the place you came from, and the number of people who are friendly are more than the people who think they are better 'cause they're rich.

All three of my kids went through M-A. They considered all the the schools, private and public, but felt they'd have a better "dose of reality" at M-A than kids they knew at the privates were getting for the years after high school and they are glad they did as am I. One went to CAL, turning down Stanford, another Davis and another Cal Poly. The academics are great. Having volunteered for a number of years, I got to know the staff, coaches and watch the improvement of the physical plant. The camups is awesome, from the Performing Arts Center to the football stadium and even the tennis courts as well as the rest of the buildings on campus. The trend with some of the parents of our Millenials has been rather than take responsibility, blame everyone but themselves or their children. It's called parenting, people! Every year M-A sends a large number of kids to the Ivy League, Stanford, the UC's, etc. Check the stats! As for the student body, it is and always has been a racially diverse environment, like the real world. It's a good thing! Best of all, it's FREE!! It's tough to justify spending $30K+ per year in high school so my kid can go to Chico. Boulder or Loyola.

I am currently a student at Menlo-Atherton and despite all rumors it is an AMAZING place. M-A takes pride in their diversity and though it is scary to many parents and students to be in an environment that has kids from unprivileged areas it really gives you a taste of the real world while still being VERY safe and welcoming. Despite rumors below there is no area called the "pot alley". There are many private schools in this area that have a MUCH larger problem with drugs than M-A. The staff does a very good job of keeping all incidents quiet thus not effecting students at all. I would encourage anyone to send their child to M-A because its free and provides and equally good education, since many of my friends who just graduated went to schools as good or better than those students who went to private school. Virtually all you are trading is nice bathrooms and good lunch, but in return you get an experience that prepares you much better to be on your own in college and beyond. It's a wonderful place and community and there is something for EVERYONE!

My child is a freshman at this school. It is not all rosy like other reviews claim. If you are a popular jock it is easy to have a great time at this school. If you are more quiet and shy it is hard to find friends. The studying environment is bad. Many students come in late, don't do their work and disturb the classes. The good thing is that if you do your home work, listen to and obey the teacher and try just a little bit it is easy to get all A's. There is no working hot food program at the school and the bathrooms are gross. There is a section called "the pot alley". Over half of the Freshman class is underprivileged from poor neighborhoods. I hoping there will be betterworking environment in upper grades when my child can take the AP classes.
—Submitted by a parent

MA is like two schools in one, serving a very diverse community. If you were able to separate out the kids in the advanced track, as the highest rated schools in the US on the US News survey do, MA would likely rate at the absolute top. Fortunately, MA serves both ends of the academic spectrum admirably and provides students a wonderful opportunity to experience a diverse social process along with outstanding academics and sport programs. The teachers and staff are highly dedicated and do an outstanding job with everything from basic classes to an unsurpassed variety of AP classes. There is a capacious selection of extra curricular activities including nationally ranked robotics and music programs, art, drama, and many others. MA's 6th man club is the highest rated in the bay area and serves as a demonstration of strong student spirit. Many students go on to the top universities in the US. Eight students were accepted for early admission to Stanford this year out of the approximately 740 admitted on that basis. That represents over 1% of all the students admitted early to Stanford this year from the approximately 18,000 high schools with AP classes in the US. Amazing!
—Submitted by a parent

Menlo-Atherton has been an incredible place for both of my students, one at UC Berkeley and the other just admitted to Stanford. The administration has created a school that supports students, teachers, and parents, the Advanced Placement offerings are unmatched by any private school, and there is something for EVERYONE at M-A!
—Submitted by a parent

I love M-A, my son is a senior and every year at back to school night, the teachers give us their contact information including cell phones. They are the most dedicated and selfless group of teachers I have ever know. These teachers have instilled a true love for learning and independent thought in my son and as a result, he has already been accepted to one UC school and it's only Feb.
—Submitted by a parent

M-A just keeps getting better! The administration is smart and effective and the teachers, who have always been incredibly devoted to their students, are happy and well supported. I have 2 very different children and truly appreciate all that this school offers each of them.
—Submitted by a parent

I Love the work, discipline, but especially the Activities at Menlo Atherton. I have a child going to Santa Cruz University and everything is moving great. Great work!
—Submitted by a parent

The Advanced Placement courses offered at M-A are top of the line and some of the best in the area. However, the lower level classes tend to be too densely populated, with less effort from the students. M-A is very diverse, as it mixes students from very poor areas (East Palo Alto), and very rich areas (Atherton, Menlo Park, etc.) The athletics programs are generally strong, and a variety of elective classes are offered and well taught.
—Submitted by a parent

Menlo-Atherton is a diverse and very academically challenging school located in Atherton. It draws students from very high performing middle schools in Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside. Every year the school sends many kids to the Ivy League, Stanford and UC schools and it has one of the largest selection of AP classes in the bay area. It also works hard to educate kids from East Palo Alto, East Menlo Park and Redwood City who have very different needs. 94% of seniors go off to 4 or 2 year colleges. They have a wonderful new principal and a great administration, guidance office, and very dedicated hardworking teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Unfortunately, I am going to have to disagree with the other reviewers. My daughter is a Junior at M-A and has had three bad teachers during her three years. Overall, I think M-A is average overall and needs improvement.
—Submitted by a parent

incrediblely talented & dedicated teachers. too many administrators. good sports program. lots of student activities.
—Submitted by a former student

My daughter is a Junior at M-A. She loves the school and, from my perspective, is getting an excellent education. Her experience on the track team has been completely positive. My only complaint is that they work 'em too hard sometimes.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter will graduate from Menlo-Atherton High School this spring (2004). I cannot emphasize enough how happy I have been with her experience at the school. She has had access to truly wonderful and dedicated teachers and counselors. Great school!
—Submitted by a parent