La Quinta High School

This school is excellent, if you want your child to have an education! Not all the schools are the same nowadays. The teachers are great, well mine were anyways. They made class fun with stories, and jokes about themselves.But I noticed that this year we have more freshman.We have over 2,700 students this year which is more then others. The only thing I would change is getting another bus at least because it is packed 3 to a seat.Students will short cut just to not get an end seat.Last year it was the same everybody ran up to get a seat like if it was a limo or something. haha i know that's what people thought. But with budget cut and stuff I know we can't get it but in the future try considering that. but overall the best school here!! Love my school!!
—Submitted by a parent

La Quinta High School is a Great School, very competative and more colleges accept those kids, believe it or not, because of their IB program.
—Submitted by a parent

Awesome International Baccalaureate & Culinary Arts programs!
—Submitted by a parent

i just graduated from la quinta, & i loved EVERY year of it. the principal was aware of everything that went on in the school & takes time to get to know the students, as well as the rest of administration, security, and teachers. education is the best! beautiful school. can not emphasize how much i truly enjoyed my time at LQ. everyone is so talented.
—Submitted by a student

This school is excellent, if you want your child to have an education! Not all the schools are the same nowadays. The teachers are great, well mine were anyways. They made class fun with stories, and jokes about themselves.But I noticed that this year we have more freshman.We have over 2,700 students this year which is more then others. The only thing I would change is getting another bus at least because it is packed 3 to a seat.Students will short cut just to not get an end seat.Last year it was the same everybody ran up to get a seat like if it was a limo or something. haha i know that's what people thought. But with budget cut and stuff I know we can't get it but in the future try considering that. but overall the best school here!! Love my school!!
—Submitted by a student

I attend La Quinta High School and I wouldn't choose any other school. Yes, we brag about the IB Program, and you know what Why Wouldn't We? Our school opens up doors for many students and allows kids to do what they want. We do have school spirit just walk around our campus on a Friday during any season of sports and you will see many students wearing shirts that they have made to support the team! If you want your child in a school that allows them to reach their dreams then La Quinta High School is the school for them!! GO BLACKHAWKS!!
—Submitted by a student

This school is amazing. sure we have our faults, but I love coming to this school. I can always find kids with a smile on their faces. and honestly thats what matters to me. There are no gangs or violence at our school. The teenagers are very polite well most of the time ha ha. IB is a good thing and we should brag about it. because we are the only high school in the valley to have it. I've learned a lot here and Im gonna be a junior. so just imagine what your child could learn here. The're are all sorts of clubs and activities going on to help make you child feel more apart of the school and to make new friends. I'm a cheerleader and I enjoy cheering at games.I mean we are the BEST!
—Submitted by a student

I lovemy school! Everyone is very friendly and the teachers are great. I have learned so much at this school. It has really prepared me for college.
—Submitted by a student

The school is over rated. It brags about IB too much. It s too crowed: a sea of students between classes and at lunch. Too many portable classrooms. Parking is inadequate. Traffic is chaos: students use a park across the street, and then jaywalk causing hazards and congestion; parents double park in the school s lots causing traffic to back up down the street. Graduation is similar chaos. It s in the football stadium, in June. There isn t enough parking or seating. People arrive early and then have to endure the heat. There s not much school spirit. The boy s soccer team played for the CIF championship and no cheerleaders or band was at the game; also they only show up occasionally at basketball games. Thefts are an epidemic. Our son had his backpack stolen twice during PE. We complained to the principle, who said she d have a VP call, but no one ever did.
—Submitted by a parent

Once again if your student is not in the IB program you are left to your own devices to get a quality education for your child. Counselors who do not talk to the teachers and inform them of known student needs. Head over to Palm Desert where the staff truly cares. Too many students, not enough caring.
—Submitted by Richard Jervis, a parent

The Valley's surest formula for collegiate admissions and success is La Quinta's International Baccalaureate diploma. Granted it has weaknesses (particularly the deplorable natural sciences), the IB Program has had remarkable placement and advanced standing success. Though criticized for distributional issues, the program is in fact available to all and its superior resources are generally taken from specific grants and *not* others' education; all college-bound students should be interested in taking advantage of these resources. Educationally, it is also particularly strong in history (Tarsitano and Schuler) and the curriculum's reliance on major papers submitted to IBO. While absent in AP's curriculum, these essays figure prominently in IB scores and more accurately assess and promote the curricular writing skills expected by colleges.
—Submitted by a former student

Though AP is more widely accepted than IB, the IB program teaches students about not only their own country but the rest of the world too. As a result, IB students are well-rounded, better educated and better equipped to participate in the real world. In the real world one's competence is not determined by a single and brutal 4-hour period (AP) but of the culmination of all of one's effort throughout the year followed by an exam (IB. Drug problems? There are drugs at every school and if a kid wants them badly enough they will do anything to get them no matter what the school does. The counselors? They are not babysitters, students should learn to be responsible for their education without the counselors holding their hands every step of the day because they can't not with 3000 students. The extracurriculars are plentiful, especially the amazing music program!
—Submitted by a student

I believe this school will be great for my son. Lots of home work keeps him busy.. Which is great. I really like the school and Im a big fan of parent involvement.......Most....
—Submitted by giselle zatarain, a parent

A very, good school overall. As with any school, the more you put in, the more you get. You have to be an involved parent. We've had 3 students at LQHS. The variety of choices is a plus with a phenomenal Music/band program, Health academy, Culinary arts academy, Education pathway, Ib Programme,and Public Service academy... The extra-cirricular and sports activites are plentiful.Our only complaints are communication and elimination of AP classes. Even with internet, online grading systems and school counselors, getting specific information can be a challenge. Administration's focus on IB is eliminating too many Honors/AP classes. Which are more essential than IB Certificates when applying to US colleges, non Ivy league schools. Overall we are pleased & will have our 4th child also attend LQHS without hesitation.
—Submitted by a parent

While teacher quality varies even in the IB area, there are some teachers who are very dedicated. While discipline is not a problem most of the time, their policies should be improved. There is virtually no school spirit here, as evident in our silent 'pep' rallies.
—Submitted by a student

It is a pretty decent school, though it is over crowded the eduction that you recieve is good. the problem is the IB program it is creating a segegration among the students and a sense of one group being better than the other and it is really keeping the college prep down since they are being left behind becauase of the focus on the IB children from the teachers and adminstration. Coming from a graduate of this high school and someone who experienced this hands on I believe that the IB program should be available to everyone. The class sizes are out of control.
—Submitted by a former student

LOUSY administrators that create hostile working environment for teachers, thus the best teachers are leaving in droves. Lousy = lack of support for programs, students and teachers. Over-crowded classrooms with lax rule enforcement.
—Submitted by a teacher

We have found La Quinta High School to be an excellent school overall. Like any new and growing school it has challenges in some areas. The IB Program is a very exciting and rewarding program for students that wish to participate in an honors program. However, parents need to be diligent in determining what is best for their child and remember that what is in the program's best interest is not necessarily what is in their child's best interest. With parent participation students have access to a quality education. The school is very diverse in its student population, which provides children the opportunity to prepare for a global economy. Students have access to a wide variety of programs and extracurricular activities. With parent participation this school is outstanding.
—Submitted by a parent

This school needs to understand that when temperatures go above 100 degrees that students shouldn't be standing in the sun let alone sitting on the blacktop the entire period getting sunburn and not allowed to get a drink of water! Nothing was done when our daughter came home red as a beet and we went to the school to complain. A little compassion people. Put yourselves in the student's melting shoes!
—Submitted by Bonnie Brewster, a parent

While I feel that there is always room for improvement I also feel that LQHS is the best high school in the valley. I agree that the AP classes should be maintained in addition to the IB classes. They both serve a different set of students needs and the AP's are more readily accepted at most universities, especially those outside of CA. After having experience at both PDHS and LQHS I must say that the students and faculty as a whole are much better at LQHS. The key to working with the administration is to work with one individual for all of your specific needs, I have found that Mr. Smith in the counseling office to be my best ally at the school. He is truly dedicated and will do whatever he can to help your individual child be successful.
—Submitted by a parent