Diamond Bar High School

I am a current senior and I don't recommend DBHS. My family and I had always thought that DBHS was a great school. Little did we know that it has really gone downhill since we moved here. Half of the teachers I've had are at best mediocre, and I had to teach myself when my teachers didn't teach the lesson well. The counselors and faculty aren't great either and I find them unapproachable. The extracurriculars are great but I feel that was the only thing DBHS had going for it. I wouldn't recommend this school and I suggest parents reading this search for better options for their child.
--Submitted by a student

Disappointed and unhappy. Transferring here was one of the worst decisions of my life and I truly regret coming here, thinking that DBHS will provide me with what I need. They didn't. They said they were "unable" to match up the classes and just gave me a random TA position knowing how much that will negatively affect me in terms of academic. This school may be prestigious and all, but it has nothing to do with the staff or the teachers. I am angry and disappointed, I'm in my most important year of high school where everything counts and I feel like they're just playing around with my classes as if they don't seem to care how much it will hinder my college transcript and application. The faculty shows no effort in helping a student, especially someone in their most important year of high school. I gave up APs at my old school and when I got to DBHS, they gave me nothing but poor "just to fill in credits" classes. Don't waste your time coming to this school. DISAPPOINTED.
--Submitted by a student

Have been attending this school for the past four years and have finally graduated. My evaluation of Diamond Bar High School is not too positive. Reading the articles and hearing others saying that this school is top tier, having a reputation of having that best calculus program in the world, while this maybe true, the credit should not go to the school, but the individual student, I am sure most of the students who are successful have obtained a private tutor, because the faculty does little to no effort in helping the student to his/her success and this also applies to other subjects as well. Some of the teachers that I've had takes their job as a forced "routine" and not a challenge that they will enjoy for the sake of teaching. As for the student faculty, majority of them are obnoxious, arrogant and rude. I've have seen a lot of my friends from elementary school/middle school change their personality drastically (for the worst) during the four years of attendance because the sheer influence from majority of their "peers". Please reconsider or look for more valuable options before considering this school.
--Submitted by a student

Segregated PTAs -- seven -- one for each ethnic group. (You can find this for yourself on the school website). The ethnic groups stick to themselves and exclude parents from outside their group. This was tough to take as mixed-ethnicity parents since we were basically shunned by the PTA groups and other parents to the point of it being cruel. If the PTAs are like this, you can imagine how bad it is for the kids with this kind of example being set by parents and condoned by the school allowing such an environment. I was shocked when we moved here from a racially diverse city where the ethnic groups mix and work together. Teachers and principal are fine and responsive to concerns, the test scores are high, it's a very safe neighborhood, but the community is comprised of very rigid cliques. It's very sad. I suppose if you fall into one of the preferred ethnic groups, are NOT mixed race, and are comfortable with the segregation you might be very happy here. But, I find it pretty horrible and shameful and would not recommend this school.
--Submitted by a parent

Ironically although this school is known to be one of SoCal's finest, that is truly not the case. Many of the praises given to DBHS have been about high test scores, and to be honest, that is all the school has to it's name. The vast majority of it's staff has no true understanding on how to handle students, except when it comes to punishing or degrading them. Many of the school's more finer teachers have left or have been fired due to financial problems, and much of the lower quality staff remains. The students are also of poor quality, as the majority of the students enjoy ridiculing other students, fighting, or spreading rumors. For all parents who are considering this school that believe sending your child here will help them get into a better college will be disappointed that the opposite occurs. Because of the competitive and snobbish nature of many students, to truly stand out in this school is extremely difficult. Overall, this school may have used to be a great option, but the quality of the school has completely diminished over the years.
--Submitted by a student

All of our children attended DBHS
--Submitted by a parent

I don't like how the teachers and the school's programs are praised for the good name of DBHS when, in reality, the true reasons for the school's good reputation are the self-motivated and hard working students who persevere despite being taught by incompetent teachers.
--Submitted by a student

Starting from the principle to the teachers, everybody is very dedicated and helpful. Just walk into this school, you will feel welcome. Students are amazing, well behaved and also ready to lend a helping hand. Music academy program headed by Mr. Acciani is just great. My daughter loves it.
--Submitted by a parent

As a student of this school, I have notice something, first off the academic standard of this school. The teachers are very socialble and will give help when asked, but being very socialable the teachers that i have notice do not teach the students effectively and sometimes just talk about there weekends or other off topic situations, which i personally dislike. As for Athletics, DBHS has a very good program, winning CIF championships and watching the athletics take action is very enjoyable. Now, for the social life, this is what i have experinced, (this doesn't apply to everyone, but the majority) choosing your friends is very importaint during your freshman year, seriously, if you dont, doin hookah or playing beer pong is something you might be ending up doing through out your high school life.
--Submitted by a student

This is a really good school. There are great teachers, staff, and it is also a clean campus. I would recommend this school if you want your child to be a successful student. Some people say its overcrowded, but that's not a bad thing. Every student is helped either by a teacher, tutor, or counsler. The world is overcrowded too, you don't see me complaining. Some parents don't understand that more people mean more socialization. More help from other students instead of just the teachers. It teaches kids to live in the real world, not just a dumb school with a small population.
--Submitted by a student