Harding High School

Let me start by saying that press is always going to be the same.. They will fabricate and emphasize the bad things in order to get more viewers. For years, Harding High School has been given a bad reputation.. With the help of the press more people have known Harding High School as the worse public High School in the Bridgeport area.. We have had so many great things happened in the school and they never have been published.. The reason is people are more interested in what we do wrong than what we do right.. It's human nature and we can not fight against it.. I am a success story as a graduate of Harding High School.. I attended the International Baccalaureate program which prepared me for college today.. I am still attending American International College. I can say my experience at Hariding has given me a head start.
—Submitted by a student

i love this school and its not as bad as they say. they have an excellent health magnet program and the IB i guess is great too.
—Submitted by Aqueelah Johnson, a student

I am in Harding High Schools Class of 2006 Health Magnet Program, and there is a lot offered to me. I think that urban schools have so many options to keep the students involved however many do not want to stay involved. My class dropped from 368 to 290 in a matter of moving from Junior year to Senior year. No one can discourage you or encourage you if you dont want to be. A broken down building or a brand new one will not make your scores different.
—Submitted by a student

I am currently a Junior in the International Baccalaurette Diploma Program at Harding High School. Although there are problems at Harding High School, we must look at all the good this school has to offer before we look at the bad. There are many positive things in school. As far as extra-curricualar activities go, there are many! Including an outstanding Drill Team that has gone to Virginia in the past 2 years and has won 1st place both times. We also have a wonderful Gospel choir who has also travelved down to Virginia and won 1st place in many different catorgories. As for basketball, our team this year went to the FCIAC Championship! I am very proud of this school, especially since the New Principal, Mr. Sanchez, has taken this school under his wing and nutured it. I 'm not saying this school is Perfect becuase God knows its not. Howwever, it has changed a lot and I believe that people should acknowledge the good and promote that before they Talk and complain about the bad. As we say in Harding, 'Lend us a hand and we'll learn how to stand!'
—Submitted by Alicia D., a student

Harding is a very good school. Im graduating Harvard University with a 4.0gpa and thank Harding High School for it's effort in helping me learn the skills it takes to be successful in live. If there was one thing that Harding thought me it is that the only place where success come before work is in a dictionary. I am very glad to have my daughter in this school to follow me in the carrer of Medical Science. I too went to that program and it is very good. And happy to know she is too.
—Submitted by Cindy Gonzalez, a former student

I am thoroughly disappointed at people who say teachers don't care at Harding. Yes, the school needs work. However, there have been great changes in the past year since the new principal took over. Instead of criticizing the school staff & administration, why not get involved & work to change the things that aren't working? That is the difference between urban schools & suburban ones--parental & community involvement & proactive, self-advocating students, parents, and community members.
—Submitted by Jeffrey A, a former student

I think that this is the best school,because like you have mad fun in classes and all that I think teachers are pretty cool and I think that this school needs repairs and all that but I mean we're in an environment where people dont want to help minorities think about it. 50% black and 50% hispanics thats main reason why i love this high school its my family. This school has no motivation what so ever and i think will never have.
—Submitted by Michael E, a student

As a Harding alumni it upset me when I returned to the school on business recently. What I founded was a school that was in worst condition as far as the lack of repairs, then when I left in 1978. It appeared to have the same holes in the walls, trash in the hallways, lockers in need of repairs; an atomsphere that would discourage any child from being motivated to learn, as well as any teacher to teach. It would be very sad to see this school continue its spiral towards destruction. Harding needs help, and although I am no longer a resident of this community, I would be willing to assist in anyway I could and I am sure that there are others who feel the same way. Community, let's band together and save our school and the children within.
—Submitted by Melanie Watkins-Griffin, a former student

Harding is just one of Bridgeport's troubled pubic schools. When it comes to teacher quality, it has become increasingly poorer over the years, but that is not to say that all teachers have stopped caring there, but many have. When it comes to school safely the school is completely lacking it, the security guards are not doing what they are employed to do unfortatly. Within the administration department, there are major flaws. Such as when it comes to situations like dress code and what is allowed and not allowed within the school walls. Disciplinary acts are completely ignored, students aren t taught respect. When in comes to extracurricular activies, the school is lacking in that as well. Over all the school has room for some major improvements in many ways but there is no motivation to fix the problems that occur at the Harding High School.
—Submitted by Bob Smith, a former student