Buena Park High School

BPHS is now offering the Middle College program. Partnered with Cypress College it will be the only school in the district for the next 6 years to have this. The Middle College classes are taught by teachers with Master degrees and the credit for these classes count as college credit. Can you imagine the money and time saved by the students who graduate in four years? What a great idea!
—Submitted by a teacher

For 3 years, I've went to a different school in the FJUHSD district and as a Senior, I'm attending BPHS. At first I was really concerned about my level of education and the quality of the school. I can gladly say with confidence that I had nothing to worry about. Most of the teachers are friendly and helpful. The people in the office don't have attitude like the other school I attended. There are little to no racial conflict and students are welcoming. The school doesn't have the best academic scores (CST) overall, but if you're determined to learn and work hard, you can excel in AP classes and Honors to get your GPA to a good standing. So far, I'm enjoying my attendance here, and I look forward to a great senior year.

Diverse student population and great caring teachers. Don't let the low test scores fool you. It's just the fact that students in the regular classes tend to screw around. As long as you take honors or better yet AP courses, you'll have a mature, fun experience. I can't stress the amazingly diverse population. It nearly eliminates any racial tension you'd find at another school. Counselors tend to side with the student if he/she wants advanced classes. They give you quite a bit of freedom while still recommending a path depending on what you'll major in. They don't try to steer you away from advanced courses. A matter of fact, it's difficult getting out, as to motivate students to at least survive if not strive. I've learned more this year in my AP & honors classes than I have in all my previous school years combined and it wasn't pain-painstakingly difficult.
—Submitted by a student

I attended this school 3 years ago, leaving as a future Senior. I am no longer here and I can say I do regret all those tardies, and absences, and just dozing off. This was, is the best school for me. Everyone you grow up with and make new friends fast here. There wern't such things as bullies or people who pick on u. Every one is understanding and friendly. Though there is drama here, if you go on and do your own thing, your okay. Theres no perfect school aviously, but Im happy I attended her and made freinds and made the best of it.
—Submitted by a student

It is not a well recognized school for Academics, but it is a good school. It produced two Class Valedictorians who both happened to be my sons.
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at this school, I can honestly say that BPHS is a fantastic place to work. We probably care more about our students than the majority of teachers at all of the other high schools in the district. To respond to the post that BPHS needs more diversity...this school is, by far, the most diverse school you will find in all of Orange County. At last count, there were something like 30 languages spoken by students with nearly as many cultures represented by the student body and staff. As for the post that recommends parents insist on AP/Honors classes for their children so they have skilled teachers...ALL of the AP/Honors teachers teach 1-2 honors classes and the rest of their classes are 'regular' classes. The majority of teachers have masters degrees in their subject areas or in education. Staff members discuss students progress in multiple subjects to increase success.
—Submitted by a teacher

This is a very good and safe school.The teachers here are great...although the administration is not fair and very judgmental, rude, and discriminating to both students and parents.

This is a very good school academically
—Submitted by a student

BPHS does it's best for all students, and if you speak a language other than English at home, this is where you want to be. BPHS pays more attention to its ELD students resulting in happier kids and higher test scores than any school in the District or adjoining neighborhoods.
—Submitted by a parent

im a current buena park high school student, I think its the worst school to get an education from. It seems like they dont actually teach in some, or should i say most classes. its partly the students fault but its also the schools for having so little space and overcrowding.
—Submitted by a student

I am a student at this school and I think that is a great place to learn. The students may not be the best, but the teachers are great.They all want the best for all the students. Where as some of the other teachers in different schools only care about getting paid. This may be due to the fact that that most students there are already bright, so the ones who do need help are left behind. Another great thing about this school is that there are no bullies. No one gets picked on for being dumb or really smart. Nothing will happen to you if you stay in the right crowd. In my opinion BPHS is the greatest school.
—Submitted by a student

The parent involvement here is nonexistent. The vast majority of the time, I've been either the only parent at my child's activities, or one of a few parents. The majority of the teachers are mediocre at best. Until they improve drastically, parents will continue to put their children in the other, better schools in the district and can you really blame them? If you do send your children here, insist that they be in every Honors or AP class possible because that's where you'll find the better teachers and better behaved students. It's a sad, sad school in dire need of some help.
—Submitted by a parent

BPHS needs a more diverse student body.
—Submitted by a parent

In the past, buena park high school was a school of low test scores. This school had a bad reputation. But over the past 7 years or so, Buena Park High School has increased its reputation. For example, this school is no longer the lowest-test-score school in the district. Buena Park High School offers many challenging courses for those high prostective students as well.
—Submitted by a student

This school is pretty good it has an on-campus police officer. The schools late policy is pretty good making the kids serve detention if they are late.
—Submitted by a parent

Although I believe BPHS wants to compete academically with other county HS, they may have to find a more constructive and safe method than to overcrowd their classrooms. This decreases the quality of learning and makes for safety issue. Safety is another area that may need to be addressed. Often I feel that they want praise for warehousing our children. I need educators not babysitters.
—Submitted by a parent

Buena Park High School offers students a great quality education. Their teachers are very dedicated to their job and make sure that you student will reach his/her full potential. If you look at their college accpetances over the past couple of years you can conclude that the quality of education is definitely improving.
—Submitted by a former student

You can give positive and negative opinions all you want, and they are valuable in their own right, but if the state wants numbers, then I'll give you numbers. Buena Park High School's Annual Proficiency Index (API) has risen 146 points in the five years it has been measured. You can argue that the school is getting better at preparing students for tests but, again, when the world is reduced to looking at high schools for a number, at least BPHS delivers--and even better than ANY of the other five comprehensive high schools in its district. Lots more positives and, yes, some negatives, but if you want to quantify a school by what the State of California is looking for schools to do, Buena Park has undeniably delivered results.
—Submitted by a teacher

I'm not a parent, I'm a student. Yeah, our scores aren't all that high, but this school is great! The students aren't cruel here. None of us are really well off - money-wise - but we're not poor either. Since our parents aren't was well-off, we apperciate things more. We cherish our friends, and people aren't stuck-up because there is no reason to be. We are a small school and most students know each other. Kids don't get harrassed or teased here, we all have understand each other because we are so much alike and we accept diverity, we encourage it. I love this school, i would never want to change what I've learned here because I've learned so much, not only academically but about life and people.

I attended this school for two years. It was a horrible place to go, with a fragile safety net and terrible standards of education. It's only saving grace was a great Theatre, Jazz Band, JROTC and the SOAR program. if not for those, this would easily be the worst school I have ever attended.