The Harker School

Very disappointed with this school. I won't go into details due to the terms you must agree to on this platform, however, there is a lot to be said and I would strongly consider other schools.
--Submitted by a teacher

I was definitely not satisfied with the sort of education they provided my child here. Teachers are unresponsive and despite requests by my child to get help, none was given. Only some teachers are good here and for the price you're paying, it's not entirely worth it.
--Submitted by a teacher

With two sons in Harker's Upper School, I can now look back and comment on the stereotypes I heard prior to their entry to Harker. I had heard that it was a school for kids who did nothing but study, that it was a high-stress, unhealthy environment and that the average student was a rich, spoiled brat. I can state without hesitation that those characterizations are utter nonsense. Harker puts a premium on kids having a balanced life, with athletics, the arts, and many extra-curriculars being highly promoted and supported by faculty and adminstrative leadership. While many families do have considerable wealth, it is not a dividing line for friendships or for popularity at school. If anything, the typical Harker family is Asian (Indians and Taiwanese being strongly represented), with two-income earners who make the sacrifices to put their kids' education first. As a family whose kids did not attend Harker K-8, it was a highly competitive process to gain admission. Typically only 10 to 15 percent of all applicants from outside schools are admitted into the 9th grade, and a personal interview, three strong recommendations and high scores on their admission test is required.
--Submitted by a parent

There is a common misconception that attending a private school will increase one's academic progress. One must also realize that the surrounding atmosphere of the school heavily impacts the student's learning experence. Through the past years I have attended Harker, my fellow classmates have stigmatised me as one who has no life because I love to read books. With this kind of influnce from my peers, how was I to feel confident in my abilities? Harker fails to realize the level of negativity that flows around the campus stifling individual development. This school was not a pleasurable experience for me as a student.
--Submitted by a student

Through my own experience here at Harker, I'd have to say it's a wonderful school. I'm not going to praise it like a worshipper would to a god, but it is definitely an excellent school if you're willing to work extremely hard. Ultimately the reward of accomplishment is what makes my experience at Harker worthwhile, not to mention the life-managing skills gained in the process. I have learned how to manage my homework, do well in school, and still keep up in extracurriculars and my social life. However, if you're unwilling to work hard, or if you are too thin-skinned to tough out all the challenges and setbacks Harker may sometimes throw at you, do not come. From what I've seen, it's a very painful experience if you're a slacker or if you can't handle the pressure.
--Submitted by a student

The Harker faculty team is so committed, I can't express it in words. Everyone - teachers, advisors, heads, other faculty - is always there to help. They are kind and caring, and will make sure your student gets THE best training! They prepare your students VERY well for college! I have to admit, even those students who aren't the best get into pretty good colleges like UCLA, UCSD, USC, or UCB! ;D
--Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful and fantastic school if you are very academic based. However, there is too much focus on the grade on the paper. If you get a bad grade, automatically you are the stupid one. The teacher is never to blame. If you came from challenger then this is the best school for you. I fou came from Pinewood or Hillbrook, stay there.
--Submitted by a student

Harker is truly a wonderful school, however, it is meant for smarter students that are willing to work hard. The school places students in different levels for different subjects, depending on how they perform. If the student was smart enough, he or she could study Calculus in middle school. Truthfully, the amount of homework assigned isn't too bad. In middle school, the amount of time it takes to finish homework usually ranges from 1-3 hours. Some parents may think that a couple of hours spent on homework a night is insane; however, if that is the case, Harker is not the right school for their children. On the other hand, if the student is efficient enough, they can finish most of their homework before school even ends.
--Submitted by a student

My daughter, currently a sophomore in a 4 year college, went to Harker for four years during her high school. She had a great high school experience and the school prepared her very well for college. She got admitted to top colleges and has been able to handle the academic rigour of college life very well. In my experience, schools like Harker which focus on academics are not for everybody specially kids who cannot handle the psycological pressure and intensity that comes with having so many smart kids around them. The one area that I would like to see more improvement is improvement in athletics.
--Submitted by a parent

Harker is a place where you can be taking Multivariate Calculus and Differential Equations senior year and have half the class filled with sophomores and juniors. The school has forced me to develop a sense of self unrelated to grades or GPA, something most students don't develop till college. For example in 2008, about 1% of students nationally achieved an 800 on Critical Reading and Math sections of the SAT. At Harker, 14% of students got an 800 on Critical Reading, and 13% got an 800 on Math. The top students at Harker are the ones submitting research papers to Seimens and the Intel Talent Search, to traveling to international Climate change or Peace talk forums for teens. Nevertheless, the atmosphere is not competitive, and student's social lives are healthy.
--Submitted by a student