Mary P. Henck Intermediate School

One word for the coffe drinking, chatting, no-working, non-job doing, drama atmosphere of this JOKE of a school.... I will give you a ZERO!!!! A big FAT zero.. Do NOT bring your kids here if your children care about school and grades and a future... no one up on this mountain seems to give a hoot about anything but gossip... and focusing on the kids that cause trouble. JOKE... that's what this place is a JOKE! BEWARE!
--Submitted by a parent

I would like to point out the positives first: The teachers seem caring and even stay after school to offer tutoring. My son is happy here for the most part because of his friends and some teachers. The principal seems dedicated to making sure the school and student body are performing at their best and the PTA is working hard to help with fundraising issues. I should mention that automatic calls are always sent out when important information needs to get to parents and parents can check their child's grades online. The only negative thing about this school is that a small number of teachers and staff seem too busy to answer emails or phone calls. I think parents should receive responses when they try to communicate with school personnel. My son's grades are not great, but we've figured out that he just doesn't WANT to do the work and needs to pushed harder by us when it comes to homework and classroom behavior.
--Submitted by a parent

MPH continues its downward trend. The principal doesn't seem to worry about the falling test scores and the teachers seem a bit demoralized. After having one child go through MPH we have decided to move next year rather than have child #2 go here. The area is lovely but I'm afraid that the administration can't or won't improve.
--Submitted by a parent

MPH is a great school, but it is really tough for both the kids and the school staff. Kids from all the elementary schools merge into this school and now have several classes to attend. It is a huge adjustment for the kids. There are a lot of conflicts and struggles. Kids are trying to figure out where they fit it. The school is always on top of it and notifies the parents regularly. They are doing a great job in what are a very difficult two years.
--Submitted by a parent

The counseling system is terrible, and the entire staff in disunity. Some great teachers, but have to work with an adversarial administration. Dress codes are not enforced.
--Submitted by a parent

my son was diagnosed with adhd/Bi-polar and in 7th grade of 2004,he had 2 wonderful teachers who were very loving,caring and understanding towards my son.I am sending my regards to say thankyou very much for helping him out.you stood behind us,in getting him into the right classes that he needed,to help him succeed,the update is ,he has done remarkably well now in 9th grade.we know one of you went back to grandview elementary school,and wish you the very best'. Thank you again Thankyou for being a great Teacher! it will be something my son will never forget and carry with him, the knowledge you have taught him through out his years.
--Submitted by Tammy, a parent

mph is great but has a lot of rudeness and it has practically no extra curricular activities
--Submitted by a student

When my child attended MPH, it was a very unhappy experience. The teachers are not top of the line, and there seems to be a great deal of frustration on a daily basis among the staff. The principal was not one who seemed to care about the students, and that attitude was prevalent among the teachers. The staff and teachers just seemed unhappy to be there, and it was a huge inconvenience to meet with a parent to try to improve the students' experience. I am glad my child no longer has to go there daily, as it was really depressing to her.
--Submitted by a parent

When my son started to attend MPH he was an honor roll student and had been through all of his previous grades. Shortly after he started to attend this school his grades started to drop. The teachers didn't seem to care about what was happening as none of them tried to contact me at any time. Their lunch time aides were rude and uncaring. The field trips and class projects all cost alot of money which some of us could not afford. We were told the children would be graded on some of these class projects. I have two other children and I am hoping that by the time they have to attend Junior High there will be another choice of schools for them to attend.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter almost always had substitute teachers. Many of her teacher's dropped the ball and didn't follow through on plans for class activities. My daughter was harrassed/abused physically and mentally by other students because she is of hispanic origin (but she doesn't even speak spanish!). When we approached the vice principle about this, all we got is a weak apology with the excuse that 'Jr. high is a tough time for kids'.