Pleasant Valley High

Pleasant Valley High sits in Chico, a college town in the northern Sacramento Valley that balances a laid-back outdoor lifestyle with a surprisingly strong academic culture — largely thanks to the influence of CSU Chico nearby. PV, as locals call it, consistently ranks among the stronger public high schools in the region, with solid English scores and respectable showings in math and science that put it well above most California schools. Families who want a genuinely good neighborhood high school experience — Friday night football, strong electives, and teachers who know their students by name — without the pressure-cooker atmosphere of some Bay Area schools will feel right at home here.