University High School

Posted: October 7, 2025

If doing homework constantly for 4 years with out free time is not good. My child is currently a junior. The only time she is not doing homework is when she is sleeping. Last night she fell asleep with a biochemistry flash card in one hand and spanish flashcards in the other. When I took them out of her hand she woke up saying she needs to read for history. It was 11pm. She had 2 tests the day of her percussion concert that requiring her to be at school from 7am to 9pm. Then another test the following day. Rote memorization, interpreting rough draft articles of congress from the 1700s, and accelerated spanish class where there are writing paragraphs and conjugation verbs but still can't pronounce the letters in the spanish alphabet after only 2 weeks.

There student body does not represent the typical Fresno demographic. Very low Hispanic and African American representation in both student body and teacher selection. I can't think of any teacher that is not a Caucasian at UHS.

The stress is real. Anxiety is high for most students on campus I talk to yet no social emotional support. Teachers dont care about workload. No testing calendars for diff subjects. My daughter has had 4 tests on the same day as a sophomore.

Safety is assumed only because the students are all good. Its on a college campus with no security at the High School. Students are unsupervised and willgo anywhere they want during lunch, even across shaw and restraints off campus.

I regret choosing this school for my daughter. She struggles to make friends with such privileged students. She has not had a normal teen experience because of the unnessary rigor. Yes they give homework packets and booklist over the summer. They give tests the 1st week back. Students even have to take elective classes during winter break.

Retired Fresno Unified Teacher
And dad of UHS student

Posted: October 7, 2025

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Posted: May 28, 2024

Great School in terms of academic rigor and the little-fun things that the school and the PTA arranges through out the year ! All in all, a great exposure and overall development for the student. Students succeeding here are usually self-driven, ambitious, with strong interest in academics, Music & arts.

Posted: May 28, 2024

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Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

Posted: October 21, 2023

The bad reviews of the school are from people who joined the school without knowing what it is
It is a school for students and parents who are ready to push themselves so they have a brighter future
I have 2 of my kids who have been part of this school
They are what they are because of this school
The school takes education seriouslu
You feel home here and not a just a number

Posted: October 21, 2023

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Posted: January 21, 2021

The equity rating for this school is straight cap. There is VERY little diversity. The school is NOT welcoming to POC. A very small % of students are actually socioeconomically disadvantaged. The demographics of the school do not reflect the demographics of the surrounding district in any way. There are TWO faculty members of color in the entire school.

If you are rich and driven, this school is AMAZING for you. You will have access to a rigorous courseload taught by highly educated teachers. You will be prepared for college. Great experience.

However, if you care about your mental health; if you care about diversity; if you care about having a participatory culture in which students have a say in their learning experience; then this school is probably not for you.

Also if you are left-leaning this is not a school for you. You'll have to just take my word here.

Posted: January 21, 2021

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Posted: June 15, 2019

Posted: June 15, 2019

They pile way too much work for the kids.

Posted: June 15, 2019

Posted: June 15, 2019

Posted: June 15, 2019

Posted: June 15, 2019

My son has mental health issues and there was absolutely no help.

Posted: June 15, 2019

I am not speaking academically in this review. I'm speaking about our experience at UHS. My son started as a Freshman. He was having anxiety and depression problems. We tried a 504 plan. But it failed. They didn't have ANY sort of counselor beyond like the academic counselor. They told me they would have to contract out for a psychologist if I wanted one for help with the 504 plan and that would take MONTHS! My son was in dire need and the school need next to nothing to help him. His depression got so bad I had to pull him and he ended up on independent study with NO CREDITS for the previous semester because he left before it was over and UHS refused to give him the credits. The counselor basically blamed me. If your child has anxiety or depression I would really think twice about this school. Yes they have a BEAUTIFUL music program and the teachers are so educated but there is not much help. Another thing is that my son is mixed, half black/half white. There is almost no diversity here. My son was one of very few POC. Also the kids there have a LOT of money. My son got a scholarship because we are low income. But he felt very different from the other kids. In my opinion, UHS needs to focus a little less on the strict rigorous academics and put some focus on mental health and diversity.

Posted: August 22, 2016

I just graduated from this school a few months ago. This school put me through so much. Four years of constant stress and anxiety. If your child can handle stress and challenges then go ahead and apply. But otherwise don't. I worked and studied constantly and still suffered. Many people dropped out.
I had to take summer school once and I had to take an online course to make up for credits three times while balancing college courses and high school grades. Teachers expect so much from kids just out of middle school. College classes are added in sophomore year, and in my year half of my class failed. Latin is a dead language yet all students are required to take it for two years, and it's hard. I barely graduated because one of my teachers could not teach but I was able to bring it up the day I got my diploma. Senior year was by far the worst year I've had academic wise, and some people didn't even get to graduate.
Keep in mind that I am not a procrastinator or a slacker, so I was diligently working while still not succeeding. This school expected way too much from teenagers. Teenagers deserve to have a high school experience, one with learning and good memories. Not stress and anxiety.
One of my teachers (now fired) would make up fake rules when grading after promising the test would have a straight forward grade. (ex: I wrote about a slumlord article, she criticized me for making up articles after agreeing my paper was presentation worthy).
I felt like a little kid trying to fit into adult-sized shoes when I sat in class desperately trying to learn college material as a fifteen year old girl. I'm seventeen now and in college and I still have no idea what those teachers were telling me.

After a family member of mine had a sudden death I had a teacher make fun of me for it constantly. If the PE teacher thinks you're mildly overweight, he will make comments about it. The only teachers that are amazing is Mr. Jones (music), and Mr. Lapp (choir). Both are the best teachers I've ever had and deserve more than this terrible school.
On the upside, it did prepare me for my college life, but if that can be found in any other school then go there instead.
Best of luck, your exasperated grad student.

Posted: August 22, 2016

Posted: August 22, 2016

Way too much. 7-8 classes a day, balancing tests, homework and quizzes was way too intense.

Posted: August 22, 2016

The school says it a lot. Some students apply it to their life, some don't. It's pretty neutral.

Posted: September 22, 2013

UHS is unique in all respects. If your child is motivated to learn and excell in academics, and has an interest in music, this may be the best place for them. If they just want the Straight A grades to show on the college apps, this is not that place. My son is now a 10th grader. Freshman year is very tough, as only 35% of 9th graders earned all A's . Last year only 10% of all 10th graders earned all A's. All of these students were highly motivated and high achievers. Surviving UHS gives them a feeling of accompliishment few other schools can provide. All students are treated the same and all are expected to do the work. Being in Central California, the student body is very diverse. The teachers are very responsive to the student's needs and the parents concerns. They trully want every student to be successful. Every student knows coming in they will be challenged as never before. That however, does not prevent them from applying. They can only accept 135 freshmen each year, so in the past 4 years there has been a lottery for all qualified applicants, last year about 60 applicants were not chosen. That's a shame, as many motivated kids were turned away.

Posted: May 5, 2012

Five stars for academics. Kids get a solid college prep experience, with a lot of AP & college credits. Instruction is overall good -- in an academic sense. But the school falls down in its administration & attitudes. If you have a very authoritarian mindset -- if you want your child to be a follower and a future "cog"; if you want him to obey authority without question (even when authority has erred); if you like the type of discipline in CUSD, your family will feel at home. If, however, you want your child to develop an independent mind and to question authority when appropriate; if your child is not a pleaser or an overachiever; if your child is not the stereotypical cookie-cutter "conservative Valley kid," she might not be appreciated & valued at this school. Example: UHS's draconian "tardy policy" doesn't match its written policy; kids who were late to class more than 1% of the time were told at the last minute they couldn't go to prom. When another parent noticed the written policy wasn't being followed, the admin refused to bend. Bad leadership; bad example. There's more to life than scores/GPA/awards/punishments/conformity. I'm not sure we'll send our other kids here.