Emery Secondary School

Feb 2000

I would like to know if any one has heard anything positive or negative about Emery High School. This HS is located in Emeryville. Emeryville is a small town located between Berkeley and Oakland. The City of Emeryville is really building up this area and I am wondering about the HS. Thanks

I wish I could recommend Emery High, or any public school in Emeryville, but unfortuntely there are serious problems in the district from the Admnistration and the School Board on down. The only way that this is likely to change is if the state takes over...which may happen in a couple years. I forget the time frame, but because the district has low performing schools, the district agreed to receive extra monies from the state to work on the problem, with the agreement that if they fail, they will lose control of the district after three years, and the state will then investigate and make changes to turn the schools around. Historically, the district has been in the hands of a superintendent that has the school board in his pocket (the only people who can fire the superintendent of schools).

Here's an example of his style, witnessed by one of the candidates for city council this last year. The superintendent was making a speech at a graduation or awards ceremony and when some of the students were cutting up in the audience he harshly criticized them. Said they were not deserving of an education and ejected them from the event. I heard this anecdote at a campaign event when a question about the schools came up, so I may not be remembering the details exactly, but it does fit in with the other things I've heard over the years, about this administration. Lack of teacher support, etc. It's a very sad thing and I hope there's a chance at turning the schools around soon. It's frustrating to see all the capital and growth coming into Emeryville and the schools remaining an island unto themselves. The schools have potential but most likely with new leadership