Hoosac Valley High School

When I went to this school, it was falling apart. Leaks in the ceiling, falling parts of the ceiling, broken windows from troublesome students. They have seen done a complete remodel for the school. This is a town school. There is a sense of community with it that you will not receive in bigger city schools. The teachers always did their best with what they had available, whether it be worn down books and equipment and taught us to the best they could. When comparing other schools on different sites. Hoosac had the half of its students enrolled in AP classes. This is a sports school, they take pride in their sports and encourage all students to participate in some extracurricular activity. I moved across the country and have worked in numerous different schools and I look fondly back at what Hoosac has offered me in comparison to those schools. The leadership was good, the teachers were observant, and the student body(back when I was in) had low bullying.
--Submitted by a student

I remember thinking "this school is a joke" many times when I used to go to this school. They do focus on sport too much. Teachers would postpone test for football players so they wouldn't be in danger of failing before a big game. Teachers would talk to jocks conversationally during class and pal around to the point of favoring them over the other students. The science lab was poorly equipped and most of the books I had were falling apart. I remember some of the teachers having senioritis as bad as the students...letting us do nothing for whole periods. And the other comment about bad students getting away with more things than good students is very accurate in my opinion. But, those are all the bad things that stuck out in my memory. There are some amazing teachers there and I did learn plenty. Mr. Mahar, Mr. Barry, Mr. Herrmann. Those guys should be given raises. They were awesome.
--Submitted by a student

I go to this school right now, and. think it alright but deffinatly be better. I think most of the focus is on the school sports instead of the acedmics. I also think their punisment polices are terrible. everyday all you see are the bad kids walking around doing whatever and not getting in trouble, but iknow if I tried to do somehong they do I'd be either suspended or expelled righ away, because when good kids make one mistake they're done but if bad kids make mistakes they are pushed aside
--Submitted by a student

I believe this is a good school though some classes don't teach at all or not good but every year they invest in new books and improvement of sports and the leo club is the largest in the state. I woud say this is an average school even with the building becoming older and more outdated.
--Submitted by a student

I think Hoosac Valley is a great school. The numbers are small and there is a sense of community. I would send my child to this school over many others in the county
--Submitted by a parent

I personlay though this school was very weird and would not recomend it to the general public. :(
--Submitted by a parent

They do not have the right materials for a good learning envirement.All of the books are around 20 years of age.I believe that it is not a good learning envirement and children should not be here
--Submitted by a student

This used to be a good school but over the past 5 to 8 years or so has really gone downhill. There is a good-old-boy system in place that is causing academic quality to decline rapidly while funneling resources into a few certain sports. As staff retires Hoosac is unable to attract good quality new staff. A sinking ship.
--Submitted by a teacher