Hanover High School

I am unfortunate enough to be a student at this school and I hate it. Its cliquey and cold. The teachers are good but the culture in this school is such that kids are overworked and stressed. Kids never get a break. I cant wait get out of here. Don't send your kids here!
--Submitted by a student

We chose to live in Hanover for the schools and it was the best decision we could have made. Our kids ('10, '12) never had a social problem, have received wonderful educations in and out of the classroom. The only complaint would be the enormous amount of homework, more work than the oldest is getting at a top-10 national college.
--Submitted by a parent

All of the students that say that the academics are substandard are severely exaggerating. Hanover High has some of the best academics in NH. That's not to say it is an easy school at all. It is a very competitive school in academics and sports. I have noticed that there are some cliques, and some people tend to think that if you don't fit 'the bill' that it's hard to 'fit in'. Although Hanover has the reputation of being preppy, there are all sorts of groups to hang out with. I for instance hang out with the 'urban outfitters-esk' group of people. There are all types of groups from preppy populars, to the singers and everything in between. Hanover High will certainly get you ready for college but the academics are very intense.
--Submitted by a student

i am currently a student at hanover, and i find the school to be an accepting place, with a lot of academic opportunities. I can however see how students who choose not to take advantage of those opportunities feel left out or unaccepted. It is a place where everybody is expected to try their best academically and overall.
--Submitted by a student

Very good school and has other alternative programs if the school is not a match for the child yet still receive a diploma if one needs to go elsewhere such as more focused technical program
--Submitted by a parent

This school is god awful. It has an immense presence of cliques, and it truly is hard to make friends in such a biased environment.
--Submitted by a student

'06 graduate; I think it was quite a good school and an overall great experience. Academics are ranging and as demanding as the student wishes essentially. Teachers are qualified and excellent on average. Boasts an impressive placement of its graduates at top schools. Not much you could ask for in a 'public' school. I've read a couple things about the presence of 'cliques', which I found to be somewhat interesting. I'm not sure if these students wanted 14-18 year olds to sit in a big circle singing together, but that seems pretty ridiculous. Given the circumstances, I was amazed out how integrated and accepting the student body was; it's not a place where you are a jock or a nerd athletes are often studious and/or intermingle with those more academically inclined. Very little 'bullying' for a high school. Maybe these students were unfriendly to others and still expected to be liked?
--Submitted by a student

The expertise and commitment of a cadre of talented and exacting teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm a former student of Hanover High School and it is a unique school. There is an open campus policy so you can leave school during free periods- much like a college. However, there is a lack of a sense of connectedness, respect of differences, kindness and diversity. If students are not part of the popular clique they may feel disconnected. The administrators do work diligently to provide good sport and academic programs but they do not seem aware of the importance of creating a positive and inclusive learning environment where all students feel respected and valued. The administration also has little interest in providing quality programming for special needs students. They do not work collaboratively with parents but rather take an adversarial, litigious approach. There is not a good faith effort to follow state and federal SPED laws. It's unfortunate and due to poor leadership choices at the highest levels.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a truly great high school with a great academic culture. It teaches responsibility through school democracy; parents who want the school to parent don't get this place. What is truly amazing is the cross-pollination of student groups; it's a place where it is okay to be different.
--Submitted by a teacher