High Tech High Media Arts School

My son graduated from HTHMedia with a solid B average. His teachers loved him. He loved his teachers. We all knew he could get A's but no one at the school ever pushed him to do more... a B was good with them. We thought many of the teachers were great, but the principal was a huge joke. Imagine our surprise when he called from college -- a great university outside of California - and told us he didn't know what the heck he was doing. He had never been asked to really study or take tests. He failed his freshman math class. We had to get him a tutor to get him through his freshman requirements. He said everyone he knew at school had covered much of the material in their high school careers, but this was stuff he had never been exposed to! It looks great on paper but ultimately the High Tech schools fail to deliver in the real world. Oh, and that baloney about 99% of the kids go to college? Forget it. Most of his peers went to community college and dropped out after the 1st year. The few that got into 4 year colleges are struggling.
--Submitted by a parent

I was shocked to find out my daughter had to take REMEDIAL Math, Science, AND English classes her first year at CSU after graduating with above a 3.5 GPA from HTHMA. When I contacted her counselor at CSU, I was told that ONE PERCENT of incoming students from HTHMA demonstrated "college readiness". This is a college preparatory high school that prides itself on a "liberal arts" (according to Larry Rosenstock) education. Clearly the administration needs to review the leadership and the quality of the teaching staff at this school. I am shocked.
--Submitted by a parent

I wish I could list my millions reasons as to why I thought this academic institution failed but it would pages instead of paragraphs. HTHMA is all about college preparation and as a college student having attended this school I can say that I wasn't very prepared. I'm an english major and although the english classes were sufficient yet filled with random and unnecessary subject matter I was completely screwed in my science/math classes. Unlike english where you can get away with presenting random subject matter sometimes, science and math you CAN'T WHATSOEVER and HTHMA is guilty of that. I and a few other friends who attended HTHMA have had to repeat math classes in college. Those who fortunately haven't were really struggling, especially in chem. I remember when I took chem I didn't do an experiment one. If I was a science or math major I would be EXTREMELY WORRIED.
--Submitted by a student

High Tech High draws from the whole community and generates enthusiasm and focus in its students

This school is not very organized with their curriculum. Their math classes are amazingly unorganized as well as the science classes. This school offers no extra curricular classes and their afterschool program is a mess. There is also very minimal cultural diversity and some of the staff is in my opinion unprepared. I think this school can be fun, but not for everyone.
--Submitted by a student

Awesome school! My son excelled in this school to his full potential. He has gained so much knowledge that traditional schools don't teach and he loves the school and the way it teaches. It is interesting and challenging.
--Submitted by a parent

Completely disillusioned after hearing so much hype. Math gets lost in the curriculum. There are no extracurricular activities whatsoever. School spirit (or school culture as the High Tech High people like to say) is non-existent. My impression is that teachers are extremely overworked and, in my opinion, the director of this school does not think through his decisions. Just a real let-down overall.

So far not impressed; Im told one thing and I've seen no follow-up. Yes this school has a good reputation but hasnt lived up to it.
--Submitted by a parent

Amazing school, I enjoy going there. The teachers are chill, the facilities are nice, and everyone respects eachother. There is an amazing degree of freedom (and responsibility) given to the students, and that translates into quality work.
--Submitted by a student

this is an awesome school all the projects are made to challenge all the kids and help them in their needs and the teachers are really helfull and friendly.
--Submitted by a parent