Lake Harriet Upper School

This school is over-rated! The administration is disorganized, distant and seems burned out. There is no sense of joy inside the halls of this school, and no real sense of community either. An earlier reviewer nailed it by calling the atmosphere of LHCS dysfunctional and cold. While there are a handful of good teachers, most seem to be going through the motions, and some seem to actually dislike children! Bullying and discrimination seem to be embedded in the culture of this school. It takes a lot more than high test scores to make a good school!
--Submitted by a parent

I couldn't agree more with the earlier post(s) who said the perceived success of LHCS is residual and left over from a perception of LHCS when leadership and staff turnover was more stable, engaging, child centered and overall more positive prior to approx. 2003. Many good teachers have been replaced. The resources in middle school are remarkably less than stellar. The admin has become passive aggressive, territorial and certainly not anywhere near as proactive or even welcoming. Traditional down to earth advocacy is all but gone. The change is drastic. Bulling is on the rise as is a feeling of privilege that is catered to more often than it should be, and in turn transfers over to the problem climate at SW. Helicopter parents and G&T students getting most of the attention (ours are GT). We started at LH with more than one and will finish it out, but unless things change and soon, LK is going to be in a deep negative situation that it will find VERY hard to climb out of no matter the residual effects. Leadership is tired and worn out and some have MPS history that does not bode well for LH, or MPS at large. Big gaff many feel on part of the District there.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a high quality school. The teachers are excellent. It sets high standards and helps kids meet them.
--Submitted by a parent

It has a negative feel to it, and it is a dis-functional environment. Especially for 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Especially hard on boys. Boys are often treated like criminals. Some of the teachers are ok- but stresssed. And, some teachers are just awful. I really felt like there were a few teachers that absolutely hated the students and other staff. The principal's approach to everything is stuck in 1950. She has created an angry, screwed up environment. The school has gotten worse in the last 8 years. I agree with the other comments concerning favoritism to certain kids, depending on who their parents are. There is a small group of parents that have way too much power.
--Submitted by a parent

LHCS has a group of very involved parents but I am not sure this is good for the students or the district at large. The principal needs to be reminded that this is a public school. I have personally witnessed teachers letting certain children get away with things based on who their parents are. Bullying and bragging is a real problem at LHCS.
--Submitted by a parent

I think the learning is wonderful and the kindness is amazing. I found the school to meet all of my requirements because it went above and beyond in every way.

Great school. The quality of the academics is top-notch. My child was very adequately prepared for a rigorous load of honors and AP classes at Southwest High School by attending Lake Harriet.
--Submitted by a parent

We left this school with bad memories. I felt many of the staff acted like the school was only meant for certain kinds of families. Even the principal said the school was not a good match for us - despite our tax dollars! Heaven forbid if a average child takes away from a 'gifted' child's education. My son scored above 95% in math and reading but was never seen as intelligent because we didn't fit into the elitist culture. Much of the 'parent involvement' is really fraternizing with teachers. Despite a lot of token gestures there is very little cultural competency at this school. I feel my son's current school has a better curriculum and better teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

Lake Harriet's high test scores appear to be more a result of involved parents than anything else. The school is overcrowded, impersonal, and badly managed. There are some caring people at this school but many teachers appear to be counting the days until retirement. Often decisions are made to accommodate the staff rather than the students. I look forward to the 2010-2011 school year when there may actually be racial diversity. Maybe the school changes will provide Lake Harriet s complacent staff with some of the challenges other Minneapolis schools face every day.
--Submitted by a parent

Lake Harriet is a school that the parents really love and support. It has high standards for kids learning. The student body is diverse. The teachers are fantastic and dedicated to student learning.
--Submitted by a parent