Leigh High School

As an involved parent and one who does her best to be supportive of my child's education, I can tell you that this school's administration is crummy! The AP classes are given the poorest teachers. I'm sure the thought is that these students will be fine, and they generally are. They are used to being responsible for their own education. The admin. has its own agenda and it does not involve supporting the education of students or the education goals of the teachers. Most of the admin. and staff do not support extracurricular activities if they are not sports and are often rude to students looking for support. Many of the teachers try to do well by their students but they are overworked and receive very little support from the admin., other than the activities director, who is also incredibly overworked! Parent support is not the challenge here. It's going to take a complete overhaul of the administration and a willingness to dismiss dysfunctional staff to change what is wrong with this school! Sure, my kid will go to a great college, however, she is a strong student. I'd hate to be a student who is not good at managing his or her own education and be at this school!
--Submitted by a parent

Our son is going to be a sophomore in the 2011/12 school year. His freshman year went great. We've been happy with how he's doing academically, and the teachers have been communicative and supportive.
--Submitted by a parent

While the previous reviewer of this school may have great expectations from a public school like this, honestly speaking it is the involvement of teachers and parents is what makes one school standout of others, While it may be true that you may have a lovely neighborhood, but what good is that neighborhood if parents are not involved in the child s education? Writing badly about a public school is like slapping yourself on your face! We all need to make Leigh high school a better place and positive thinking and good parent participation is the key to success in any school. Let me be honest, My Daughter is freshman this year and she loves this school! Teachers are very good my daugher says and I am very happy about that.
--Submitted by a parent

Principal, and staff especially Deans and Guidance Counselors are not in tune with what is going on with students. Even though there is a non tolerance policy in place that is against harassment and bullying, the Deans often turn their heads and pretend not to see it. I have one child graduating from there this year, and another who is a Freshman that I pulled out and put in a completely different district. It is sad because the school is in a great neighborhood. If only the school and it's educators were as great as the neighborhood.
--Submitted by a parent

-Prinicipal, and staff care more about their jobs than students' education. -Too many 'school spirit days' -Homophobia and intolerance is high despite programs targeted aganist it.
--Submitted by a student

Great School. My neighbors child went to Berkeley from this school and mine is on track to do the same. Like any High School, you have to stay in tune and help your kids find their way
--Submitted by a parent

I believe the school is on track and since I am moving from the area I have no real estate reason to say so...I can not speak for a child that doesn;t get it since my son clearly did. He is graduating this year from Leigh High School and I could not be happier. He is at the top of his class and was accepted to a number of very good colleges. With acceptances to Purdue (a private college) and 3 of the UC colleges including Berkley I am confident the education he received at Leigh was a solid base for him to grow from.
--Submitted by a parent

Leigh High School is progressively going downhill. They do not know what the students are up to and the school puts no effort into making a student successful. My experience was so bad I pulled my child out of Leigh.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree that a school is what you make of it. There are those students that are fortunate enough to 'get it' and pretty much do well because they are able to guide themselves through school. Then, there are those students that need a little more guidance and help...well Good Luck! I find that the staff is basically only capable of helping those that can mainly help themselves. The rest plain and simply fall through the cracks. I don't know if it's due to budget cuts, lack of sufficient proper staffing or what. I just know that my child with 'special needs' due to illness has totally fallen through the cracks! As a parent I've done everything possible to make the appropriate plan availbale for my child, but while it's written on paper...the majority of the teachers simply don't or can't find the time or want to follow the program.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an excellnt school. Yes, motivated students succeed here. However, if your child isn't motiviated or isn't succeeding, you, as a parent need to accept some responsibility. This is a public school, after all. School administration can only do so much with the resources they have.