Hilltop Elementary School

My wife and I are physicians with 3 children. We are seeking new contracts due to our experiences of the education within the district. The district struggles with comprehensive organization.We question the management of courses in that we have seen that a full year lapse can occur between Level I & Level II courses.Many teachers degrees are from an Open Admission local university. Canfield has not fully utilized modern computer programming for communication, smart boards, emergency or notification of residents, online grading information,and the like. The surrounding school districts have updated or built new schools in lower taxed areas; however, many aspects of the physical buildings are in disrepair. The lack of knowledgeable approbation of funds is outstanding. We would suggest to keep in mind that this is a rural school district with a rural viewpoint of management and education. The Administration needs to educate themselves in the advancements in technologies available for school systems and to travel outside of the district to experience other more advanced school systems.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, the person that did the last review obviously has a personal grudge to air. I have raised four children who have all attended Hilltop and continued through the Canfield Schools. My last is graduating high school this year, and has been accepted at an Ivy League school, due in part to the excellent rating and reputation in this country of the Canfield Schools. Rather than go on and on, I would just say that this person stands alone with regard to her opinion. Of my other three children, two attended very prestigious universities and have entered a wonderful medical school and lhighly ranked law school. But what I am really grateful for is that my third child is about to graduate the local university with a B average. (He had struggled with a learning disability during his Canfield years.) This is a child who would not have been able to accomplish this without the wonderful education, caring teachers, and supportive administrators in Canfield Schools. I thank them in my prayers every night.
—Submitted by a parent

Canfield Local School System in Canfield, OH is in dire need of addressing their lack of a structured curriculum. In the upper grades, the teachers admittedly do NOT use texts as their main resource: they use random free website worksheets. They are primarily Teaching To The (Ohio) State Test. The "lessons are random and sporadic." There is NO consistency between classes in any given grade. Teachers have complained that students are not prepared for the next grade: teachers have sent letters home to that effect and have offered after school extra help. If you ask the principals or school board for a copy of ANY TYPE of Curriculum Map, Pacing Chart, or Lesson Plan, you will leave empty handed. Many, many parents hire private tutors to teach their child grade level work that they are not getting at Canfield. Academics are sporadic, random, haphazard, unorganized, with an overwhelming lack of sequential or systematic consistency.
—Submitted by a parent

After having two children, now older at Hilltop I can safely say that the school is a great place to learn. The quality of the teachers and staff is unparalled. The teachers care and what to see that the children suceed even to the point that they take time out of their own schedule to help students that are struggling. Canfield is a great place to call home with great schools from the Elementary level all the way up to High School.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had 3 children atttend Hilltop during the past 10 years. My youngest child completed her elementary carreer just this year. I could not have asked for a more caring and strong academic experience for my children. Hilltop exceeded all my expectations for a public school education. My 2 oldest children have moved successfully through middle school and now are doing beauifully in high school here in Canfield.
—Submitted by a parent