Amador Valley High School

I have to agree with the former student, that the teachers are hit and miss. Most of the teachers are highly motivated and student centered, willing to make time outside of class to help struggling students. Only a few teachers have not been responsive to parent emails, most are willing to meet with student and parent. Administration is awesome. Principal knows all the students and walks around campus at lunch connecting with them. Assistant Principals are also very connected with the student body. While the school has 3 special education classrooms there is no specific program to integrate special education students into the extra-curricular and club activities of the school, though in general the student body is open and welcoming to these students. The administration is making a concerted effort to prevent bullying among students and staff. There's a PTA with a lot of parental involvement, especially for the senior class parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Amador is a great school but like any other large public school, it is really upto the student. There is no hand holding here. Teachers can be a hit or miss. Again, it is a good school if students are self motivated and seek out opportunities. But this is the case with all large public schools. Overall good but be prepared to sail on your own for most part.
—Submitted by a parent

As a graduate I could not complain ten years ago, this school was fun, full off cooperative staff and students alike. Compared to my little brothers school now as a Sr. in Nevada, this school was the best!!!

this is a great school im a freshman here and i love it! it s such a cool school
—Submitted by a student

Amador is an all around great school- committed to excellence. Has one of the highest rates of AP passing grades in states!
—Submitted by a parent

I moved to Pleasanton relatively recently. After going to Amador Valley High School for some time, I've noticed several things. - Plenty to do. There is a plethora of classes to take, and many, many interesting clubs. There's never enough time to take a look at everything at this school. Definitely plenty of opportunities for leadership if you try hard enough to look for them. - Very competitive atmosphere. There's daily drama between the "high-performance" students about things like grades, test scores, and extracurricular stuff. It's definitely not a healthy atmosphere. - Beware of foreign language. The foreign language department here is really, really bad. Some of the teachers are laughably bad. So for foreign language, I would probably have been better off studying on my own out of a textbook. - Teachers vary wildly. There are lots of fantastic, excellent teachers (especially in history, math, English) and some of really bad teachers who show no passion in teaching. Watch out for who you get, and ask around. You can always switch teachers during the 1st week of each semester. Overall, AVHS is a great school. I would definitely recommend this school over many others.
—Submitted by a student

I love Amador because it is doing great things academically for my two daughters, a Junior and a Sophomore! Keep up the great work!
—Submitted by a parent

Caring and engaged faculty and staff resulting in excellent education & test scores.
—Submitted by a parent

The dons excel in education, sports, and school spirit!
—Submitted by a parent

Amador is an amazing school with gifted teachers. The band program is extremely accomplished, as are the other student bodies on campus.
—Submitted by a student

Amador was a very well established school. The administration was great and the policies were fair. The teachers were Super.

My son graduated from Amador Valley in 2007. In my opinion, Amador Valley is one of the top high schools in the nation. The teaching staff is second to none and the music program is one of the finest in the state. I feel very fortunate to have had my son attend Amador.
—Submitted by a parent

My children attended Amador coming from the east coast, actually from schools rated in the top 10% of the top state in the country. They were straight A students. Coming to Amador, We had considerable problems adjusting to the campus philosophy and attitude. Some teachers had a superiority attitude, although other were OK. The campus is efficiently and beautifully built. HOWEVER, the philosophy of teaching is, however subtle, somehow different than other schools in the state. There are basic leadership outreach problems growing that are not always addressed by the staff. If you are in the top 10%, you are fine, the school will take EXCEPTIONAL care of you. If you are a middle to low student, you swim on your own. Not enough effort is given them. We moved to another district, all my kids are back up to straight A's. Same with another family we know. Go figure!
—Submitted by a parent

This is an excellent school. The atmosphere, even when you just walk on campus, is positive and happy. The teachers I have met are dedicated, enthusiastic and professional. We have been part of the school for 4 years, having come from Harvest Park MIddle School. We have been very pleased with all the opportunities the school offers. It is well rounded, not just rich kids as some have previously written. Your child can make the most of him or herself at Amador Valley, and have a great high school experience!
—Submitted by a parent

Amador Valley is amazing. The varied curriculum conforms to the needs of any student and all of the staff members on campus make an effort to get to know students on a more personal and understanding level, rather than just the simple teacher-student relationship. Athletics are of the highest caliber and a large variety of other extra-curricular activities are offered as well. Of utmost importance, however, is the overwhelming amount of school spirit the students and staff have. The Don Squad, as it is known, is by far the most popular student organization on campus and works to promote school pride without putting down their competitors (which is a growing problem at neighboring high schools). For the most part, students want to be at Amador, which is a quality not found in very many schools.
—Submitted by a student

Amador is an amazing school! It is not only one of the best high schools in the bay area, but it also prepares you for college with AP and honor classes with outstanding teachers, has a diverse student population, and provides a friendly and comfortable atmosphere for students! The Amador Way is what Amador stands for, the school spirit is amazing! I know first hand, I graduated Class of 2007.
—Submitted by a student

Great teachers. Teachers teaching AP classes really prepare the students for success not only on the AP test in May but also college life. I would say most if not all teachers had at least some teaching experience. As a student of Amador for three years, I can say that it was the best academic experience ever. Great sport programs also add to the experience. The school recently added baseball and softball fields. If I remember correctly, there are two softball fields and two baseball fields. There is also a professionally maintained football field with a track. The school also built a new two-story building so the class sizes are not going to inflate. A large student parking lot makes students driving to school feasible.
—Submitted by Peter Kuo, a former student

Excellent school with a varied curriculum. Teachers are well educated and passionate about providing the best for our kids.
—Submitted by Hillary Bonate, a former student

Well-rounded education, with a mix of academic and social opportunities. Families more well-to-do in this area than in earlier years. Also more cultural diversity than there used to be. Teachers are committed.
—Submitted by a parent

Twenty years ago was the party school. Now with lots of new people moving to Pleasanton and more well-to-do families, it has improved academically and now provides a well-rounded and balanced educational experience. Caring teachers.
—Submitted by a parent