Ripon High School

It''s my understanding that years ago this district was on academic probation by the state for low test scores. Some of the schools had to scramble to bring the test scores up to meet state standards. Also, Ripon High School had a bad reputation and I hesitated to enroll my girls there. However, in the past few years, the District has made great strides. They hired a new Ripon High School principal who I feel addressed my concerns in a professional manner. According to my girls, rallies are fun and spirited. The English teachers are remarkable. The theater and choir program gives great opportunities for students to have fun while shining on stage. The athletic coaches have a lot of heart and devote a lot of time and effort to making Ripon''s teams great. I do feel that maybe because of the efforts that were made to improve Ripon High''s test scores and reputation some students are highlighted more than others. I feel that there is a Ripon mold here that consists of high academic and gifted athletic students. I feel that there can be favoritism among these groups to highlight this school and make it stand out among other schools. My 4.0 athletic student did well at Ripon High. She took Ap and honor roll classes. She played basketball and ran in cross country and track. She attended the clubs and was in the talent show where the AP announced her name wrong. He announced her as someone else like she didn''t matter. I had to transfer my oldest and my youngest who had a medical condition and needed more opportunity and better accommodations, to another district where they were much happier. Bullying and retaliation seem to stand out more here in this district. By some students and by a few teachers. One teacher altered my daughter''s grade after my complaint because she refused to accommodate my daughter''s medical condition for an assignment. I had to learn to save Aeries classroom grades and monitor and this teacher altered the grade of a previous assignment to make up for the accommodation for the new assignment thinking no one would notice. However, I also saw many highly intelligent, knowledgeable Ripon High teachers who were caring and devoted a great deal of time to their students. The math program needs improvement. Ripon needs to update their math and hire more positive thinking teachers that can teach math. I spent a great deal of money on tutoring before transferring two of my girls out. Ripon High doesn''t have hallway lockers so students have to carry heavy backpacks. Backpacks should have a lock and phones should be password locked because of theft and sometimes retaliation from students and some teachers in this district. Damaging made-up rumors and small-town gossip run rampant in this town and sometimes these situations can be handled really badly. Sometimes causing a great deal of trauma for students. Some of these Ripon District schools need to update their policies and bring their schools and way of thinking into the 21st century. I do like how Ripon High school talked and focused a lot on college and helped students with college enrollment. That was a huge plus.