Aliso Niguel High School

Posted: July 24, 2026

Aliso Niguel High School is an absolute gem. My son attended Aliso Viejo Middle School and Aliso Niguel High School. The school counselors are incredibly supportive and knowledgeable. The school has a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, unlike many other schools. It’s conveniently located near Town Center, where students can socialize or enjoy various activities. However, navigating the traffic in and out of the school can be a bit challenging, but that’s a common issue in many schools these days. I’m incredibly proud to see my son graduate and move on to college. Aliso Niguel High School has provided us with four wonderful years filled with cherished memories and a beautiful representation of our suburban paradise.

Posted: July 24, 2026

Posted: July 24, 2026

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Posted: March 22, 2025

My child has health with racisms and bullying and doesn’t feel safe going to school at all staff was acknowledged about what was going on and did NOTHING vice principals are EXTREMELY DISRESPECTFUL I recommend any other school in OC

Posted: March 22, 2025

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Posted: August 15, 2024

Posted: August 15, 2024

Posted: August 15, 2024

Posted: August 15, 2024

Posted: August 15, 2024

ANHS is a great school. My child took AP courses and was well prepared for life after graduation. The teachers cared about her progress helping her in any way they could. She made many friends and still has those friendships today. People giving this school a 1 star review need to attend an actual 1 star school then come back and see how they feel about aliso niguel high school.

Posted: August 15, 2024

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Posted: October 11, 2023

Posted: October 11, 2023

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Posted: October 11, 2023

Posted: October 11, 2023

Posted: October 11, 2023

My child takes mostly AP classes and has been on a fairly rigorous academic track. The school offers many classes and clubs that support his long term goals in life as far as giving him the credentials and experience needed to pursue a top tier university. However, the school overall lacks significantly in other areas, perhaps due to the challenges normally found within large public high schools. There is smoking/vaping in the restrooms to the extent that kids won't use the restroom during the day. Fights are not uncommon. So - if your child is on a strong academic track, there are many classes and supports at this school for that population and they will do great. The teacher who teach the honors and AP classes are exceptional and the students in those classes are top notch. If they aren't, they will most likely get lost in the mix.

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: December 5, 2022

My son is a Junior at this school and I feel like he’s just lost in a very large crowd where teachers barely know him. He’s doing very well with his school, has great grades being in the top 10% of his class, has is always very nice and helpful, but it seems he never gets any recognition about anything. I see students they got awards like “student of the semester” and other awards just because the parents are involved more, not because the student is exceptional. My son is exceptional, he’s doing everything right yet he never had any recognition in his 12 years (kindergarten included) with Capistrano Unified. All these years I’ve seen students being awarded for anything and for any reason. I was involved with the school by volunteering a lot when he was in lower grades and all these years with all his academic successes he was never recognized.

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: December 5, 2022

Posted: August 15, 2022

Too compacted with students. Not enough room for them to walk the halls w/o trampling each other and the lunch quad is shoulder to shoulder, sometimes with no place to sit and eat. Frequent trouble making going on in the couple of bathrooms they have (for 1000s of students). Many students are afraid to even use the bathrooms. Some kids are real jerks!...to other students and to the teachers. The teachers just seem to put up with it because the kids just continue with their disruptive and disrespectful attitude. Many kids are entitled, inappropriate, and foul mouthed. They need much higher standards for kids' behavior. Since there are so many kids, there is lots of competition to get on to sports teams. Kids that don't make the teams have little opportunities for extracurricular involvement. For a school this large, their clubs are a joke, very little offered.
We've had some nice teachers! Some are great; kind and caring!!! Others, I just wish there was more creative assignments in their classes. Some of the curriculum is outdated, especially the college and career class. We also had a nice counselor...that left this year.

Posted: August 15, 2022

Posted: August 15, 2022

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Posted: October 15, 2021

I had two children graduate from Aliso Niguel Highschool. One thing I can say for sure is that both my kids were thoroughly prepared for life after high school. They also had plenty of friends and I never heard them complain of bullying or other conflicts at school. My best gauge of this high school came when I took on a temporary business with Uber. I actually had a few rides taking kids to school. During my conversations I found that the majority of the kids overwhelmingly enjoyed attending Aliso Niguel. I would not say the same with the other local high schools. In fact, Aliso Niguel was the only school in which I drove in kids from other areas of the district. When I asked why, the answer was always the same, " My old school was terrible and Aliso is great."

Posted: October 15, 2021

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Posted: March 2, 2020

Traumatizing and the worst place for the most critical years of a child’s life, independent of their race, home school if you have to, but avoid at all costs.

Posted: March 2, 2020

Posted: June 27, 2017

Posted: June 27, 2017

Posted: June 27, 2017

This school is all about cliques. It is like a high school movie from the 1980's, with all of the ridiculous popularity contests, and dumb jocks and so-called cool kids, bullying other students. This school has no shortage of rivalries, drama, and conflicts, between different groups. The teachers are so-so at best, and the classes are crowded. It has been many years since I attended, but I coach many students who currently do attend. The students, and parents of the students, I coach have confirmed that the same problems exist now, as they did when I was a student, and in some cases are even worse.

When I attended, which was before the Deni Christensen became Principal, there were people in the administration who went to great lengths to pressure students who didn't perform well, to transfer out of the school, or they made efforts to get them expelled, so that those students who didn't perform well didn't impact the school's ranking on test scores, and gpa averages.

If you want your child to attend a school that has a more inclusive environment, with more collaboration between different students, parents, and teaches, and a caring culture that is focused on all-around student success, happiness, and well being, where the teachers, and other staff, genuinely care about their students, I recommend looking into Dana Hills High School, or Mission Viejo High School.

Posted: June 27, 2017

Posted: June 27, 2017

Posted: June 27, 2017

Posted: June 27, 2017

Posted: April 9, 2017

Overall, ANHS is a good school. I think they need to fire Demi Christensen. It's adversely affected the school and morale. You have to be an involved parent in order for your child to have a successful high school career (not just here).

This is a reality that the school won't address: money buys access and there is still a bit of "white" preference when it comes to certain areas of the school (sports). The sports departments need to stop taking big checks from wealthy parents so that their child can play sports (buying them a place with the "in" crowd). But I believe it's getting better as the dynamics of this area changes.

I have one that graduated and one in middle school. I'd choose ANHS over other schools in the area. Honestly hoping Christensen will be gone, but if not....I didn't back down before and I won't again.

Posted: April 9, 2017

Teachers train students to pass state tests; not traditional "learning." Therefore, it is a common practice to give "credit" for completing assignments, but teachers often do not actually correct homework and/or review mistakes made on assignments and/or tests. If you aren't shown errors in your work, then you never know what you're doing wrong and how to fix it. Students are being "trained" not "taught." Not just here, but at many schools in California.

Posted: April 9, 2017

There are many teachers here that are very good! However, I've found that some teachers have this (proverbial) box. They stay in that box and have a difficult to impossible time connecting with students who do not fit in their box. I find this more with tenured teachers. The best thing California can do to help students and improve education is to do away with tenure. Seems a good number of the great teachers are the ones without tenure.

Posted: April 9, 2017

The school tries, but it's an uphill battle with a large school population, large class sizes and continual budget cuts.

Posted: April 9, 2017

I think the success in this area is largely dependent on how hard a parent fights for their child. They often don't volunteer what services/accommodations they can give (because it affects budget), so you have to do your own homework and be the advocate for your child.

Posted: April 9, 2017

The school could do a better job. Preference is given to "certain" students.

Posted: February 9, 2017

terrible.... bad teachers, over populated, disgusting food... Please don;t attend this school It's terrible (I attended this school and I regret it everyday)

Posted: February 9, 2017

Posted: February 9, 2017

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Posted: February 9, 2017

Posted: July 27, 2015

Posted: July 27, 2015

Posted: July 27, 2015

Posted: July 27, 2015

This school is terrible. This school is very over populated you cant even move without touching someone. The food here is disgusting (the pizza tastes sour), the teachers here will just sit back and let you fail. One of my teachers was trying to get me to fail so I would not graduate (messed up) the traffic to pick up students is terrible!!! so many cars u have to wait in about a 25 min line... do urself a favor and do not attend this skool! trust me ull regret it!!! i hope this skool gets shut down!!!

Posted: February 24, 2015

The school is great. I have one child in college, and she would not have been ready if she went to a lessor high school. The academics are strong, even the non-AP classes. I have a second child in the school currently and he has to work hard in his classes. The principal really cares, and the teachers and staff respond well to email via School Loop. My children are not the best students, but the school helps me get the most out of them. Gifted students have the opportunity to achieve and excel to the highest of their ability. The schools scores speak for themselves. I don't think that paying for a private school would be any better for my children. I read a review about bullying, but I've had the opposite experience. I have a child that was prone to bullying, but was not at this school. The school and the whole district have a strict no bullying policy. I have a third child that will go through the school as well and look forward to it!

Posted: July 7, 2014

ANHS is a highly competitive school that serves to those living in the Laguna Niguel/Aliso Viejo area. Aliso offers several rigorous classes, as well as clubs and other means of extra curricular activities (I will note that the marching band is spectacular and highly recommended to anyone caring to join). If you are not the strongest student, I recommend strongly that you hire a tutor, seeing as the general gist of the school is "sink or swim". Moreover, the social life of Aliso is spectacular. The stereotype for Orange County is a white, upper middle class student body (unfortunately this is most students). To much surprise, incoming students are welcomed by their friendly and helpful peers. Despite the cheery and generally happy disposition the school displays, the campus needs much work. The bathrooms are downright disgusting, and there are not enough lockers for the entirety of the school. The school is also placed at the bottom of a hill and is connected to the main road by a two lane street. It is crucial that you leave early to be at school on time. Nonetheless, Aliso is a wonderful school and I would highly recommend it to any one interested.

Posted: August 24, 2013

ANHS is extremely competitive school its known for its academic excellence. this is the school for you. My daughter has done very well here. The teacher takes an interest in your child and all the staff is friendly and helpful. The Band and Color guard program is awesome. The school is very clean and safe. If you want your child to be in a safe environment and have great teachers. Plus has academic excellences this is the school for you. This school is not for slacker or for students who complain. ANHS will prepare your child for college and beyond. so many great programs here. My daughter is a senior now and it just amazing how much she has learner so far. she will do well in college. Excellent school !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: January 13, 2013

We moved to this school in summer. So far, it has been disappointing. Teachers are mediocre at best, even in some AP classes. They seem to teach for their own fun rather than for the students. Lots of meaningless time consuming assignments with little learning achieved. They have a system of advisors supervised by counselors. While our advisor is fine, the school counselor is unprofessional and indifferent. I have heard that the previous principal was a legend. However, they changed the principal a little more than a year ago. Guess things are not the same anymore.