Mar Vista Senior High School

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Posted: October 29, 2025

Mar Vista Senior High does not encourage their students to be excited about anything education related

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

Posted: December 13, 2022

So, I originally moved to mar vista because I recently moved here to IB from a different city. My parents last minute moved me here. And as the first week of school went, I already hated it. I'm a girl, so whenever I go to the bathroom it is filled with smoke from girls vaping and smoking. I can almost never go to the bathroom in between classes or during lunch because there are a bunch of girls just crowded in the bathroom 'hanging out" and smoking in the stalls. Also, there is absolutely no dress code here, boys come with their pants sagging and girls come with inappropriate clothing. I've gotten my water bottle stolen, charger stolen, headphones, and a few other items from my backpack that had gone missing. In general, the students here don't care, I am currently failing 5 of my 6 classes because the teachers pile up too much work on us and there is no true motivation to do any work. The students here don't respect the teachers, much less respect any of the substitutes and new teachers. I have been here at this school for almost 4 months and had not found a single decent friend because of how toxic and rude the students are. Sometimes I'm sitting just minding my own business then immature boys start throwing paper and food at me for no reason and it's really hurtful and annoying that I can't enjoy myself not even when I'm alone. It really is emotionally damaging plus adding the extra classwork and homework really distorts my mental health and also with problems at home. it really affects me as a person who once came from a school with all A's and B's then I come here with all F's and D's. I can't wait to move out of this toxic environment which has really affected me as a person. I personally do not feel safe here because it is really emotionally and mentally draining, and you have to always stay alert in case a rude student is pushing, or someone is calling you racial/sexual slang. Being a young woman here has made me very uncomfortable and just hasn't been healthy for me at all and has not benefitted me in any way. This is a warning to any students or parents planning to start going to mar vista. Just don't it's a waste of your life speaking in truth.
:)

Posted: February 15, 2020

Many of the teachers are burned out and seem tired of fighting the district's bureaucracy and the unruly behavior of students. The best teachers fight hard to maintain order in their classrooms and keep students motivated. I don't blame the teachers for feeling overwhelmed, but it is really hard to be an effective teacher if one is constantly disciplining students, has no administrative support, limited funding for class resources (books, printer ink, etc.) and has little support from the parents in the community.

Posted: February 15, 2020

There is very little leadership because the role of principal continues to change frequently and the current principal(of one year) was placed at the school right before retirement. There is no central authority and no ultimate authority to turn to if your child needs academic support because leadership is very transient and always shifting. The principal is very removed from what is going on in the classroom, and the vice principals are more involved with discipline issues than academics, so it takes a lot of self-resourcefulness to get through this school. The counsellors are overburdened and unable to really take theme needed to get each student on the right path academically. there is also no leadership or authority for behavior issues (drug consequences are nearly obsolete).

Posted: February 15, 2020

The school is underfunded, in massive debt, and has hardly any resources to help students with learning differences, let alone help the "regular learners". I would not entertain sending a special needs child here, even though some of the teachers are outstanding, the environment is rough and unnurturing.

Posted: February 15, 2020

Bullying is a major problem because there is no follow-through and the perpetrators are often shielded bc the school is so desperate for attendance funding. Expulsions are rare, if ever, and there are few consequences for bullying. It is better to go to the police than the school or school district. There have been several serious fights at this school ( on school property) and many have left because of bullying. This is a rough school although it may not appear that way from the beach community feeling around it. There is gang activity and a lot of problems between races.

Posted: February 15, 2020

This school has a few outstanding teachers who are committed and effective, but the majority are jaded and burned out by the Sweetwater District system and the low standards of the surrounding community. This is really sad for the students who are motivated and capable of learning. It's possible for a student to do well academically and socially here, but not without extreme perseverance and discipline. The courses are still challenging, the advanced ones, but there are less resources and crowded classes. A lot of students sign up for advanced classes who are unqualified, so this puts a lot of pressure on teachers who are sick of dealing with discipline and incompetence. This school exemplifies inequity in education. It is underfunded, the administration is constantly changing, teachers are not supported by administration, counsellors are overloaded, poverty is high, students are high (in class), and it takes ton of grit to get through a place like this. Fortunately, if you can make it through Mar Vista, college and "real life" should be easier.

Posted: January 21, 2020

They will bend over backwards to help all students succeed, you just have to put in the effort!

Posted: January 21, 2020

Posted: January 21, 2020

Posted: January 21, 2020

Posted: January 21, 2020

Posted: January 21, 2020

Posted: January 21, 2020

I went here and loved it! Now my daughter is a sophomore and she has her struggles, but it’s all about what she puts into it. Teachers have always been there to help and let her turn in assignments she missed. Counselors are amazing and there for the kids! I’m overall pleased with the school and what they offer. I wish there was more money going to the school to help in areas where they are lacking in order to have more tutoring opportunities and to help improve the look of the campus also.

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: January 24, 2018

Let just be clear, Mar Vista High is a terrible school. There really is no denying it. I'm just a freshman and I already hate this school, you don't really learn anything in any classes, most of the staff don't really care about any of the students, and the enviroment in this school is just plain "hostile". Most of the students don't really care or even plan on going to college. Students talk back at teachers, and most of the teachers won't do anything about it. This school is basically out of control. I littearly see kids every day ditching classes and still getting passing grades. Students can't "fail" a class, so there is no room for growth and mature.
In short words, this school screams out"failiure" right at you.
If you are a good student that finds the curiculum in this school way too easy, forget about asking to be changed to much more advanced classes. As I said before: in this school, there is no room for growth and mature.
Now keep in mind that this is my opinion, but if you want your kids to succeed and graduate out of a good high school that teaches you something, I would suggest you look elsewhere.

Posted: January 24, 2018

Posted: July 18, 2017

Posted: July 18, 2017

Posted: July 18, 2017

Posted: July 18, 2017

Posted: July 18, 2017

Posted: July 18, 2017

Posted: July 18, 2017

If I could give Mar Vista zero stars, I would. This is absolutely the worst school you could send your children too. The administration and counselors are the least productive and helpful people you'll ever meet. If you ask for any sort of special treatment, such as a schedule change, they will try to make your life difficult and call you "a spoiled rich, white kid". They are also extremely condescending, to both students and parents. Mar Vista sent out an incorrect official transcript to my universities and jeopardized my chances of getting into a good college. Some of the teachers are just as bad, telling freshman they can't take higher level classes because they're underclassmen, even if they have cleared prerequisites. Besides this, the campus is a disaster and has almost no security, students jump fences as they please. Mar Vista is possibly one of the worst schools in California.

Posted: June 13, 2017

Posted: June 13, 2017

Posted: June 13, 2017

Posted: June 13, 2017

Posted: June 13, 2017

Posted: June 13, 2017

Posted: June 13, 2017

Most of the students are either kids who care ALOT or kids who don't care that much. Teachers are good, but the best teachers are the ones who teach AP courses, or engineering/robotics. Students have tons of resources to succeed scholarship opportunities are posted monthly, counselers are so supportive and active in academics that it's excessive, and the only real problem with the school is that some kids just don't try, and they give up and they think they just can't succeed because they either come from a low income family or don't have the support at home.

Posted: October 7, 2014

Wonderful school, has improved greatly over the past few years - tons of new programs and pathways (Engineering, Health Sciences, Poseidon Maritime Academy), After School Programs have quadrupled in size and attendance, Athletics have new coaches that care about developing the whole student. The teachers really put their all into reaching the students, and many are still on campus prepping, working with clubs, and coaching until 8 or 9 at night. Very active school, and the kids are all NICE, which is refreshing!

Posted: November 13, 2013

First of all I thought this school was great. They have an after school detection program that for what ever reason the students are kept so that the school gets more money.I My daughter was kept after school one day and I called to know why no one could give me an answer I was transferred 4 time and no one could tell me why she had to stay after school. I work evenings and with the day light saving time at 5pm it is dark and they get out at 4:45 so my 14 year daughter has to walk home alone 18 blocks.

Posted: August 31, 2013

Terrible school. Students date some of the teachers right after graduation. The teachers hate their job. I attended and would never send my kids to this school.

Posted: June 23, 2013

Great teachers, horrible admin. College culture needs to be fostered. Teacher leaders need to be recognized and used to press a positive forward plan

Posted: January 31, 2011

Sent My nephew to this school when he was living in my house. I had specifically requested that his classes not be changes as he needed some stability in his life. 2 weeks into the year, all his classes get changed. I called his counselor and asked why I was not notified. We don't have time to tell the parents about what goes on at the school. I reminded her of our conversation and that she had noted it down in his record. Oh yea, was all she could say. Later when I was not getting any feedback on his attendance or progress in class I went to the school to ask about both. Within minutes of asking I was told he had missed about every third day for the semester and he now had several Saturday school days to make it up the missing time. My only question was why wasn't I told before he had missed several weeks of class and only after I went to the school and asked about it. This school may have many good programs going for it, but the Administration and front office leaves a lot to be desired! Trust be verify daily!