John C. Kimball High School

This is the most unorganized school I have ever dealt with. The office staff NEVER answers the phone, occasionally a "student worker" will answer. You are rarely greeted when you walk in the office and if you are, they say "what do you need". The entire staff treats the students as if they are always doing something wrong. My daughter is fearful of going in to the office because of this. The security guards all high five each other in front of the kids if they "caught" them doing something wrong. There is no positive reinforcements at this school. Very sad, being that my other daughter's Tracy High experience was nothing compared to this. I hope they change their attitude or more students will transfer out, just as mine did.
--Submitted by a parent

Most unorganized, useless school i have ever had to deal with. Poor uninvolved office and counselors, lack of any type or organization, overreactive about things that are unimportant in the high school life and curriculum.. treat students and parent alike as if they are there to have to be put up with and tolerated instead of active partners in education and shaping these kids for their future... Good luck to anybody attending this school
--Submitted by a parent

Fabulous music and drama department; wonderful upper-level math teachers; enthusiastic AP-level history teachers; abysmal English department--across the board; great French teacher; horrible Spanish teachers; so-so science department. It's a new school, so a learning curve is to be expected, but the administration is simply unwilling to change--even when the problem areas are pointed out (objectively, with portfolios, assignment sheets, etc.). They are the educators; therefore, only they have worthwhile opinions and ideas. And they, the administration, is absolutely rigid. The decent test scores are a testament to the quality of the student body, not the teaching staff or administration.
--Submitted by a parent

Counselors don't get involved and there is no one to really provide help or "guidance". Our Senior child was lost in preparing for college and even the previous year when deciding which classes to take for the senior year. Good luck to anyone going to this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I love Kimball High School! Kimball has so many opportunites for me to figure out who I want to be. I really liked how we had a block schedule last year, and I hope that we get to go back to it next year. I love how there are lots of activiities after school for me to attend, and our football games are awesome! My teachers are great- especially Mr. Rio, Mr. Diaz and Mr. Q. They make school so much fun!
--Submitted by a student

The teachers quality is really bad. I agree with earlier review Spanish department is worst. Majority of the kids are struggling in Spanish. There is something wrong with Teachers ability. I have seen Geometry teacher background is not even Math. There was no teacher for Biology for 3 months for an AP class.
--Submitted by a parent

There are a majority of teachers of which I question why they are even teaching. The Spanish department is very bad, and there is one questionable Geometry teacher I will not name. The English teachers could be better. The music program is amazing and very lucky to have such a staff. Finally, I have never, in my entire education at this school, seen any counselor or talked to any principal. Administration involvement is low.
--Submitted by a student

multiple parents have concerns with office staff not being professional. office, counselors, admin, don't seem to care or address core issues. poor communication with parents and students. staff talk and complain about parents while other parents around. 2 food fights. focus attention on unimportant matters. want parent involvement but won't work with parents. they ask for feedback, but are unwilling to change. behavioral problems get more attention than other needs. good students that have needs need to try at least 3 times before someone gets back to them. takes no responsibility for mistakes. front office, counselors and some admin unorganized, unprofessional and are clearly in the wrong profession. there are a lot of good teachers and of course some that just get paid for doing next to nothing. I understand the budget cuts but change has to happen for this school to improve. such a shame for a new school. Advanced students are probably the only students who may have little problems school. All others GOOD LUCK!
--Submitted by a parent

kimball is only 2 yrs old, and it's going to take awhile to get their programs to where other schools have them. whoever said that the sports program needs more help isn't concerned with the right thing. focus needs to be more on the academics and the arts. those are the things that stick with kids for a lifetime. most kids come out of high school not knowing how to write properly or read as well as they should. it's noticeable in the kids i go to college with. if we gotta start somewhere, start with the academics. so far, kimball is proving itself to be good at that as the api scores have shown, but with parent involvement and the staff, i know it can be even better.
--Submitted by a parent

Sports department can use some help. We need to get others involved with organizing home events. Equipment is needed and fresh ideas would be helpful. Snack shack should have more to offer. A sign out front should be displaying the weeks events. For such a nice looking school you would wonder why they don't have a bullent board nor lockers. Someone missed the bus on this one.
--Submitted by a parent