Heritage High School

Being a student here, and not knowing any other school other than the Heritage schools, it's hard to judge. I will tell you now, if you are a parent, you may not want to send your kid off here. The students are very spoiled, and the teachers will give you packets all the time. Some teachers will actually teach, but it seems as if the students here are pressured into getting good grades, and not getting a "Husky Help wristband". The teachers do not inspire, or seem to care. We are given busy work, and we usually use computers. Your tax money is not spent wisely at this school. I do have some good teachers, however. But students here are pampered, and we are also thought of as children. I want a teacher to be serious about their job, who won't be disappointing if I get a bad grade. They'd teach differently if we fail a test, and not point fingers at us. Other than teachers trying to explain things on a college level, they should simply explain it in a way we can all understand, inspire us, make it simple, and celebrate good grades. This school is trying, but a good school is not made up of "good" students, but good teachers. These teachers don't pass as "good".
—Submitted by a student

This schools teachers are the laziest ever, they dont care about you, most of them care for their paycheck, the principal is awesome
—Submitted by a student

The parents at this school are not involved and think the world owes them a ffavor. It is full of spoiled kids too.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends this school. It is fantastic.The school is well run and I am impressed with the organization and responsiveness of the administration.The teachers are caring, compassionate and actually contact me when my child is missing an assignment.The academics are challenging and the teachers help the students succeed to meet high expectations.The band director is fantastic! He is a supportive, caring and directs an excellent band program on a shoestring budget. We are retired military. My children have attended schools all over the country including highly rated private, midwest and east coast schools.The rigorous academics, organized, responsive administration and caring teachers, make Heritage High School one of the better schools my children have attended..
—Submitted by a parent

This is a beautiful school, but the teachers don't want the parents involved in the education of there children. I have had a teacher actual tell me that if there are any discrepancies about the student's assignments that I should not contact them directly until the student had come to them first. In this situation my child had completed and had the assignment graded and the teacher(s) fail to put in the grade(s). If I had not been on top of this to tell my student that they had assignments that had not been entered it could have resulted in him getting a final grade that was way below what it should have been.
—Submitted by a parent

Im compelled to correct the misstatement that Heritage High is the only school in East Contra Costa County that offers AP classes! My Son graduated from Pittsburg High and took all AP courses and excelled! He now attends Pepperdine University in So Cal and is doing great! This is not accurate and I am certain that Deer Valley also offers AP courses! Parents please do your own research!
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent teachers, challenging academic programs and amazing administration staff! I have two sons that goes there after moving from out of state for over a year. Very impressed with Heritage High School in every aspect. It is comparable to the excellent mid west school system.
—Submitted by a parent

We recently moved to Brentwood from out of state. Since there are so many new students, my daughter feels not welcomed - like she's always on the outside looking in. She also feels that the teachers are trying to do their jobs but some students are disrespectful to the teachers and disrupt the classes. I found the administration helpful, only wish the students were as nice.
—Submitted by a parent

MY DAUGHTERS GO HERE. The school has accepted my girls. they moved in the middle of last year. we lost out home and it has been really hard for them to adjust. we are blessed to have a school that is accepting to new kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Only high school in eastern Contra Costa Country with AP classes. Also a California Distinguished School. People move to southwestern Brentwood from all around the Bay Area just for Heritage.
—Submitted by a parent

I have worked in the school system for well over 20 years and Heritage High School is by far the most well organized and academically advanced school I have ever worked for. The district is professional and treats employees and parents with respect!

Coming from an old school in the Central Valley, the fresh, new look of Heritage was appealing at first. After attending the school for 2 years and as a part of the it's first graduating class, I have come to regret the transfer.The leadership is weak; the administration concentrates too harshly on minute issues such as dress code and tardies and not strongly enough on student eduacation. Many teachers take the block scheduling for granted, I learned so much more in the thirty minutes of class time at my previous school than I did in the hour and thirty minute classes at Heritage. Yes, the faculty is on top of attendance, and notifies the parent every time a student is absent, or excessively tardy, but disregards the student's academic weaknesses until it's too late.
—Submitted by a student

Great school. This school should represent what a good school should look like.I like to give the school authority thumbs up.
—Submitted by a parent

i'm a student at heritage. most of the teachers at the school try to teach the students to be responsible and to try your hardest, and that's good, but there are also teachers there that only care about the paycheck. also, i think it's wrong that the school is giving so much work in so little time , even at the beginning. i'm talking about presentations, essays, and projects that the students only have like a week or couple days to prepare for. this is a year-round school. school starts around the beginning of august, and ends in the first week of june. there are 2 week breaks every 2 months, which means there is exactly only 2 months left for summer break. if you don't like rushed schedules and brutally short summer vacations, then this is not the place for you
—Submitted by a student

I have a son at Heritage and this school has exceeded my expectations. my son is doing well at the school and we have found the teachers and his SLC counselor engaging and responsive. The reason we moved to this school for for academics, and the fact that the school is focused on academics holds true to the promises that were made. I am excited to have my other son begin at Heritage soon.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my sons first year in this school. He had a teacher that would tell them 'I dont know why I'm teaching you guys if you will never succeed in life' I took this to the principal was something done to the teacher NO!! They try to cover this kind of stuff so that the school seems to be great. Teachers there are not helpful. They think that the kids are in college and that they dont need help.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a student that is a Junior. We were attracted to the school for it's small size and new school site. We had heard that their teaching style would be enhansed with visual large screen T.V., with power point etc. We were excited becsause he is a visual and hands on learner. All the classes except one have big screen T.V.'s with power point etc. The teacher's are not proficient in power point etc. excuses are made by most of the teachers, that they are inexperienced, and there are no classes to train the students. Good thing my student has college age high tech siblings in order for him to know how to do the tech. The school has given a false hope of careeer related classes and certifictes. Principal leadership is poor. He takes chances with coaches and does'nt protect the student.
—Submitted by a parent

I totally agree with this 200 %. My child has been here for 3 years and teacher response and/or counselor response back is the worst I've ever seen! and I have 2 previous graduates of other high schools in the area. And they are great at letting you know by report card or progress note that child is failing--once it's too late--never a phone call when they first notice it. There is no excuse for it. This has always been a teacher's responsibility and the teachers at this school are very lazy and slacking. They take forever to grade assignments and to get grades in (and I mean the majority of the teachers--not all of them). I am very unhappy and disappointed.
—Submitted by a parent

I have emailed, and left several voicemails to teachers regarding my student's progress with no response from the teacher. It is very discouraging when it becomes so difficult to get feedback on your child. Unfortunately not all teachers use the parent connect website, but those who do are normally behind in posting grades. The athletic program is so political and unfair that many good athletes are discouraged from trying out for a team.
—Submitted by a parent

I love it the teachers are great and the staff cares! They work to get you ready for college and what you need in your four year plan.
—Submitted by a student