2023 Most Diverse Public High Schools in the San Francisco Bay Area

• Alameda Unified School District, CA•

• 6-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  195 reviews

Junior: Hi My name is Crystal Le. I’ve been going to Encinal for around 6 years now, coming onto 7 for my senior year. I’m currently an 11th grader. Over the years, attending this school has been one of the most interesting experiences. One thing I love about this school is all the support for students for colleges, future planning, mental health especially, and one on one teaching. Encinal provides so many resources for mental and physical heath to the students, with our own student based health center which is super friendly. Another aspect I like is community. Our school is very diverse, people from all kinds of background can be seen here. We have spirit days and events like homecoming assembly, where students from each grade volunteer to create a skit and dance for the assembly. It’s a great way to bond with your class and create a friendly competition. Overall a good experience and one of my favorite parts about Encinal.... Read 195 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 1,199

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• 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

• grade A+

• Students 1,596

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• John Swett Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  86 reviews

Alum: A small community where the teachers and staff become family. A place where education is heavily implied and being the best is motivated. This school has extracurricular activities to help build a student's application. The teachers work side by side with students and aid them in any help or advice that they mad need. This school is also under construction and is remodeling the area to make it look more appealing. However throughout the construction, it does not impose a distraction to a student’s learning. The diverse community also helps create a loving environment where everyone is welcomed and loved despite where they come from! A true gem in the contra costa county!... Read 86 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Students 415

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Alameda, CA•

• Public School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 3.74 out of 5  43 reviews

Senior: Nea is truly a wonderful school. The small size of the school allows you to get closer to not only your fellow students, but also teachers and administartion. If you want to do something there is always a group of people to support you. The disadvantage is you don't get a lot of the high school expirence unless you truly dedicate yourself to making it happen. Admistartion also works very slowly and is quick to reject your ideas. It's not impossibe it's just a lot of work to get stuff done.(My ideas are biased because the pandemic ruined highschool for me).... Read 43 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 534

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Oakland Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.38 out of 5  424 reviews

Senior: I really enjoyed skyline and feel that it is the embodiment of the saying, "your experience is what you make of it." Skyline is a public underresourced school located in Oakland CA. We don't have the shiniest classrooms or the most counselors but the staff who are there believe in the students and the school they work for. I have never been in an educational institution such as skyline where I genuinely feel the staff want to see me succeed and will help me reach my goals. That being said Skyline is plagued by understaffing, underfunding, etc. We don't have a lot of supplies, biology and labs science classes face the brunt of this. And teacher/staff turnover rate is very high. Due to the lack of resources it does becomes easy to slip through the cracks. However I believe that Skyline taught me how to advocate for myself. If I wanted assistance I had to be the one to go out and get it. Students who are able to succeed in a school like Skyline are equipped with life long skills.... Read 424 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Students 1,660

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Vallejo City Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.09 out of 5  388 reviews

Senior: In all my years at this school, I don’t recall ever seeing any bullying happen, and it’s been a sigh of relief for someone who has had issues with bullies in the past. I love the atmosphere and school spirit, and everyone is generally very friendly. The band program is very important to me, who’s been in band since 3rd grade, and it has kept me going through the pandemic as of recent. All school events like rallies, sports games, cultural celebrations, etc. are all very inspiring and build a sense of community. The teachers are good at what they do, and I’ve built a good relationship with a few. I’m confident that I will cry at my graduation ceremony, realizing that my time here will be over, but I will never forget the memories. I’m proud to be a Jag! Bethel, You Know!... Read 388 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Students 1,559

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Dublin Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• grade B

• grade A+

• Students 46

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Oakland Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.56 out of 5  475 reviews

Senior: Tech's Health academy is GREAT! There are a lot of additional health science classes, dissections and hospital internships are offered. So many opportunities. Very helpful Science teachers. Lots of AP classes and offers Dual Enrollment options.... Read 475 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 1,961

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Santa Clara Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  571 reviews

Junior: Santa Clara high school has been one of the best experiences in terms of schooling. As a kid, I often was forced to change schools and I never got the full opportunity to settle into a single environment. When I got to Santa Clara, that all changed. Since the first moment I stepped onto this campus, I immediately felt comfortable and like I belonged here. I got along with all of the students and quickly made new friends while meeting old ones once more. I have loved all of my teachers since freshman year and I haven't found anything to complain about besides the food. Although my experiences have been amazing, the community tries to bring peoples spirits down and infiltrate the positive energy. Despite this, I proceed on and block out the negativity.... Read 571 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 2,030

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Francisco Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  103 reviews

Senior: The Academy is actually an amazing school overall it gets a bad reputation and is thrown under but in reality there is alot of excellent teachers and staff that encourage education and help each student to succeed. Its a small school so most likely you will at least know just about everyone in your grade but the amount of classes you have access to are alit shorter than a standard school due to us sharing the building with Ruth Asawa School of the Arts... Read 103 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 359

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Francisco, CA•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.96 out of 5  120 reviews

Senior: I have been at Gateway for all 4 years. What I like about the school is the smaller size of students compared to the other public high schools in the city. It is easy to know most of the teachers and have great relationships with them. The teachers there are great because they offer office hours after lunch where all students can work with teachers or independently. Another good thing about the school are the clubs. There are many clubs with students willing to share what they're interested in. The school makes sure that all students are safe by reminding COVID protocals, but there have been difficulties arising at the school. Overall, it is a good school to do well academically with teachers supporting students when they're behind.... Read 120 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 519

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Antioch Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.35 out of 5  520 reviews

Alum: It was a pleasurable and life-changing experience in the sense that I had the opportunity to learn about many diversity and cultures while also feeling safe in my environment. After some years many safety aspects disappeared as a new and reckless generation came in. Nonetheless, the teachers were upstanding and inspiring, counselors aimed to help guide young students into their path, and even administrators were respected and loved dearly.... Read 520 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Students 1,908

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Napa Valley Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  321 reviews

Senior: Teachers tend to vary in quality. Some make absolutely no efforct to teach at all while some will try their absolute hardest to make sure everyone passes. The culture here is wonderful, and the school has a solid identity in what they are and who they are. The school is very diverse and you are bound to see students from all walks of life here. While the district doesn't fund for music and art (specifically theatre), we still manage to make it through and put on productions year round that everyone enjoys!... Read 321 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 1,707

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• West Contra Costa Unified School District, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.25 out of 5  8 reviews

Junior: My experience at Vista High school is relatively good. It's a very small school with less than 300 students however everyone there is incredibly welcoming and supportive. Due to the small number of students and participants, there are many limitations, such as no AP classes, clubs, sports and few electives. Despite so, the teachers and staff do their best to make up for it, recommending taking college classes, offering tutoring and additional support.... Read 8 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Students 216

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Santa Clara Unified School District, CA•

• 10-12

• •
  Rating 4.18 out of 5  11 reviews

Junior: Absolutely amazing school! The teachers actually care about students' success and do everything in their power to help students achieve their goals. And, the classes are small, which is amazing! Most teachers provide meaningful work that'll help students later in life. The office is super helpful in schedule changes and any problems you have. My academic counselor is super helpful in picking out colleges and helping me construct my college path. The campus itself is clean and nice, and the students are all very welcoming. I wish there were more clubs and awards like the larger schools in the area. For example, we don't have NHS, or any organized varsity and JV teams. But, you are always welcome to start your own club if you want! This school has really prepared me for college, as I've gotten a taste of college classes. The school culture is positive, and everyone pushes you to do your best. I haven't seen much parent involvement, but there wasn't a need for any.... Read 11 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 116

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• San Mateo Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.08 out of 5  258 reviews

Junior: San Mateo High School is the most welcoming, inclusive, and safe zoned high schools there is to offer in my opinion. The community is very diverse there, and everyone is very supportive of each other, from the peers to the staff and teachers!... Read 258 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,671

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• San Leandro Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  526 reviews

Senior: I just transferred to this school my senior year, and it has been the best year for me in my high school career. The community here is amazing, the teachers are understanding and respectful. Overall, I've never received as good of grades as I did this semester, because I actually learned! The honors and AP program they offer here are perfect for those who want to go above and beyond with their academics.... Read 526 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Students 2,697

• Student-teacher ratio 22:1

• Fremont Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  374 reviews

Junior: Since i am going into my junior year at fremont, i have only been on campus for a little over half of my freshman year. While i was on campus i actually enjoyed going because of the atmosphere and friends around me! The atmosphere helped even out the schoolwork and didn’t make going to school as bad as usual. During online, at least from my experience, most teachers i had were extremely involved and really tried to get us to learn and be engaged during class.... Read 374 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 2,236

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Antioch Unified School District, CA•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  10 reviews

Alum: I have mental Health issues which prevented me from going to a regular school. By only going to school for once a week, I was able to graduate high school. They were really understanding and they helped me with anything I needed.... Read 10 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Students 289

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Santa Clara Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.81 out of 5  557 reviews

Senior: I think Wilcox is a great highschool. I am now a senior, and I've enjoyed my experience more and more as I became older. There were many ups and downs, especially since almost half of my freshman year and all of my sophomore year was online. However, the way we bounced back as a school was very quick and my junior year quickly became my favorite year of school. The clubs, sports, and activities are really what build this school. Along with enthusiastic teachers, learning has been a rewarding journey. As a senior, I'm looking forward to finishing the year strong and spending one last year with the class of 2023.... Read 557 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Students 1,981

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Campbell Union High School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.4 out of 5  283 reviews

Alum: Overall I had a really great experience at Prospect! I was given the opportunities and resources to challenge myself academically and connect with engaging and unique teachers each year. I felt as though atmosphere of the campus improved each and every year with different opportunities to get involved in clubs, sports, and different events. With a really diverse student body, it was awesome to see how leadership and administration catered events and opportunities to appeal to different groups. I think Prospect is a great school and an environment that any student can thrive in if they put in the effort.... Read 283 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 1,573

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• West Contra Costa Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.35 out of 5  337 reviews

Senior: I remember when we were still in portables and felt more connected as a community. The new school brought new teachers and we have had some problems, but the students know that they have a voice. We have not had many club activities and haven't done much this year to connect as a school. I love how diverse we are and seeing people who look like me, it makes me feel safe. Our security doesn't though and usually standby and talk to the students who do not go to class. We have hired more and I believe that they're doing a great job. The IB program helps the students and prepares them for college. I think PVHS is a great school that works on their problems!... Read 337 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Students 1,303

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Antioch Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  323 reviews

Senior: This school gives you a fundamental background to what medical school will be like, making it an ideal place for future health professionals. The teachers care for their students and with the small classrooms, it is easy to build a positive relationship with each of your teachers. Additionally, this school will prepare for college and possibly give students an advantage with the integrated projects the school does. Overall, this school does a fantastic job in preparing students for the work force and giving students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills they have acquired at Dozier-Libbey Medical High School!... Read 323 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Students 761

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Dublin Unified School District, CA•

• 12

• grade unavailable

• grade A+

• Students 23

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Fremont Unified School District, CA•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  510 reviews

Senior: I've had a wonderful experience at John F. Kennedy High School. This school honestly wasn't my first choice for high school, but I'm glad I kept attending here anyways. The teachers and other faculty members are very supportive of their students, and I love the community here. There are many great educational opportunities, such as dual enrollment and ROP classes right next to the school, which allow you to explore more subjects and courses. The block schedule also gives students more flexibility in their schedules, and allows them to try many kinds of classes outside of the a-g requirements. There are many different types of clubs you can join and participate in. You'll be able to meet new people and everyone is very friendly. The main downside of this school is that it is pretty old and needs updating, but lacks the funding to do so and fix more run down areas. Overall, I really liked going to this school.... Read 510 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Students 1,393

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1