5877 E Byrd Ave
Fresno, CA 93727

My experience at this school was negative overall. Unfortunately I was bullied badly and to the extent that it has impacted me later in life both personally and professionally. I should have complained about it but I did not. I am a male and quiet in demeanor and slight in physical stature. I was an athlete but that didn't matter when 10-12 people, some of them my sports teammates turned on me following bad advice from a bad apple, a girl of all things. I won't get too specific but it damaged me irreparably. I lost what little confidence I had. I became even more withdrawn and even went into hiding during lunch hours so I would not be attached. I'd like to ask some of these people how they would feel if their own kids were attacked the way I was back then. They would be furious. This all happened my senior year. They all ruined what should have been one of the best times of my life. You never get the time back. I even had to lie to one of my own kids about being bullied out of pure shame. I hope people really think their actions and word through before acting. They don't know the mental scars they create.

If you love your kids then find better school district.

Sequoia is a very good school. They have extensive services special education & English learners. I would like to see more opportunities for the higher achieving students. There is supposed to be a GATE program, but there is absolutely nothing that indicates there is one. There are a handful of students with severe behavior problems who seem to get by with minimal punishment & are allowed to continue to disrupt instruction & intimidate other students. For the most part the students seem happy & engaged in class & in out-of-class activities. Great Schools has the population at 318. That was when the school opened 4 years ago. They have about 550 students now. The original principal left after the first 2 years. The current principal isn't as good. Several excellent teachers have left since the current principal began. Her inexperience shows. Even though I've mentioned areas that need improvement, I rated Sequoia with 4 stars because the positive far outweighs the negative. From the teachers to the office staff & custodian it's obvious that this is a group of people who enjoy their jobs & the difference they make in a child's life will have a positive impact for years to come.