Berkeley Parents Network: Albany High School

Berkeley Parents Network

Albany High School

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > K-12 Schools > Albany Public Schools > Albany High School

Website for Albany High School: www.albany.k12.ca.us/ahs/

Parents reviews of Albany High
Non-Albany resident attending Albany High?
Transferring to Albany High from Berkeley High

Parents reviews of Albany High

Nov 2007

My son is in the 8th grade at Albany Middle School. I love the school, the teachers, the level of parent involvment, the sports, etc. However, I have worked closely with him this year on his classwork and I have watched him become increasingly bored and unispired by the curriculum. Math and science seem to catch his interest, but the humanities subjects do seem pretty bland and uninteresting. He is an avid reader and writer outside of school. He has a lot of natural curiosity and it's sad to see it left untapped because he's bored.

I'm thinking about high schools. I don't think he's the right kind of kid for Berkeley High (he struggles at times with focus), but we are considering Maybeck. I am wondering about other parents and (especially) student's experiences at Albany high school. I know it's a great place to go to get into college, but what about beyond that? Is it inspiring? Is creativity rewarded? Are kids challenged in other ways besides academic rigor (to think critically, creatively and to step outside etheir comfort zone)? How ''cliquey'' is it? How does the AHS experience differ from the experience at AMS?

I have read the archives, but the district and the High School have changed so much over the last 5 years. I'd be particularly interested in hearing from AHS students. Anon

My kids have liked AHS a lot, and it's good for many (but not all) students. There are strong efforts to catch students who are not doing well, including a ''small schools'' pilot program with students who have been randomly selected to participate; and a freshman health curriculum that discusses some of the hot issues, including drugs and alcohol. Many good and great teachers (video, AP art history, many in the English Dept) and a few stinkers that kids have to endure.

For kids willing to 'join' there is a lot of activity at AHS. Football, soccer, volleyball.

PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Assn, with student members and student members of the school board), student govt and Leadership. Clubs ranging from service groups (Leo's and Building with Books), Youth & Govt (a very active mock legislature, managed by the Albany YMCA that sends kids on conferences to Sacramento and Monterey), Model U.N., Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, etc. There is also a Pirates Club, Skateboard Club, and any student with an idea and a faculty sponsor can start a group. There's Career Day, Spirit Week (kids dressed in school colors and decorated the school every day of Homecoming Week), school dances, including 2 formals a year.

But most kids at AHS know each other from kindergarten, or at least from middle school. That means that old alliances linger - though friendships in high school do shift dramatically from the ones in elementary and middle school.

Its a fine school for my kids. Your kid could love it... or... AHS parent

October 2005

I'm interested in getting academic/social input about Albany High School from parents whose children currently attend the school. I have an eighth grader at an academically rigorous middle school (private), but would like to send her to Albany High -- we live in Albany and it would be nice to finally have her at our ''local'' school. I guess I'm wondering how challenging the academics are at AHS. Also, does it have a 2-track academic system like Berkeley High and, if so, how does one get into that higher track if this is appropriate? Is placement based on testing and, if so, when does that testing take place? Also, how do parents feel about the quality of their kids' teachers? The administration? The calibre of the classes? And what is Albany High like socially? Any info on the school's strengths and limitations (diversity, sports, drug use, etc) would be much appreciated. Any info on what colleges AHS grads attend would also be helpful, although I can probably get this from the school. Thanks so much. Ready to switch to public school

I'm prejudiced in favor of Albany HS. Like most public schools, if your child is well organized and attentive, they will do well; if they space out, they may fall through the cracks. Not nearly as many choices as you'd find at Berkeley, but my kids have found some great teachers, good classes (a few duds) and some GREAT classes.

AHS is a reasonable size (1200 kids), with very good administration, counseling staff and faculty, and increasing academic and elective opportunities. The school is now on modified block scheduling, which everyone seems to like - every class on Mondays and half the classes on MW/ TTh for 90-min. each class.

Kids test into rigorous advanced math and language classes, in spring/ summer. AP classes start in jr. year, and many require testing in; but some do not, incl. AP Art History. Homework is several hours, with more before tests and finals or group projects.

There's lots of "school spirit" and there are kids who ignore it. Dozens of school clubs & activities, including YMCA's Youth and Gov't (includes retreats), theater and major spring musical), music (band, orchestra, R&B group, jazz, chorales), golf, computer, service clubs (Leo's), ethnic student unions. The more active your student is, the better time they will have. merry

The short answer is, Albany High is okay. It's overcrowded, it's not so good if your kid is not academic, and it has some disruptive students and substance abuse issues (there was a big problem with drinking at the homecoming dance, plus vandalism on and off school grounds last week). As far as I can tell, it has a strong and responsive administration; conscientious pre-college counseling; AP and Honors classes, but not in all departments; students who mostly come from families that value education highly; a high proportion of good teachers; a few outstanding sports teams; a good music and theater program; and chronically deficient funding that is partly offset by parent volunteers and aggressive private fundraising (big parcel tax vote next month, too).

This year's experiment with a block schedule seems to be going well. I've heard both students and teachers speak positively about it. All students go to only 4 classes on Tues/Thurs and 3 different classes plus advisory period on Wed/Fri, plus all 7 classes on Monday. (Unfortunately, now there's NO way to avoid going to school at 7:40 AM. Students who were taking minimum schedules and weren't doing after-school sports used to be able to go at 8:30 AM and stay later, which is far less painful.) Albany parent

Dec 2003

My son had a positive experience throughout his grammar school years in Albany. But for a scant few extraordinary teachers, Middle school's quality definitively waned. Recognizing that Berkeley High has so much more to offer in terms of course offerings and real life experience, we got an interdistrict transfer. He believes that BHS is a wonderful preparatory school for elite college. His friends still in Albany haven't said the same.

July 2002

I have a daughter currently going to a private school who will be starting at Albany High next fall as a freshman. I have been hearing from parents that the eighth grade at the middle school is very troublesome-lots of drinking, marijuana etc. I am concerned as this was not the climate five years ago when my older daughter was in Albany at middle and high school. Are these big problems? Any info on this would be appreciated. Rowena

We have two students at Albany High who have been in the AUSD since kidergarten. Teenage use of drugs and alcohol can be found at every high school in the country, public/private etc. in my opinion Yes from the info I get from our kids you can buy drugs in or around Albany High anytime, as for drinking I have not personally come in contact with drunk teenagers from AHS but I know some kids from the middle school and high school have problems with alcohol In my opinion kids who have serious problems with drugs and alcohol that interfere with their daily functioning, ability to maintain their curiousity and interest in learning, are kids who would choose to "sedate" themselves anywhere, maybe due to temperment, family stress, or simply not knowing how to cope with the stresses of everyday life

Parents need to maintain open communication with their kids about drugs and alcohol and to share their values about these topics for example I'd prefer a high school kid to have a glass of wine at home at a family gathering ( holiday, party or whatever) and not have it viewed as a completely taboo act , and to understand that drinking and driving don't mix/ to call home anytime a ride is needed etc. Also I don't believe marijuana is a "gateway" drug that will lead to more serious drug use/ it will be obvious if a high school student is using drugs that interferes with their functioning in the world Parents in my opinion need to be honest with their teenagers, to have an open and honest dialogue, to answer their children's questions when they ask about your own drug and alcohol use past and present, and to set an example by the way we as adults live with our teenagers, how we cope etc. Also to provide support and resources so our kids have exposure to involving activities to participate in whatever they are , sports, reading, music, cultural religious, political, social action, etc both in school and outside I have found that Albany High provides a safe enough environment and community for kids to make intelligent choices or at least have choices about what path they are going to take This is definitely anonymous as I respect my kids right to privacy

Answer re Albany Schools and the issue of drugs and alcohol. I have a son who just finished 10th grade at Albany HS, and he has, unfortunately, had some experience with drugs and alcohol. He would tell you that "everyone does it, it's no big deal", and that it's everywhere. He's doing better now, we hope, thanks to team sports and new friends and some counseling. I have friends whose kids have thrived at AMS and AHS and, at least according to the parents, say that they and their peer group have not experimented at all. I have an older child who graduated in 96, and while he "stayed clean", said that lots of kids smoked dope and drank and "that it was everywhere", so I really don't know how much things have changed. As with everything else, it depends on your child, who they hook up with and where they're vulnerable. I do think that use is pretty common, and that it's not being dealt with at a systems level very well, if at all. There's talk of using breathalyzers at school dances, but this doesn't really address the problem. Good luck.

January 2002

Many people have asked about whether Albany High School is a good option for students and parents. This, as with all high schools, depends on the individual student. If a family is looking for a small, academically-oriented high school, Albany High definitely has that to offer. It does have limited course offerings, because it is a small school. The counseling staff does appear to be helpful with the college application process. (I don't know first hand.)

Its shortcomings lie in the emotional realm. It places a strong emphasis on academic success and its reputation as a high school where a high percentage of students go on to college. However, it has little to offer in the way of nurturing and support for the individual who is having difficulties, either emotional or academic. Unless students fall in the rather narrow range served by the Resource Specialist Program, there is little in-school support or attention for students who are not highly successful in an academically rigorous environment. There are individual staff members who can be nurturing and supportive, but it is often a matter of luck if a student encounters them.

The attitude at AHS frequently seems to be, "If you are unhappy with what we have to offer, you can always go elsewhere. There are plenty of parents from surrounding districts clamoring to get their children into a school like Albany that is perceived as safer than most neighboring schools, while providing a pretty good academic program." Both of my daughters have had difficulty for these reasons at Albany High, over the course of the last eight years. I am frankly glad that this is our last year there.

I agree with what the last person wrote about AHS: "It places a strong emphasis on academic success and its reputation as a high school where a high percentage of students go on to college. However, it has little to offer in the way of nurturing and support for the individual who is having difficulties, either emotional or academic." We moved to Albany 2 years ago. My daughter has had a difficult time penetrating the cliques that seem predominant both at AHS and AMS (8th grade). Unlike the school she came from, the kids in Albany tend to exclude those who don't fit their particular mold. My younger two children will have a much easier time at AHS because they are establishing friendships at a much younger age. But my eldest is just biding her time until she can escape AHS and go to college where, I keep telling her, she will be among more open-minded, mature, and accepting people. Also, AHS has very low school spirit. There doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm when it comes to getting involved in some of the traditional, fun high school activities like football games, pep rallies, cheerleading, music, etc. It seems like a dreary school in that respect.

Wow, what a different experience we have had regarding AHS from the person who moved to Albany 2 years ago whose daughter is just biding time until college. We, too, moved to Albany 2 years ago and my daughter cried every morning for the first 3 months she attended AMS (eighth grade). Like the previous writer's daughter, she had difficulty penetrating the cliques, friendships that had been established since kindergarten in that small community. However, there were kids who befriended her and by mid-year she was much happier. Our main challenge has been the academics, which are so much more challenging than her previous school. That has continued to be a major struggle into 9th grade, so perhaps the part about the lack of academic support is true (we've had to hire tutors or work with our daughter ourselves so she can pull "C"s in some of her subjects, and she's had many tests with Ds or even Fs, which she never had before).

Now, as far as school spirit at AHS--I don't know what events that family has attended, but I think spirit abounds aplenty! The class mascot building and subsequent parade was both fun and hilarious--the essence of small-town America. The grand opening of the new building was a great chance to hobnob and see school sprit at work. The Winter Ball seemed to be teeming with gorgeous gals and well-dressed fellahs having a great time. And the plays--I wish I had seen Macbeth, I heard it was fabulous, but the two "little" plays (The Lesson and Beyond Therapy) going on right now are fantastic and the kids do a wonderful job. They seem to have tremendous enthusiasm and spirit. In fact, I'm sorry my job requirements are such that I can't be more involved myself, so I feel that this is just a fraction of what is available in the way of family fun and school spirit.

Well, that's just my 2 cents' worth. And, because Albany is such a small town and my daughter would cringe (disown me?) if she knew I had written about her, please sign me Anonymous as well --although secretly I hope our paths might cross!

Non-Albany resident attending Albany High?

Sept 2005

It looks like my son Ben, 15, will be coming to live with me at the end of the year. He currently goes to a private school in San Jose, where he is about to begin 10th grade. I live and work in the Berkeley area. I am happy to move so that he will be in the best place in the area, but it's been years since I thought about high school. My other boy is 25 and went to Davis. Ben has no special issues and is bright and athletic. I want to put him somewhere he can thrive. I don't hear such great things about Berkeley High. What about Albany etc? Thanks, single parent again. Nick

The Albany superintendent said this year that no out of district transfers are allowed into the HS, but if students enter the Albany school system at an earlier level (and stay out of trouble) they are allowed to go on to the HS even if they don't live in Albany. Of course, students who move into Albany are allowed to transfer in. The houses are small and the prices high here. There are many condos for sale or rent on Albany Hill.

We moved to Albany before we had children, and now have one child in high school and one in middle school. Both schools are HORRIBLY crowded, even though both facilities are practically new. The teachers are pleased to teach kids whose parents care about education (a high proportion of Albany parents have college degrees, especially the foreign families in University Village).

If you want to send your kid to Albany, please be prepared to support Albany schools the way Albany parents are asked to do: a total of $1000 per child is recommended by fundraising groups, of which SCHOOLCARE is the largest. Albany has to raise money to pay for school counselors, librarians, lunchtime supervision, electives, music, and after-school sports. Without this money, and without the dedicated parent volunteers, Albany would not be a good educational experience at all.

Sept 2005

As the high school years approach for my Berkeley twin boys, I am increasingly worried about our options. My kids are currently 7th graders at Tehiyah Day School and will graduate from there in June 2007. I recently heard that there are ways for Berkeley kids to attend Albany High School. Does anyone know how one does that? I would also appreciate general feedback on Albany High. I've looked on the web page but the posts are from a couple of years ago. worried mom

Albany High School has not been able to accept transfers to the high school for the past two school years. Only residents. The district is strict in checking for residency. (It is possible that there is room for a few transfer students in some younger grades; you can ask the Superintendent's office: 510-558-3750) AHS is crowded with 1200 students this year. School has already started, class assignments have been made, and there is not room for more students in many classes.

Except for the high school, transfer priorities as amended this spring are (a) children of AUSD staff, (b) children of Albany city employees, (c) children of other people who work in Albany, (d) others. BUT . The rule for people who work in Albany does not apply to high school (as per state education code). If you're transferring a kid to another district (ie, from Berkeley to Albany), you need formal permission from the district that they are leaving (and some districts don't like to give permission for departure).

AHS is a good school, with some really great teachers, lots of good teachers, great counseling staff, great principal, and a very active parent community. It's smaller than Berkeley, which is a plus, overall, though it has fewer class offerings. Kids who are focused and directed do better here (as elsewhere); and there is increasing effort to encourage kids who don't naturally do well. Lots of clubs, activities and a fair number of sports are available for students. Good luck. Merry

Sept 2004

My son is in 8th grade....high school is a year away. I know that Albany has strict rules for non Albany residents entering the Albany schools, but we have what may be a border line situation and I''m wondering how we can go about finding out correct info and who to contact..... We do not live in Albany. My husband has owned his business in Albany for 27 years. We own property and a business building in Albany...my husband uses this building and part of the property for his office and business, and there is a rented apartment upstairs. My mother-in-law lives in Albany and my son spends a fair amount of time there. We pay Albany business, city and property taxes. Any help on this would be appreciated. anonymous please

Our daughter is a Senior at Albany High and does not live in Albany (she lived in Albany with her mother, who died, and then came to live with us). Your business affiliation with Albany should make your son's acceptance into Albany High fairly simple. Merely go to the District Office (just off of Solano Ave in Albany) and get the requisite forms. You have to get you son's current district to agree to let him transfer out (get forms from them) and then get the forms from Albany to submit asking them to allow him to transfer in. Once accepted, you don't have to keep applying every year (as we once did). Get the address you need by checking the Albany web site at www.Albany.k12.ca.us Good luck! Ilene

THere is no guarantee, but having a business in Albany greatly improves your odds of getting an out-of-district spot. From the Albany Unified School District web site (http://www.albany.k12.ca.us/):

''If you do not live in Albany and want your child to attend Albany schools, you must obtain an inter-district permit from your district of residence. There is no separate application to fill out the permit from your district serves as an application. If you are seeking a transfer based on employment in Albany, there is a form you must submit with the permit. It is available at the District Office, 904 Talbot. If you are seeking a transfer based on childcare in Albany, please submit a letter stating the name, address and a telephone number of the provider. Submission deadline is May 1. Preference is based on category (work-related, childcare, other), not date of submission. ...If you have questions, please call Linda Baker at 558-3765.'' R.K.

January 2002

Does anyone have any experience with Albany High School ? I have a son who is smart, but not too focused or motivated , has some learning issues, and we have been told he could likely get lost at Berkeley High. Socially he has done well in big schools. We are looking into private but worry that all the private schools are too small for him. We have thought about the idea of using a friends address in Albany. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about this (dumb?) idea. Thanks

" We have thought about the idea of using a friends address in Albany. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions about this (dumb?) idea. " Please don't do this. There are legal ways to apply for intra-district transfer, and it seems like that would be the appropriate action to take. There are implications for your son if you "teach" him that lying is ok sometimes, if it seems necessary... and you mean well... Good luck Heather

Transferring to Albany High from Berkeley High

July 2001

I would like information about Albany High School in the 10th - 12th grades. My son finished ninth grade at Berkeley High with very poor academic results. He cut a lot of classes, didn't do his homework and generally has a very cavalier attitude about school. I have the possibility of sending him to Albany High School. I'd like to know if the school climate is more personal and if the school keeps closer track of students? I'd also like to know what the social atmosphere of the school is like? Sherry

I have a daughter who will be junior at AHS, and I am very active with the PTA there. My perspective is based on my duaghter's experience but also on that of many other students whose parents are also involved with the school.

This year is a very good time for the AHS community because the teachers and the District have reached a tentative agreement which we hope will resolve the labor dispute, and the new high school will open in September.

Around 95% of Albany graduates go on to a two or four year college. The class work is academically challenging for most kids beginning in the 10th grade. However it is small enough that most kids can find some type of extra curricular activity in which they can become involved...music, theater, athlectics, journalism or a myriad of clubs. Most kids know all their classmates (about 240 per grade level) and some have know each other since kindergarten. I would like to say that it depends for the most part on the individual student whether they can find a place in the social life of the school.

The size makes it very hard for a student to fall through the cracks academically. There are 3 counselors for about 900 students, quite a great ratio. The current administration is young, energetic and student centered.

Is it a perfect place?,,,of course not. Some kids don't find the hook they need to plug into the school, not all classes work for all students, the size also limits the breadth of academic choices that a large school offers, sometimes kids feel it is too small. Also it is not always easy to be admitted as space is limited.

I would recommend you call the school office and ask to speak with the principal to see if there is an opportunity for your son this year. It is certainly worth looking at alternatives if another school is not working for your particular child. Sandy

In response to the parent whose son did poorly at BHS and is considering Albany HS for next year: I taught science at BHS for 12 years then taught at Albany HS last year. I'll be returning to BHS next year because I think the science department there is superior and for other personal and complicated reasons. I think I have a good perspective on the differences between the two schools.

Albany HS has less than 1000 students. This means that the average teacher who sees about 150 students per year (5 classes of 30 each) will know between 300 and 500 of the students at any given time, depending on the grades taught. If a teacher notices a student doing something antisocial or having any kind of trouble the teacher is likely to know the student and to report it to a counselor or administrator or to intervene in some other way. This means it is very hard for kids at AHS to get away with bad behavior. In general, I'm a proponent of positive reinforcement for good behavior as the major method of helping students learn to behave; but negative response to bad behavior is also critical. The big problem at BHS is that any given teacher will know a much smaller percentage of students and thus is unlikely to be able to respond effectively to bad behavior.

Students who are unresponsive to the teachers at BHS and who do poorly as a result are probably not getting sufficient feedback from teachers who they know and respect. At AHS they are more likely to hear from people who know them and see them acting badly. It's really hard to cut classes at AHS without being noticed. When you can cut and don't get any consequences as can happen at BHS, then you're likely to continue that behavior since it is easier and presumably appears to be more fun. I'd strongly recommend AHS for the student mentioned. The teachers and the curriculum are approximately equivalent to BHS but the adult supervision is superior because of the small school size. Steve

see also: Advice about Berkeley High School

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