Rising similarities between neighborhood schools

Although many people often compare Los Gatos High School to Saratoga High, Lynbrook has become an increasingly prevalent comparison over the years.

Lynbrook is ranked as the No. 22 best high school in California according to US News and World Report, whereas Saratoga High is ranked No. 31. 

Lynbrook has a higher enrollment rate at 1,837 and Saratoga High at 1,368. Within the enrollment, Lynbrook has a much higher Asian to white enrollment rate. Lynbrook is 78 percent Asian and 17 percent white, whereas Saratoga is 53 percent Asian and 36 percent white.

According to sophomore Anisha Nagarajan, both schools are stereotyped as academic schools and not very athletic; she believes the latter stereotype inaccurate.

“[Saratoga High] is very academic, but our sports are better than people give us credit for,” Nagarajan said.

Nagarajan believes people stereotype Saratoga High students as unathletic because they are academically strong. Similarly, Lynbrook sophomore Diana Zhao believes her school deserves more athletic recognition as well, but she says academic recognition makes up for it.

“Although our sports aren’t the best, we do deserve more recognition; however, [Lynbrook] is really competitive academically and there are lots of opportunities for students,” Zhao said.

Math and science competitions are big events at Lynbrook, and students prepare months ahead for a few major ones; in 2010, eight students took home awards from the Intel Science Talent Search, where 1,611 student scientists from 59 different countries competed for over $4 million in awards and scholarships.

“From what I hear, Lynbrook students are really good at math and science, and they take it really seriously,” sophomore Amanda Le said.

Academic stereotypes aside, Lynbrook students are also known for valuing school spirit and school activities, such as Homecoming.

“Although [Lynbrook] is a pretty academic school, we are really spirited and put a lot of effort into Homecoming,” said Zhao.

Homecoming is, arguably, the biggest event of the year at Lynbrook. While students at SHS start preparing for Homecoming a few weeks in advance, Lynbrook students start preparing months in advance, starting at the beginning of summer.

At Lynbrook, instead of each class having its own own designated section of the quad during Homecoming, each class has a designated day for its gauntlet, a decorated walkway which leads to the quad. Instead of having a whole weekend to build, students are only allowed a few hours the day before.

According to Nagarajan, Saratoga High can still improve on its school spirit.

“I think more people should participate in Homecoming because right now it’s just a few people doing a lot, and Homecoming is supposed to be for everyone to come together,” said Nagarajan.

While only a fraction of Saratoga students are involved in school spirit, most Lynbrook students participate in school activities.

“I feel like Lynbrook has more support from the students, such as more attendance at games and more participation for Homecoming,” said Le. 

Principal Paul Robinson is trying to increase school spirit at Saratoga High by having Red Pride Fridays, where everybody wears red to school. 

Aside from the disparity in school spirit, Nagarajan believes Lynbrook to be more similar in academics to Saratoga than the traditional rival, Los Gatos, since both schools’ test scores are very similar. 

Lynbrook’s 2011 Academic Performance Index is slightly higher than Saratoga High’s with 938 and 931 respectively.  Both schools have 71 percent participation in AP testing; however, 96 percent of Lynbrook students pass while 88 percent of Saratoga High students pass.

“Since both our schools have an academic reputation, Lynbrook may prove to be a rival for Saratoga like Los Gatos,” said Nagarajan.