Aragon High School

Most of the teachers are great but there are a few of them who give out extremely difficult tests, don't grade on a curve and get irritated at the students who ask questions.The honors/AP courses are the actual college course for the subjects and kids have to absorb some lesser grades that may wreck their GPA as a reward for getting into those courses in the first place. If these students could get A's in AP courses then they belong in college and not high school. There are many college students who couldn't get an A in the class so how would a high schooler be expected to. I agree with the previous post about lack of support for any student who is not performing at a high level. Recently a pre calculus student was told that if you are doing poorly then drop the class! At that level of math one could assume all the students are bright so if they arent learning who's fault is that? There does not seem to be any monitoring of the teacher grading. Some classes give a high number or poor grades and the teacher is not investigated for poor performance. So if your child is a superior student they will do well, but then kids like that teach themselves anyway.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are wonderful at Aragon, but for the most part you just have them one time in four years. The counselors change each year and there is no individual support or knowledge of a student. In almost 3 years my childs only interaction has been once a year when the counselor signs her class list for the next year. There is no school spirit or pride. There are two levels of classes, college prep with little homework, and AP with two hours of homework a night per class. The students are thus either bored or living on 5-6 hours of sleep to keep up. The administration is unwilling to make any changes to any part of the school - their favorite refrain - that's impossible. If you'd like your child to be a test score stat or graduation stat than Aragon is the school for you. Because treating students as statistics, rather than individuals is what Aragon does best.
—Submitted by a parent

Aragon has good scores because the student body comes from affluent families. Don't count on any support for a student who is not performing at a high level. The administration is inept and unaware of what is going on at the school. Bulling as well as harassment based on race, sex, and gender orientation is common.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, I just read a review saying Aragon has good scored because the students are rich. I'd say that might be true for 1/4 of the kids, but there are also many from decidedly non-affluent families. However, affluent or not, many are from families that care about academics. For the others, there is a lot of support at Aragon, for example, with the AVID program. As far as harassment based on gender orientation, I'll just say that GSA (gay straight alliance) is the most popular club on campus. If someone is being harassed, for any reason, they should report it to the school counselors. My child was being harassed slightly at one point, and I found the administration extraordinarily concerned and responsive. w.r.t. teachers, like any school, there are good ones and there are less good ones, but most of the teachers at Aragon are VERY good. We've run into a few truly exceptional ones as well (think AP Bio and Freshman History, not to mention orchestra).
—Submitted by a parent

Aragon is an excellent school. Our child transferred from a private school sophomore year and we would highly recommend Aragon. The academics are rigorous and the kids are going to great schools. The teachers are very impressive and our child is so happy with all aspects of the school. It is nice to be at a neighborhood school with our child's friends living close by.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent academics and athletics.
—Submitted by a parent

Staff is very engaged and receptive to input.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers care and so do the parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Aragon is a great school with excellent academics including a flourishing AP program. The school's Music Department is enormous and wonderful. The teachers are super as are the counselors. Our son's overall experience with this school has been fantastic and our daughter can't wait until next year when she starts at Aragon!
—Submitted by a parent

Great school committed to meeting the needs of their students and making sure they are ready for college. The parent community have invested in the success of their kids and it shows through the number of hours they volunteer to help the school and through their financial support.
—Submitted by a parent

Commitment, spirit, dedication. This school can top any private exclusive school in terms of academics, sports, art and culture and parental involvement. My daughter graduated from here and my son is a junior and both thrived under the excellent teaching, which is balanced with fun and activities. This is the BEST School ever.
—Submitted by a parent

I went to this school and loved it!! It is doing a wonderful job with my younger sister who is now attending this school and I hope to have my daughter attend this school too when it's her turn.

The teachers are excellent and are willing to go the extra mile to help students succeed.
—Submitted by a parent

Strong academics, involved parents, dedicated staff, extensive music program
—Submitted by a parent

Aragon has amazing student support, academics, and community spirit. I love the school and think they are doing a terrific job.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers and a really good program for kids going through school. Involved parenets and receptive administration works towards the beterment of the experience all around.
—Submitted by a parent

Coming from a small private elementary and middle school environment, I was not sure of the support that I would receive from Administration. I have been at Aragon for 6 years and have felt supported, served and attended to by everyone at Aragon. It has been very reassuring. I would recommend Aragon to anyone considering the local (and very expensive) rivate highschools - Aragon is just as good; if not better.
—Submitted by a parent

Opened just 50 years Aragon High School has been at the educational center of a neighborhood community, holding it together, attracting adults and parents who care deeply about excellent education to enroll their kids in an outstanding public high school. Although some say a dying breed, this public school with enormous financial and volunteer help from community members spanning these 50 years have privately contributed to all facets of Aragon's programs, facilities and services, and teacher/aide/counselor numbers when public financing through tax base could not serve the community's own high standard desired for it's students. Aragon is a "three generation school". We have students whose parents like me graduated Aragon, and sent their kids there..and even those whose grandparents were students. The education that my son and duaghter recevied at Aragon almost 40 years after I graduated was more complete and outstaaaaanding than what I received. Aragon has a very large "in need" immigrant and working class population who are served equally and generously by those of affluence in this community - the value that each child is precious and important is strong. The levels of education afforded for students of differing needs, abilities and circumstances is at the forfront of our administration's focus; there is not a "one size fits all" approach at Aragon. And that is hard won due to many issues. Aragon and its' staff and students contributes to the communities outside of its' campus with social action, charitiable and community service activities on a monthly basis...including workgin with the K-8 schools in music, sports and other endeavors. I have many friend all over the country, and none have experienced the unique excellence in all areas that aragon brings to the fore. We ALL received excellebt amazing educations that changed lives for the better....
—Submitted by a parent

Aragon was a great school for me academically and socially. The teachers are caring and the after school programs are excellent.

Most of the teachers are outstanding--dedicated, engaging, and knowledgeable in their field. Doyle, Johnson, Hu, Daniel, Reed, Jacobs, Serrao...the list goes on and on. Co-curricular activities such as sports are also very strong. Students graduate with a solid preparation for college.
—Submitted by a parent