Hill Classical Middle School

I really appreciated reading the comments for the most part...my 12 years there building the Drama program and Outdoor club were amazing years... so sorry to have it all taken away by budget cuts and lack of administration support. The electives have been devastated because of staffs refusal to take on an extra period...it is not the same group that originated the Classical Model we started 10 years earlier...I have moved on but would go back in a heartbeat if we could bring back the eight period block and restore the reason why students/parents flocked to Hill the first 12 years of the 21st century -- meaningful and plentiful Electives!
—Submitted by a teacher

When all is said and done, we are very happy at Hill, the teachers do a wonderful job,with what they have to work with (no budget) They spend their own money to make learning fun. It's a very diverse school and we came from a small local elementary nearby. Sure there are issues, but the Principal, Vice Principal and all the teachers care about all students. I am glad we have supported our home school thus far and that my son has done well, and integrated with students from all over Long Beach. Keep it up Hill teachers we are so very proud of you. Thank you for what my son has learned in and out of the Classroom. I know I couldn't do your job, and I am grateful you take pride in teaching and have made Hill an excellent Middle School...Kudos to all!
—Submitted by a parent

I am currently a student at this school~and i love it! The other students here are very kind, and not to mention, perceptive. They have various clubs for all grades, including 2 i very much enjoy, the Outdoor Club and CJSF. The Outdoor club lets us take private trips to places such as an ice skating rink, a hill hiking trip, a rock climbing gym, and other very fun places yet to be experienced by your child AND you. CJSF is a club for students who achieve a 3.0 or higher GPA and are able to earn service learning hours with their friends. One trip they, and only they can go to is a PRIVATE PARTY at KNOTT'S going from 7pm to almost 1 in the morning! You can even bring friends not at Hill if you have a best friend not going to the same school. There are many other clubs your child might be interested in involving games like chess and Scrabble. They also have clubs with sports involved AND teams for those. Hill also has amazingly fun electives such as music, drama, art, foreign language, woodshop, computers, and other enjoyable things too. The teachers here are astounding and know how to really prepare you for the tests, using very a simple method. These are only some things i like, t

i went to this school a couple of years ago and i enjoyed it very much. There are a lot of different classes to take and different activities. Great Variety of students and the teachers and staff are wonderful people.
—Submitted by a student

i went to Hill a couple of years ago and i had a great time!!!! Paying soccer, volleyball, acting, playin and instrument, and dancing!!!!!!! lots of fun

I am a current student at Hill, and I like it a lot. I'm a very active participant in the Drama program. I like this school a lot. The academics are good, and most of my classes are challenging and the teachers seem to care. We hardly ever go on field trips, and our teachers have to pay for almost everything.
—Submitted by a student

My kid insisted on attending this school because of her friends, she could have gone to Rogers or Stanford, but after 2 years I am very impressed by the principal, who works late and on Sats; by the teachers, who seem uniformly dedicated and resourceful; by the activities, e.g., drama and Mock Trial (my parents loved the play '12 Angry Jurors,' we thought it was on par with a college production); and by the GATE Program, which covers several hours a day, not a couple hours a week. I see the same parents at school plays I knew at Kettering, with a few new faces, but that is a result of a 6 pm curtain time, it is tough to get off work early. About safety: The biggest scare we've had was connected to LBSU next door, which is otherwise a boon.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has improve a lot. Thanks to the dedication of the staff. I would recommend this school for your child middle school.
—Submitted by a parent

I go to this school and I recommend it. It has no racial tension, a great administration and staff, and alot of activities. We have dance,drama,French,Spanish,AVID,orchestra.And overall It's just a great school that motivates us to do better.Like every Friday if we the whole school has less than 20 tardies the whole week we get music at lunch, and every 20 days without a fight we get an incentive by grade level.The teachers are just great. I love this school so much!
—Submitted by a former student

I am a former student of Hill Classical Middle School. May I state that this school is by far one of the worst I have ever been to. I stayed in that school for 2 years with a gloomy personality only brought on by my dissatisfaction of the other students' behavior as well as the teachers' and principals'. Most children dislike school because of the work that is given to them. But this is not the case. Before I was enrolled in this school, when I went to a private school (where I learned most of my writing skills) I absolutely loved learning and looked forward to going to school. This school absolutely crushed my expectations and my enthusiasm. I absolutely would not recommend this school. While the academic courses may be acceptable, everything else is not. Some parents may believe this is a good school, I can guarantee it's not.
—Submitted by a former student

Hill Classical Middle School is an outstanding school and is striving for only the best. Hill Middle includes an outstanding drama program led by Jimi Guadangno and a spectacular Musical department led by Ms. Fujimora. For the 2006 volleyball season, the Hill team does it's best and got all the way to the championships, Go Huskies! Hill also requires parent involvement to ensure that a student is doing there best. Hill is in my opinion,'The best middle school throughout Long Beach'. In Fact, Hill was just awarded the Blue Ribbon Award, which is rewarded to very few school throughout Long Beach, or in the United States. To sum up, Hill middle is an outstanding school that is striving for only the best!
—Submitted by Tasha Vogtman, a student

Administration & teachers are involved, caring, display a real interest in the mission of teaching.
—Submitted by a parent