Pleasanton public schools are among the top in California, according to rankings recently released by a website that rates K-12 schools and colleges.
PUSD officials also learned this week that Village High School has been named a model continuation school by the California Department of Education, one of 35 continuation schools out of 452 statewide to receive the recognition. The distinction honors continuation schools that offer innovative academic programs that prepare students for college or 21st-century careers, district officials said in a statement Friday.
"Our students feel a sense of family here, from our teachers to the site secretaries," Village principal Dana Chavez said. "When students transfer here, they feel like they're getting their needs met academically, socially, and emotionally."
Pleasanton's only continuation school, Village High is home to 150 students who go there for an alternative high school environment or to recover credits in order to graduate on time.
District officials are also recognizing the recently released 2017 Best Schools rankings from the website Niche, which rates schools, colleges and neighborhoods throughout the country.
Pleasanton Unified School District ranks No. 13 in California for public schools, with both its comprehensive high schools ranking in the top 50 in the state out of 1,753 for public high schools. Amador Valley High placed No. 24 on that list, with Foothill High at No. 48.
All three PUSD middle schools rank among the top 15 for public middle schools in California (Pleasanton Middle at No. 7, Harvest Park No. 8 and Hart No. 13).
Several PUSD elementary schools are listed among the top 50 in the state Hearst (No. 40), Alisal (No. 44), Vintage Hills (No. 46), Fairlands (No. 48) and Lydiksen (No. 49). And nine elementary schools were in the top 100 in the state.
Niche also ranked PUSD No. 10 statewide for best teachers.
"These ratings are a testament to the continued excellence, quality and character of our schools," interim PUSD superintendent Micaela Ochoa said in a statement. "This achievement is shared by our incredible educators, staff, students, families and Pleasanton community."
Niche's rankings are based on an analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, ratings and college data collected from Niche users.
For the complete 2017 Best Schools results, visit the Niche website.
Comments
Foothill Knolls
on Feb 20, 2017 at 8:29 am
on Feb 20, 2017 at 8:29 am
Congratulations to the teachers and kids of Pleasanton schools!
Registered user
Vintage Hills
on Feb 20, 2017 at 9:26 am
Registered user
on Feb 20, 2017 at 9:26 am
I would also congratulate parents.
For any of these rankings, it's important to understand the ranking system Web Link and data sources Web Link Some rankings require the school/district to apply, and many top schools/districts don't (that does not appear to be the case with Niche).
Village has been a wonderful school addressing the needs of a diverse group of students for many years under the guidance of very good principals. It's great to see them get recognition.
Jensen Tract
on Feb 22, 2017 at 9:27 am
on Feb 22, 2017 at 9:27 am
to see ratings:
Web Link
Registered user
Vintage Hills
on Feb 22, 2017 at 10:03 am
Registered user
on Feb 22, 2017 at 10:03 am
Hi Helen, the article is talking about Niche's rankings. The link to those rankings are at this link Web Link But, the point is we do have great schools.
Jensen Tract
on Feb 23, 2017 at 9:38 am
on Feb 23, 2017 at 9:38 am
Where are all the people who were blasting the school district for being in "turmoil"? I guess some people just have nothing better to do than complain.
Congrats to the school district!
Registered user
Vintage Hills
on Feb 24, 2017 at 9:33 am
Registered user
on Feb 24, 2017 at 9:33 am
Jason, the district has gone through some difficult changes, many of them unpleasant. People are working to right the ship. In the meantime, the constants are parents who support their students and the dedicated teachers who teach no matter the tempest swirling outside their doors.
Jensen Tract
on Feb 24, 2017 at 10:14 am
on Feb 24, 2017 at 10:14 am
Kathleen, I agree with you. I just get frustrated because the Weekly will get a ton of comments if it's a negative story about the district, but hardly any when it's a positive story.
I don't work for the district, just have two little girls getting a great education in Pleasanton!!!!
Registered user
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Mar 4, 2017 at 10:28 pm
Registered user
on Mar 4, 2017 at 10:28 pm
So very sad that this positive posting about the school district has only seven comments, yet the three threads below about the school district (two of them on the same subject) have 54, 103, and 14 comments. Residents, we have a great school district here, rated very highly. Let's not always focus on the negative, please.