Rutherford B Hayes High School

We moved into the school district without knowing anything about the school we came from an excellent rated school which look good on the State's Education score, but not as it pertained to the students. We have now lived in Delaware three years. We have found Hayes High School to have exceeded excellence in individual care of each student, including our son. Our son has bloomed since he has been at Hayes. There is a lot of nonsense gossip about Hayes that is just not true. The teachers are top notch. I received immediate responses to my emails for updates. The sports program is growing with the new football coach (Loparo). Great things are happening and YES, with a small town atmosphere. Couldn't be any better!
--Submitted by a parent

School program offerings, a talented and capable staff working with strong community support make this a good school.

As a former student, then employee, I have to say that throughout my career in education, Delaware is one of those districts that I want my child growing up in. Hayes does have a solid history in the Arts, both performing and traditional, that most schools would love to have. Although the sports programs are solid they are by no means the best. School spirit is strong and true and history not forgotten. Some have said the academic is lacking, I disagree. The teachers I've had, and the ones currently there, strive to challenge students and hold them accountable for both their grades and studying. If you don't study you will struggle. One reviewer stated that as a minority they felt as a minority. Hayes students don't segregate. Sure, like all schools, they have their 'clicks', but most students are open. Race, Gender-association, lifestyle students are accepting.

I graduated from Hayes in 2006 and I was completely unimpressed. Delaware County is the fastest growing county in Ohio but the students do not reflect that. I was a minority student and I felt like a minority everyday that I was there. I do give the school props in two areas. The music program was amazing. I was apart of the symphonic choir and that choir provided some of the best friends and memories of my time there. Also unlike most schools it's size it had a television studio in the building. This helped to start me on my career path as a journalist and has really helped my resume when it came to applying to one of the top journalism schools in the nation, Ohio University. The relationship with the faculty was great but i would not recommend Hayes for any minority students moving to Delaware County.
--Submitted by a former student

Academics and the Guidance Department are average. More could be done in the way of a college prep program, but a student that wants to excel will. There needs to be a relationship with local Ohio Wesleyan University to offer college level classes. The school puts a heavy emphasis on music. The Orchestra and Vocal Music programs are top notch. The Symphonic Choir was a featured performer at Carnegie Hall in NYC this spring. The Theatrical Drama Department falls short. Their spring musical is always top notch, but they only put on two shows a year when comparable schools will do three or more.
--Submitted by T H, a parent

Both the academic progress and the academic achievements of Hayes leave a little to be desired;they are more extra-curricular-ly centered. But the administration and staff do realize the need for improvement and are working towards that goal. However, their arts and sports programs are pretty spectacular, and the district does encourage parent involvement as much as possible. Also, a bright spot is the fact that worries such as bullying are rarely seen at Hayes, and that most students feel protected there. Although I say that their sports are very popular, do not mistake that to mean that their sports are. . .good. They aren't, I'm sorry to say. In all, I would give Hayes a chance. Your student could do great things there, given a chance.
--Submitted by a parent