Monterey High School

Wonderful high school!!! Great teachers, great campus with a rich history. There are many programs and challenging classes for students. Administration cares about college prep and helping students succeed. The best high school in the district by far!! Amazing academics and athletics and extra-curricular activities to keep the teenagers busy.
--Submitted by a parent

My younger son is a Sophmore at Monterey High and let me begin by saying that this school leaves much to be desired! The teachers we have encountered have put forth ZERO EFFORT in regards to school - home communication. The return rate of response on emails is about a 2% at best. When we called the SORRY counseling office, which most times rings off the hook, we were told that all outside emails go to the junk mail. Are you kidding me?? How do they expect to keep in touch with parents...the answer: they don't. The counseling office is just as disappointing where your concern as a parent is tossed to the side and it's excuse after excuse after excuse. Just this week we recieved our son's progress report and it wasn't what we had hoped. Considering none of his teachers had replied to the MANY emails we have sent, we called the counseling department where we were told that we could make an appointment for an after school meeting, but if it's on a Friday they won't show up. WHAT?? It's disheartening to see such a lack of concern on the part of the school staff when you think that they truely are molding the citizens of our future.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a Freshman at the MHS and I am very unhappy with the way in which it is going. He is learning do to the fact that the teachers he has had have actually been very caring and on top of the game. However, The counselor my son has is a poor excuse for one. I had to go to those who are responsible for his IEP to get help after he was out for a extended period of time to get help with his make up work. His counselor told me just deal with the fact that he will probably fail. I am very disappointed with the manner in which many things at this school are run. If I could afford a private school I would be on it in a heart beat.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter did her Junior year at this school, We are a military family, and when we went to pick out her classes,the Councelor did not listen to us. We told her what classes would cross over, and what classes would not. She put our daughter into classes, that did not transfer over into her new school. We told the councelor that this would happen, and it did. When we would make appt for conferences, the councelor was late, if she showed up at all. E mail responces from teachers is slow. Luckily we were able to move and get our daughter out of there. Some..are not that lucky. Bad, Bad, school.
--Submitted by a parent

My son, now a senior at MHS, has suffered through 4 years of arbitrary discipline, burned out teachers, disengaged students and impossibly large class sizes. He began in the MAOS program, but after 2 years of ever-increasing class sizes and ever decreasing student quality, he realized he was getting nothing from it that he wouldn't get in the mainstream courses. Even MAOS teachers have quit in disgust. His 9th grade English teacher actually told the class that as long as the essays they wrote were on time and of the required length, they would get an A. After all, she simply didn't have time to read essays from all the students she taught. Thank heavens for his senior physics teacher; he has been an inspiration. Avoiding almost daily fist fights and skirting ubiquitous drug use have prepared him for what? We wish we'd sent him to York.
--Submitted by a parent

I attended MHS for two years and still laugh at how easy and unchallenging it was. The grading system is a complete joke, though that may be more a product of the CA school system in general. I remember more bad teachers than good, most of whom have no business still teaching. The MAOS system is overrated - I was in it but opted out because I was already 'ahead' of their course schedule since I'd moved from the east coast. Other reviewers are right - there is absolutely no push to attend a four year college or university, and most students have resigned themselves to the local community college. It's sad.
--Submitted by a student

Considering the wealth and talent in the Monterey area, this school falls short just about everywhere except the MAOS program. Just look around the corner at Pacific Grove HS or Carmel HS and the dfference is truly astonishing. It can't all be blamed on prop 13 and budget issues.
--Submitted by a parent

Because of strong administrative leadership and dedicated teachers, MHS has corrected many of its past problems. An entirely new faculty has emerged, bringing with them the most current practices in teaching and learning. And the district implemented a collaboration time for teachers which allows them to focus on achieving academic excellence for all students. With the modernization funds, many improvements have been made to the 100+ yr old school. The new stadium and field renovation project came to fruition because the Principal worked with community leaders for 7 years to raise the money. There are dedicated parents, community members and administrators supporting MHS which offers 40 clubs and organizations, and an large array of sports. Their is a Sports academy, an Art Academy, Oceanographic Sciences academy, and NROTC. MHS offers it all for those who want it.
--Submitted by Involved Parent, a parent

The academic competence of some students is no reason to degrade this school. There are competent teachers and smart students at monterey high.
--Submitted by a student

My child was in MAOS(Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science) program - (for academically gifted students). It is a good program. In my opinion the school encourages mediocrity, even in the MAOS program. The schools goal is to get students to graduate and go to the local community college. If students are in MAOS, the goal is the UC system. Most of the seniors are not nationally competitive for the upper half of the schools in the country outside of CA. (My child attends one of the top colleges, but it is due to efforts from previous school.) Only the first four AP classes are weighed resulting in high percentage of non AP students being in the top 10%. School strongly discourage doubleing up math or science courses. This is a very good school for below average to average students. Above average consider Carmel High or private.
--Submitted by a parent