Hinckley-Big Rock High School

The middle school is unbelievably cliquish. As another person posted, if you aren't a life timer in the community, it will be hard for you and your kids to feel like you'll ever fit in. The teachers are the same way - they clearly favor the families of those who have been in the community a long time. They are also cliquish and will bad mouth other teachers in front of the kids. Out of the 4 years my kids have gone here, only these teachers truly care about WHATS BEST FOR THE KIDS and regularly communicate with the parents: Biletzky, Mecklenburg, Kabala, Mr Edwards, Hwang, Corkins. Count your blessings if you get any of them - it will make a HUGE difference in how happy your kids are. It seems for rest of the teachers its just a paycheck and they are miserable with their jobs.
--Submitted by a parent

I hate this school. I moved here a few years ago, if you are not a resident of the town of Hinckley or Big Rock your whole life you pretty mcuh get the cold shoulder. Teachers favor certain last names and they do a horrbile job. There are a few teachers that are AWESOME ! But it sucks because they work here, they can do so much better somewhere else. They either let students get away with everything or over punish . The school board does not listen to the students. This is a farming community so to me I feel like most are sexist. I would not reccomend this school for anyone, but if I did it would be for the few teachers that you actually feel like they care.
--Submitted by a student

This is an amazing school! I have never been so impressed by a public school before!
--Submitted by a parent

This will be my daughters first yr. in Hinckley Big Rock and she comes home everyday and, comments on how good the kids are to here as if she has been there for 3 yrs. I was a little spectical at first because coming from Chicago and, from a Catholic school, I didn't know how she would adjust to a public school especially a high school but, I am happy to say that even at the open house the teachers were very interested in having her as a new student , I know that she will excel to a good student as the yrs. go by.
--Submitted by a parent

Very limited amount of class choices, in fact there are none unless you are college bound. One counseler for the whole school. Small town,all personal info available to everyone,just go ask!
--Submitted by a parent

No sense of community and poor teachers make this school a poor choice. The addition of a new school cannot hide the problems within it: poor teachers, poor course offering besides the basics, poor teachers, poor curriculum, poor teaching styles and teachers, poor extracurricular offering, and lack of commitment to the education and growth of the students. The worst part is that they make no effort to gain community feedback or ask for our help beyond money. The community has a lot to offer in terms of school improvement but the school would rather close its doors and pretend they don't hear us.
--Submitted by a parent

The discipline by the administration is very petty. They should spend more time trying to provide a better rounded education to their students. Not much past the basic academics and very limited sports.
--Submitted by a parent