2023 Best Schools for STEM in Contra Costa County

• San Ramon Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  714 reviews

Alum: Love how DV prepares you for the rigor of college! It can be very challenging and competitive at times, however. Dougherty has some amazing teachers who are willing to help you not only with academics but also help you understand your future plans. Being involved in activities on campus from clubs, sports, and organizations will provide a meaningful and enriching experience.... Read 714 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,384

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Danville, CA•

• Private School•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 4.38 out of 5  78 reviews

Parent: I first heard about Athenian from an alumni interviewer for Rice University who said out of all the kids he's interviewed over the years, he's been most impressed by Athenian students -- smart, articulate, intellectually curious and involved. Athenian has exceptional teachers and offers incredible experiential learning activities that really prepare students for college and all that lies ahead. When my daughter was starting the college search process early in her senior year, she said she was not stressed about college -- she knew she'd do well wherever she went because of the confidence she gained during AWE (Athenian Wilderness Experience). Today as a college freshman, my daughter says she feels more prepared than some of her peers because Athenian taught her how to study, how to write, how to think critically and self advocate. It's a great place.... Read 78 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 536

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Acalanes Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  227 reviews

Senior: Miramonte is a great school with many resources to offer students. The academic courses can be rigorous, but the teachers are all there to help you out. The teachers care about their jobs and are passionate, which contributes to their overall success in academics. Athletics are also great! There are lots of good opportunities to improve and everyone builds each other up.... Read 227 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,174

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Lafayette, CA•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  111 reviews

Sophomore: The teachers and academics are great. Over my time at Bentley, I've had many wonderful teachers! The college counseling and students are great. However, a few things that aren't great at Bentley is the Admin and Sports. The issue with the admin is that they don't always treat the teachers great so we have a high turnover rate for teachers. Our sports aren't great in that there isn't too much emphasis on them, so we usually don't do super well... Overall a reasonably good school, though.... Read 111 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 700

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Acalanes Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  198 reviews

Senior: Acalanes has very good resources and opportunities. If you want to push yourself, you can. And I am confident that I am prepared for college level classes and I've taken about 1 AP each year. At the same time, if you want a lighter workload, you can do that too. It's all about the classes you choose to take and the teachers you get. I would say that stress at Acalanes is an big issue. Everyone - even people who don't care a lot about school - is stressed out. It can get overwhelming. However, teachers and admin are trying to make that better. There's just a lot of pressure to go to a "good" college and get a "good" job - mostly, I think from the parents and kids. As well, Acalanes isn't a very diverse place. It lacks diversity of background, race, etc. but also of thought. It's too easy for some ideas to get shot down. But, in all, Acalanes is actually a very good school. Teachers care, kids care, parents really care (maybe a little too much). There's a lot of support.... Read 198 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,303

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Acalanes Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  287 reviews

Senior: I am currently a senior at Campolindo (class of 22) and, for the most part, I’ve enjoyed my time here! Some of my favorite parts of high school have been: -stellar teachers (especially Mark Roberts and Jake Donohoe) -great sports programs -challenging but rewarding classes that are good preparation for college -absolutely incredible performing arts programs! the annual musical is one of the best aspects of the school and something I have thoroughly enjoyed -for the most part, students are kind and accepting As with everything, I do have my criticisms of the school. -the political culture here is EXTREMELY toxic. everyone is expected (and borderline forced) to fall in line with far-left radical beliefs especially surrounding CRT. The school preaches “diversity and inclusion” but mainly talks in circles instead of saying anything of substance. If you want to be exposed to a diversity of beliefs and values, this is not the school for you. Campolindo is a great, but flawed, school.... Read 287 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,400

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Ramon Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  297 reviews

Senior: I absolutely love my school, Monte Vista High School. Though I did not originally attend school in the same school district, my transition into high school was very smooth and I immediately felt like I fit in. Since I knew literally NO ONE when I first stepped onto the campus (except my brother), I made a big effort to make friends even though I was rather introverted. Students and teachers would reciprocate friendly actions and I was met with kindness. Teachers at Monte Vista are incredibly good at their jobs - especially the science teachers. AP Chemistry and Physics have been my absolute favorite classes. The teachers for those classes were able to push my brain to the absolute limit and I feel like I grew as a person in their classrooms. I began to spend more time on my learning because I realized that I was truly interested in the subjects I was being taught. I sincerely love Monte Vista for its robust academics, welcoming community, and unshakable pride. Go Mustangs!... Read 297 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,441

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Ramon Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  626 reviews

Senior: Great diversity, academics, faculty, and campus. The Bay Area is very diverse and Cal High reflects this diversity. Clubs at California High School are high achieving and extremely well developed. There are many teachers who have impacted my academic life and furthered my enthusiasm for and love of learning. The campus is relatively clean and feels safe. The facilities are very accommodating and useful. However, the counseling department, especially college counseling department, could be improved. There are also a few teachers who are very unpopular amongst students–for good reason. The library at this school is one of my favorite facilities, with extremely helpful staff and great resources. The book selection is wide and extensive and the computer usage is extremely helpful. All in all, California High School has a diverse student body, has strong school spirit, strong academics and sports, has great programs, and is a great school!... Read 626 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,942

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Acalanes Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  277 reviews

Junior: The teachers and admin are genuinely kind, patient, and helpful! They go above and beyond to ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and encouraged. Their dedication to helping students achieve their full potential is admirable! Secondly, the academic rigor + emphasis on learning are truly impressive, and the community service opportunities available to students are second to none; I appreciate how much the school values community involvement + encourages students to give back! Additionally, I want to highlight the diversity and multiculturalism at LL! I appreciate how the school celebrates and embraces differences and promotes an inclusive environment where every student feels valued and respected! Finally, the abundance of extracurricular activities at LL is remarkable, from DEI/affinity organizations to sports teams to debate clubs! LL provides students with many opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills, and make lasting friendships!... Read 277 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,580

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Mt. Diablo Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.55 out of 5  246 reviews

Alum: As an alumni of the class of 1977, who was in the second graduating class and spent a year at Ignacio valley High School as a freshman. My experience at Northgate prepared me for college throughoutstanding individual teachers and curriculum that exceeded the norms. Very proud to graduated from Northgate and the education helped me in my college years as well as the sports program (tennis) help me compete at the NCAA division 1 level through scholarship. Classes were varied classes were interesting and challenging. We had a wonderful group of positive Forward thinking teachers and administration was solid. Graduates from this class and others have gone on to lead exemplary lives and influence both nationally and globally. Northgate was inclusive and challenging, with many graduates going on to the UC system schools and including UCLA and Cal Berkeley. I would rate my experience at this school as outstanding.... Read 246 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,492

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• San Ramon Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  365 reviews

Junior: I am so grateful to go to school at SRVHS. The culture is amazing, I have never had a teacher here that I believe wants me to fail or doesn't care about me. Additionally, there are a wide variety of options open to students from extracurriculars to academic classes. Finally, as a Leadership student, there are so many fun and interactive activities that unite the campus and make the environment enjoyable.... Read 365 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,112

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Walnut Creek, CA•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  71 reviews

Parent: The staff is so caring and personable! They truly care about their students as a whole, not just how they do academically. During these trying times with distance learning, teachers set time aside to help those that are falling behind when they are trying to learn under difficult circumstances. They set office hours to check in with students not only academically, but how they are doing emotionally and mentally. It is in these times , that the teachers have really shown through their truly amazing character and love for their students. We are blessed to be apart of such an amazing community and are thankful everyday for it!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 399

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Concord, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.49 out of 5  95 reviews

Senior: A Jesuit high school that welcomes students of other faiths. The school is know for its sports but there is an amazing theatre and arts program. There is a place for everyone to belong. You just have to find others that enjoy the same things. This is a college preparatory high school. Normal classes are the equivalent to most public schools AP classes. Class sizes are small, teachers and staff know you by name. There is a lot of support, you just have to willing to ask or take advantage of what’s available.... Read 95 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,050

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• West Contra Costa Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.62 out of 5  297 reviews

Senior: El Cerrito High is an amazingly diverse school full of students from all backgrounds. Similar to the student population, the teachers cover a wide spectrum of ability. At this school, I have experienced both the best and worst teachers I believe I will ever have. While El Cerrito High's bathrooms are a mess and its school spirit is lacking, it has many notable redeeming qualities. Many people that I know chose to attend this school because of its excellent band program. The band at El Cerrito has won multitudes of awards and has been able to go on many trips around the world to perform at places such as Disneyland, Carnegie Hall, and even locations in Europe. El Cerrito High also has some amazing clubs that are dedicated to a wide variety of purposes, such as tutoring other students struggling in math, helping the community or the environment, and getting students involved in sports. Despite its flaws, there is a lot to love about this school.... Read 297 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,596

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Concord, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.97 out of 5  290 reviews

Alum: I graduated last year from CHS and can confidently say that I took much of my time there for granted. With teachers that care for your well-being while also pushing you to perform, the welcoming yet competitive environment, classes structured to push you outside of your comfort zone, and a progressive administration designed to educate youth within Catholic values without forcing beliefs upon them — this school builds good people. This school builds successful individuals and prepares them to make the world a better place. This school means the world to me and always will. Go cougars!... Read 290 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 800

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• West Contra Costa Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  183 reviews

Sophomore: Overall, I love it! The academic rigor is a great challenge for me, but it can get a little too much sometimes. I wish that there were less graduation requirements (or they were less rigid, i.e a specific chem class cannot be substituted for another), but other than that my experience is pretty positive.... Read 183 reviews

• grade A

• Students 297

• Student-teacher ratio 30:1

• Liberty Union High School District (Brentwood), CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  560 reviews

Senior: Heritage does a good job at creating a welcoming environment for it's students. Unfortunately, some of the teachers are too rude to students and can bring on many anxiety attacks for students with anxiety. You always have the first two weeks to switch out of a class, but personally I feel like it's not enough. Some of my worst teachers made themselves look good in those first 2 weeks and then tormented me for the rest of the year. Go with your gut--if there's a teacher who doesn't seem right to you, switch out while you can! For the most part, however, Heritage has a lot of good teachers who genuinely want to make a good learning experience for you. We also need more college readiness classes. The only one that helps the most is a hidden class that nobody knows about--PUSH. If you don't get into PUSH, you'll need to do a lot of research on your own.... Read 560 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,654

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• West Contra Costa Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.14 out of 5  282 reviews

Senior: Overall, I have had a pretty good experience here at Hercules High School. The campus is pretty nice, and I like how open it is. I enjoy the fact that many students have the opportunity to sit down to eat lunch with their friends, while looking at the beauty of nature. Some improvements that I would personally like to see, are better resources to help seniors to prepare for college. I would like for the school to offer more college readiness programs, so students have the proper preparation needed in order to prepare themselves. Besides that, I enjoy the diverse culture at the school, and the nice people.... Read 282 reviews

• grade B

• Students 798

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Walnut Creek, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  173 reviews

Alum: Currently I’m on staff, but I’m an alumna from 2015 and absolutely LOVED my time at Berean! The campus culture and community is such a genuinely caring and academically competitive environment that grows you into your best self not only as a student but as a follower of Jesus Christ! Faith is the center of everything at Berean Christian, and I’m so blessed to have had mentoring teachers, coaches, and wonderful friendships that helped shape me, and now have brought me back to work at Berean on staff! From getting involved in athletics, to running for Student Leadership roles, these are areas I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in as a student. Lastly, the location of Berean Christian, in the heart of Walnut Creek, CA, is so central to everything in the Bay Area!... Read 173 reviews

• grade A

• Students 418

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Orinda, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  9 reviews

Parent: We moved to the East Bay from NYC during the pandemic to be close to grandparents. It was challenging for everyone, particularly our children, 16 and 12. We found Orinda Academy, the lovely and healing environment we needed. Our 16-year-old entered in 11th grade, made friends, and excelled academically. OA’s combination of nurture and rigor was just what we needed! The parent community is open and supportive. We also value an environment where teachers, administrators, and the entire school community know and care about our children. Our daughter is now 18 and in college and our younger one, now 14, just entered 9th grade at OA. So far so good! They are making friends and love their teachers. Our second time around and we could not be happier!... Read 9 reviews

• grade A

• Students 76

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Richmond, CA•

• Private School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  92 reviews

Alum: I attended Salesian College Preparatory only in my senior year and it was amid the pandemic. My previous school was closed due to lack of funds. To not compare with the old school, Salesian is one of the largest private high schools in Richmond, California. Classrooms are new, huge and well-equipped. Teachers to me are extremely helpful and well-prepared before each lesson/lecture. The whole year was remote but I was able to use provided resources to fulfill homework and extracurriculars. The exterior is nowhere to be complained about. I wish I attended Salesian throughout high school, even before Covid 19 hit.... Read 92 reviews

• grade A

• Students 404

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Acalanes Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  6 reviews

Senior: Independent study is definitely not for everyone and can get overwhelming if you do not stay on top of your work, but for me, it gave me freedom I never had at public school. I have a lot of health issues and have to miss a lot of school days, which is what made me switch to independent study. It was definitely the right decision for me.... Read 6 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 44

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Mt. Diablo Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.52 out of 5  345 reviews

Senior: College park is an excellent school, yet sometimes lacking in Administrative competence. The teachers are mostly excellent, with some outliers pulling the mean down. Overall, in my four years I have enjoyed attending College Park High School!... Read 345 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 2,050

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Martinez Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  187 reviews

Senior: I think Alhambra High School overall has been a very good experience for me. We aren't a ridiculously rich school and quite honestly are pretty average, but sometimes average is enough. We have a collection of wonderful faculty members and some not-so-wonderful. I would say the school is above average, but nothing special.... Read 187 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,208

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Richmond, CA•

• Public School•

• 7-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Junior: What I like about my school is that everyone is so understanding and courageous. I love how my school has so many connections to so many things. If we as students have something that we would like to change or something fun that we would like to do for our school the school administrators are so nice and listen to every single thing that we say. Something I would like to change about my school is the lighting in our classrooms. I think that learning should be something you would want to do in a nice a quiet peaceful place not a bright room. I think that putting more sun generated lamps in classrooms would be nice for students at my school and also for teachers. White lights to me raise stress levels and they are very hard to work in especially if you work on a computer in school too. That is just a small thing that I would like to change but other than that everything else at my school is perfectly fine.... Read 6 reviews

• grade B

• Students 521

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1