Hickory High School

Excellent teachers will only be found in the honors classes - the new principal seems to only be after his "personal" agenda. The students never see him at school. Leadership seems to magnify the students with minor homework/dress issues and overlook drugs and bullies. Academic programs and clubs are for those involved with PTA and if you dont have the cash or time forget PTA. There is a real gap between the haves and have not - in every aspect of leadership, counselors, students & opportunities. This school is best for those with "honors" or those who have plenty of "money."
--Submitted by a parent

Because I lived out of district, attending Hickory High was a choice that my parents and I made. We do not regret making this decision. I did exceptionally well in high school. Hickory High has many school clubs and wonderful academic programs for students to be involved in. The teachers, counselors, and other staff were magnificant. Dr. Mattox is an excellent leader and showed her compassion to everyone.
--Submitted by a student

I'm a parent of a freshman. My daughter loves Hickory High. I think schools are what you make of them, and agree that parents have to take some responsibility for their own children and their decisions. I stay involved in my child's academics. If I feel my child is struggling I e-mail the teacher. Every teacher so far has responded very positive. I feel Dr. Mattox truly cares for the students. The school is not perfect, it has it's share of problems, but if you stay involved, I think your child can have a positive experience. I have friends with students in all grades at HHS and they all feel that their children are receiving a good education.
--Submitted by a parent

When I was enrolled in this school. I thought I was going to a normal highschool. But no. I was really wrong. I've been at hickory high for about a year and i've discovered that it isn't a normal highschool. It's an expiermental high school. The uniforms are outragous for a public school. and don't get me started about the lack of disipline on real issues and the hardcore disipline on little issues. This school is horrible. Never send your kids here. They WILL fail.
--Submitted by a student

Thankyou someone besides me has some sense.Hickory high is one of the worst uneducated schools I have ever seen.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a parent and former employee of this school. Hickory High School has all the same issues as any modern day high school in America. The fault, however, does not lie within the adminstration but with the ability of the parents to control their own children. The administration tries as hard as it can but without support from home, there is only so much they can do. Dr. Mattox is an excellent leader who truly believes in her students, their families and her staff.
--Submitted by a parent

I really think this school is a big joke. It may look like a good school but once your actually going to it you find out how bad it is. Some of the teachers dont even take attendence. The kids will sit in class and talk about sex, drugs etc. and the teachers wont say anything too them. There are a few really good teachers but not near enough. I do not think this school is run well at all. And they do not inforce the dress code they have, they pick and choose who they make change.
--Submitted by a student

As a students at Hickory High School i think that the school has its good and bad. Yes, there are fights and cliques but dont most school have them. We have a great school, soon we will be getting a problem called the IB program. The teachers, the counselors and the princpals at the school would be glad to help any student or parent with as much as they could. Just because the class room may not have windows, it really doesnt matter anyway. It's about an education people. The school may be old but its a loving school.
--Submitted by KS, a student

We hated the atmosphere in the school. No windows in the classrooms, very depressing. Kids being bullied by others and teachers looking away. Fights, cliques. Lots of isolation in there. This was a few years ago, but my story is that we decided to do right by our children - so we pulled them out and we homeschooled them. We have no regrets. There were a few great teachers and programs, but they were outweighed by the problems.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very good school but I feel it could be better by taking some emphasis off of test scores for national standing and placing more effort on the overall character building of students. The drop out rate might be improved if more students were able to feel successful during their stay. My children have all done quite well at this high school, however, I have seen areas where improvement could be made. I'm not sure the 90 minute block system is a good idea, especially for Math. Too much time in between these classes can leave many students forgetting what they have learned previously and starting the next level class without the background necessary to do well. Offering updated vocational type classes for non college bound students could be an asset. A good selection of AP classes are offered for the college bound.
--Submitted by a parent