Polytechnic School in Pasadena, California

“The school prepares students for the top colleges and universities in the nation, while maintaining a nurturing and supportive environment for a fairly diverse student body.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is wonderful, it has a strong academic core and has many diverse extra curricular activities. They have won numerous academic achievements as well as many CIF championships. This school has one of the highest API scores that beat out nationally credited schools like Flintridge Prep and La Canada High school and will also help when applying to college, above all they make classroom environments and schoolwork fun, making me want to come to school every day to learn challenging new lessons. This school, in my opinion is the greatest out of all.”
This review was posted by a other.

“While one might think average is ok, for the price ofthis place it should be 5 stars. A laclustre lower school curriculum that fashions itself as developmental just because they don't give letter grades. The teachers leave a lot to be desired as well, high over rated, this place could best be descibed as a trade school for the Valley Hunt Club.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The school has good academic program as some one mentioned but the quality of teachers is not consistent. For some of the teachers, I really wonder if they should be in Education if at all! My son wanted to take on Oakleaves school magazine club but guess what they did not publish one single issue last year. The other club that he wanted to form was denied. He ended up taking some club activities in which he did not have his heart. He did manage to get in to a decent college. The matriculation this year seems to be not all that good as compared to 14 % of the class seleceted to Stanford in Year 2007; they could get only a handful to the top Ivy's.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“For students wanting to learn the entire range of skills for life, career, and more immediately, college, Poly is the best.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I transferred from an academically rigorous public high school to Poly in my junior year. Despite my short time there, many of my close friends and favorite teachers are from those 2 precious years. Having gone on to Ivy schools, as did my 3 sibs all of whom transferred to Poly, we can unequivocally say that Poly was and remains central to our lives. Even as we shepherd our kids now, we look forward to the day that Poly will be central in their futures as well,... hopefully (high entry bar and no guarantees even for alumni/ae).”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Pasadena Polytechnic school has amazing teachers and directors who know very much about the subjects they teach. They have a music program Kindergarten-12th which includes instrumental, vocal, music history, and much more. The arts program is one of the best in the country with visual arts of wood, drawing, painting, enameling, ceramics, photography, and more. Performing arts of an outstanding musical by the high school each spring, dance classes and drama programs starting as early as kindergarten. The middle school alone has countless extracurriculars to offer such as Math Counts, debate, choir, orchestra, band, and more. Parents can be involved in many ways if they choose or if they choose to don't have to be involved at all. I highly recommend that residents of Pasadena and the surrounding area take a look at this school.”
This review was posted by a student.

“The academics are certainly better than PUSD. The school offers ample athletic programs. However, I found the general population of both faculty, staff, and parents, to be not particularly enlightened. Although the school is good with charity, it lacks with incorporating civic responsibility into the overall educational system for the children. I often encountered co-parents that were none too apologetic to let everybody know that they were 'better' than everybody else because they had a bigger house/car/jewelry/etc. Unfortunately, they also passed this attitude onto their children. Parents are not particularly active in the school, other than donating money.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Excellent academics. Curriculum needs work, but generally a progressive structure. Good teachers. Good teacher availability. Definitely take advantage of math and art programs. Extracurriculars available to all levels. Parental involvement is medium. Great community. Rich students and middle class for the most part.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“The school's phenomenal reputation is well-earned!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Very selective. The admission is focused on academic preparedness and leadership skills. Any one considering sending their child to this school should plan on joining in the school system early on. In seventh grade this academic year, seven students were selected out of 77 applicants. Good contacts with parents who are already sending their children to this school can be a plus. Parents can also recommend their child and can make a case as to why their child deserves to be in the school. If the focus is on academic excellence and oveall personality development, this schools should be your first choice.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I graduated from school there and don't remember a thing that I might have learnt of use. I found the kids there to be arrogant and from families which felt priviledged and self important. Because of its small size students were in cliques- often by superficial things such as family and economic backgrounds. Best thing is that there were no gangs, violence, and drug use was only in small private cliques. Academics were so-so. Only some teachers were really able to get the points across. Some teachers were terrible and completely incompetent. It depended on the individual to a self learner. Because of its small size it didn't offer as many diverse activities as you would get at a larger school.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Excellent academics and one on one with teachers. Kids are highly motivated and are advocates of the school. Parents are very involved. Great art, science, sports, and more. Many of the kids get accepted to excellent colleges such as Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, and others.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This school is entirely too full of itself. Many families will clearly do anything to get their children in here. The academics in the lower school can sometimes be only so-so. The school is poor in stimulating the child who is truly talented in a subject (math, for instance). There are many amazing families at this school, and this leads to some nice opportunites, but the school is overrated. Additionally, the fact that your child gets into the poly lower school is no guarantee that they will be upper school material, so your school worries are not over!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Outstanding academic school, excellent community outreach, a model school. Sports programs are competitive.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Poly is unsurpassed in terms of academic and extracurricular programs, parental involvement is very high and faculty is superb. Poly's best quality is that it helps each child develop his or her individual strengths to become the best person each can be.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“I attended Poly from 1st grade through 12th and had a great experience. I learned more in high school than I did in college (attended UCSD). Rather than many other private schools, Poly is intersted in developing well-rounded humans, not just stressed-out high achievers. I highly recommend Poly, if you can get in.”
This review was posted by a former student.

“Good reputation with a good track record in Ivy League School placement.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our daughter attended Poly from Pre-K to Senior Year, graduating this year in the Class of 2003. We do not have enough words of accolade to describe her and our 14 year experience at this nurturing, enriching, academically-superior school. Poly has a reputation of being academically stringent, but we found that in the early years, this is really not true. They made learning just plain fun, game-like, and we never saw undue pressure placed upon any students. (Quite honestly, the pressure we saw over the years was usually created by ambitious parents or by the student him/herself.) Of course, as the students matured, the academics did get tougher, but appropriately so. Our daughter missed an average of 30 days a year of school mostly due to a congenital medical condition. We are well-qualified to help her in her learning, and since she is an only child, very willing to, but found that we never had to! Poly teachers unasked gave extra assistance, care and concern; the administration had homework assignments collected and ready for pick-up anytime; the learning was team-oriented so that student helped each other... Poly does not just academically prepare students, the school is rigorous in its concern for the whole person, for opening up the possibilities of the whole world, of helping people place themselves within their community, country, humanity, and existence. All Poly's graduates go on to college, are welcomed by universities of all levels, because they are well prepared academically and as contributing members. The dedication of the teachers, administration, the wonderful guidance counsellors, and yes, even all the parents (the over zealous included) are part of this, because the school sets the overall tone, the moral standards, the environment, the checks and balances... When people ask me, I always say, check out this school and don't be afraid to apply every year until your child gets in. Poly is also fortunate to have a strong financial base, and uses it generously to help its families when needed (i.e., financial aid is available). We are hardworking parents, living modestly in Pasadena, and will always be grateful to this school for enriching our daughter and our lives. We do not work in academia, but we believe that more schools should be modeled after this school. No place is perfect, but Poly sure strives to be the best it can, and we wish every child out there could grow up in this kind of safe, inspiring, caring environment from where you will go forth with your own ethical values in place, with skills in thinking and communicating, with an open mind to new ideas, and with memories & friendships that will last a lifetime.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Excellent education, caring staff and faculty. Parents can be rude and unwelcoming though.”
This review was posted by a parent.