Now that my kids have graduated…read more.. Background: We switched from the charter system at the high school level. We were running out of classes to take/electives, we were having to volunteer to the point where between extra curriculars and homework, we were down to 2-3 hours of sleep per night. Running around sleep deprived with lack of support from the school. Add on top of that there was a whole lot of politics/parent drama being dragged onto campus and I could see that kids were turning inward in survival mode instead of growing/thriving. You can probably read in my other review (of a charter) that we went to a public school and they helped us come up with a plan in under 10 minutes for two students. That was RBV. And yes, their counseling department was/is fantastic. They answered our questions even without an appointment. Any time we needed support, they were always there and went the extra mile. When we did a school tour, we watched the senior class president speak with poise and confidence. That was a HUGE difference between the charter kids and the public school kids. I pointed at him and told my kids that they needed to go from mousey to that guy by graduation. So was it worth it? It depends. Were there more electives? YES!! Even shop class. The kids made a lot of great memories finding out who they are, while contributing to the community through their classes. Were the science classes as good? Depends. Chemistry, no. They didn't do a lot of hands on which was majorly disappointing (they really need to shore up this part of the curriculum), but they had these awesome elective science classes that made learning interesting and fun. The environment was far more competitive then collaborative (with the exception of track and cross country, those were great experiences). Did my kids gain confidence that we were looking for and learn to stand up for themselves? Yes. Getting the parents out of the way and getting them involved in clubs made a huge difference. There were also great teachers along the way that were awesome mentors for both of my kids. And what didn't work for them taught them to either advocate for a solution or change what you are doing to go try something else. That lesson will carry them for life. RBV is a public school and you have to set your expectations. You are going to have everything from the driven kids to the knuckleheads who just want to goof off. Are kids probably going to make fun of yours by saying stupid stuff like any other public school? Yes. Are kids doing sketchy things in the bathroom? Yes, it's public school. We got that in charter school too. That's high school for you. Is it safe? Average. The first day of school, the other kids were cool and told mine where the escape points were on campus should there be an active shooter (see other Yelp reviews, that all happened before we made the change). It stinks that it's the world we live in but it is good to know that the kids were nice enough to share how to stay safe with students that they just met. The only thing we missed with the charter is that they had a partnership with the junior college. Before we left the charter, we had signed up for a summer class (due to lack of electives). It turns out to do that at public school and put it on your transcript is a BIG DEAL with Vista Unified. You have to ask permission, go through a long process, etc. "We should have asked permission," blah, blah, blah. Long story short, it was on their transcript by graduation but if you want to dual enroll, it's not easy at RBV. Not impossible (and even discouraged) but not easy. If your kid wants to do primarily dual enrollment, go the charter route. Also the awareness of what it takes to get into college was better at the charter level. Since the school owned more of the every day educational responsibilities, it allowed me (parent) to go find the information for the kids, reach out to colleges, ask them for advice, schedule tours, etc. RBV had all sorts of colleges come to campus (and the military) and allow students to ask questions. So that's good. But if your kids don't know what to ask, well that's where are a parent, you help connect the dots. The lesson I learned that I want to share with every other parent is kids grow at their own rate. It is our job to give them options, opportunity to try things and figure out what they are about while this stuff is free. You don't have to burn yourself out or them out while doing it. You know your kid. You know what they need. If they need a lot of options, RBV is a good fit. If they need more parents involvement, independent study/flexibility in learning/curriculum, or dual enrollment, then by all means go the route of the charter school. High school and college have one thing in common. The name alone means nothing, it's about finding your best fit. There is more than one option, more than one teaching style. Do what is right for your situation.

This review is about my experience as interpreter for Spanish speaking families there. I absolutely…read morelove this high school. So much emphasis in art and so much talent! Your only have to observe the amount of murals and the visual joy they bring. All created by students. The office has a very nice check in system and everyone is very courteous. All the staff I have interfaced with was very helpful, including the man that takes people to different places in campus in the golf cart! Everything is so clean and white, I feel instantly good there. There is a huge parking lot and it seems to give a lot of emphasis to sports too. Nice students have also helped me navigate where to go when lost. Thanks!

Such a wonderful school from at least 1938 (for what I saw at a plate in the main courtyard). I…read morewent there this week for an interpreting job and spent a great time walking around the facilities that remind me of the Spanish revival style. I was able to imagine the various generations of Vista kids attending this pristine white (even if with some maintenance needed) school. I loved so many details, from the 1930s water fountains to the skates 'parking lot'. They have a memorial fragrant rose garden and the trees are just gorgeous. So much greenery and open spaces. I like the architecture of this school a lot and the memories the past I imagine were made here. Another cute touch are the tiles also Spanish style.

An incredible staff, especially in maths and sciences. The school is aging, but I'd rather that use…read morefunds in the classroom than on the facade. Also, very nice that I never have to look for parking.

There is a limit to the amount of student that attend Guajome park. So that means less students in…read morea class room, approx. 19 or less. In a public school your looking at 40 or more in a class room. To me this says that my child is going to be in a better learning environment a quieter one. More one on one with the teacher. Less disruptive students. This makes my child more accountable for his actions and his learning!

This school allows students to bully. There is no accountability. Principal would not return my…read morecall when my child was harassed by other students.

I have been going in numerous occasions to this big high school for interpreting assignments since…read morelast years and has been an excellent experience every time. The school staff is so welcoming, the high school has a 1970s allure that I find always fascinating. I like the V that I see as victory. Classrooms are big and there is a lot of space everywhere, including the newer building. Always great to go to Vista High School and get the know parents and students too

I feel the teachers here really do care about students and they try to provide the students with a…read moregood education and a safe place away from other stressful things outside of school, but sadly there is WAY TOO MUCH GANG ACTIVITY here. Violence off and on campus...it is beyond sad. I would never allow my kids to go here even if I lived next door.

What a great school! I wish I have attended this kind of school when I was a kid! Focused on drama,…read moreart, music...such a beautiful campus with roses and art everywhere. I loved my experience as interpreter there. Everyone so welcoming and happy! I learned today what is a 'magnet school' where they teach this type of curriculum and also you get to attend if the family wins the school lotto (so families are not attached to the zip code they live in).

This used to be a five star school but they have added hundreds more students without adding enough…read moreto the budget to accommodate them, which has resulted in deprioritizing the arts. The school culture has suffered. The kids still get more art here than at most public schools, but it's around the same amount of arts one should expect at a well funded public school (which are sadly few and far between these days) and the arts rotate rather than having every art every week. Still a great school, and they have continued to prioritize the IB Program, so their curriculum is rock solid. The teachers are excellent and the admin is accessible, the campus is spacious and cheerful, and everyone is doing their best. I hope the district realizes that funding the arts is an important priority, for myriad reasons. Every kid needs to have fluency and experience with the arts, just as they do with math and reading; I wish our education funding reflected that. Bottom line, still a great school; I'm still happy to be a part of it - it's not perfect, but it's still the best school in town for sure, and a unique and excellent mix of the arts and IB.

I had the privilege of attending Tri-City from 7th grade to 12th grade and I'd like to share my…read moreexperience as a student. I give this school a massive amount of credit for how my life has turned out. I always felt supported, encouraged, and academically challenged throughout my time at Tri-City. The teachers constantly went above and beyond to invest into the students. Sports wise, when I decided to join the track team, I was supported in a way that made the experience extremely fulfilling and confidence-building. Because of Tri-City's excellent instruction, I was able to get a near-perfect score on the SAT, got accepted into UCLA, and graduated with highest departmental honors. All while staying true to the faith and values that were instilled in me at Tri-City. My sister and I are extremely grateful for the experience we had here, so much so that now the next generation of our family attends the school. While no school is perfect, I truly only have good things to say about Tri-City and I would highly recommend sending your children here if you want them to be grounded, protected, encouraged, and inspired. This is the place.

My son attended Tri-City Christian School from Pre-K through 4th grade. In the early years, we had…read moresome truly wonderful experiences. Teachers like Mrs Bicum, Mrs Cinors Mrs.Lever, Mrs. Theis, and Mrs. Mackey were caring, dedicated, and genuinely invested in helping him succeed. I will always be grateful for the kindness and effort they showed our family. Unfortunately, our experience changed dramatically in 4th grade. My son struggled with reading and had educational needs that required additional support. Instead of receiving the help and encouragement he needed, it felt like the school gave up on him. He went from being a student who earned B and C grades to receiving failing grades, and we saw very little effort to help him maintain the academic progress he had made over the years. During this time, our family was also wrongly accused by a teacher, which resulted in a report being made to CPS. We found this experience deeply upsetting. We were also concerned to learn that the same teacher allegedly shared private information about our family with other parents without our knowledge, which further damaged our trust in the school community. As parents, we were repeatedly made to feel that our son no longer belonged at the school because of his learning challenges and his need for an IEP. Rather than partnering with us to help him succeed, we felt pressured to find another school. The message we received was that Tri-City Christian was not willing or able to support a child who learned differently. If your child is a strong student who does not require academic accommodations and excels in sports, your experience may be very positive. However, if your child struggles with reading, is behind academically, has an IEP, or may need one in the future, I would strongly encourage you to carefully consider whether this school can provide the support your child deserves. What hurt the most was that this happened at a Christian school. By the end of our time there, I felt embarrassed and unwelcome on campus. Every child deserves patience, encouragement, and support--especially when they are struggling. Sadly, that was not our experience during our final years at Tri-City Christian.

The school is great! Very supportive teachers and staff. Great community and my kids love it here…read more Could not ask for more! M.Lynch

I hate this school fuck y'all staff but more to ms Beth and and thank you for those who ruined my…read moreschool year

We had the privilege of sending our daughter to VCS for fourth grade. The entire staff was warm and…read morewelcoming from the front office to the educators. Chapel on Fridays is a huge perk for the kids and parents alike. Also, kids have the opportunity twice a year to partake in school musicals which aren't offered at most elementary / middle schools. If it wasn't for financial / commuting reasons, we'd have all 3 kids there. VCS is a great school if you're looking for a good education and good community grounded in Christian values.

Love this school and would recommend to anyone and everyone! My son goes here and the staff is…read moreamazing.